How Not to Ask for Help Online
May 20, 2022 by Lane Wagner
I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time online over the course of my life, and in the last couple years I’ve been managing a Discord server for people who are learning computer science. Like all online communities, we have ban, kick, and moderation policies so that we’re not overrun with spammers and other non-contributors. However, I’m not perfect, and I have realized recently that we get a decent number of members who at first glance seemed like a spammer, but it turns out they just have no idea how to communicate online in a way that’s useful to themselves and others.
6 Undeniable Reasons to Learn Computer Science
May 10, 2022 by Zulie Rane
Is it a bit dramatic, perhaps, to say that the fate of the world rests on computer science and that’s why you should learn computer science? Maybe, but not by much. Computer science is “the study of computation and information, and is a subject which involves you in the very make-up of the world,” the University of York posits. Computer science is everywhere in our everyday lives. I wrote this article on a PC; you’re reading it on one, or a mobile phone.
The Problem with Education is a Problem of Incentives
May 10, 2022 by Lane Wagner
I’ve found that almost anyone I talk to agrees with the statement: There is something wrong with education, particularly higher education. Interestingly enough, everyone also has very different ideas about what the problems are, and how we should solve them. A few popular ideas include: Pay teachers more Make university free Cancel existing student debt Online-first university A couple weeks ago I was listening to an old Indiehackers podcast where the interviewer was speaking with Austen Allred, the founder of Lambda School (now Bloom University).
We just launched community insights. There’s something magical about learning to code together.
Apr 27, 2022 by Lane Wagner
tl;dr At Boot.dev we’ve launched “community insights”! Insights make it possible for our students to drop comments at the bottom of any step in our coding courses. We’ve quickly found that we have amazing students, and it’s much better for everyone if we give them tools to help each other more directly. If you’re interested in joining our self-paced, online-only computer science bootcamp, you can sign up for free here.
8 Codecademy Alternatives That Will Get You Where You Need to Go
Apr 26, 2022 by Zulie Rane
Just last month, Codecademy was sold to Skillsoft for $525 million. Not too shabby, and entirely well-deserved if you ask me. I’ll be straight with you, I love Codecademy. Maybe you’re wondering why I’m opening with that in an article about its alternatives, but I want to start with the history so you can really grasp what Codecademy alternatives are good for. Codecademy was launched in 2011 by a Columbia dropout and his Columbia non-dropout friend, it was one of the very first online learning platforms for coding.
Top 10 Best Communities For Learning to Code
Apr 20, 2022 by Zulie Rane
Where to look for project inspiration, answers to specific questions, or support for your learning journey The one thing that every programmer has in common, whether you’ve only ever implemented a “Hello World” program or you’re a senior software engineer, is the need to continuously learn. New technologies, programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and conventions are constantly being introduced to the industry. As a beginner, it can be hard to suss out what you need to know to enter the profession, and once you’re a proficient coder, it’s tiring to constantly investigate trending topics in tech.
Qvault is moving to Boot.dev
Apr 07, 2022 by Lane Wagner
We’ll keep this announcement short – we’ve moved Qvault.io to Boot.dev! As you know, we’ve been hard at work bootstrapping on online computer science bootcamp. Qvault (now Boot.dev) is a simple CS curriculum where our students build real projects using modern programming languages and technologies. Anyhow, we think the new name does a much better job conveying our project’s goals, and the new dark theme is much easier on the eyes.
How to Build the Best Github Profile for Your Job Search
Mar 04, 2022 by Lane Wagner
I’ve reviewed a lot of resumes, both as an engineering manager and in the monthly resume workshops we do in the Boot.dev Discord group. I’m convinced that these days a developer’s Github profile is just as important as their resume itself. If you haven’t started your first job yet, this advice is doubly important. Anyone looking to hire an entry-level developer is going to be diving into your public Github presence looking to get an idea for where your skill level is at.
7 Best Ways to Learn JavaScript, Personalized
Feb 05, 2022 by Meghan Reichenbach
JavaScript is undoubtedly one of the best languages any developer could pick up, whether they’ve been in the game for years or are just starting out. Powering over 97% of today’s websites, you’ll likely be faced with the need to use JavaScript at some point, regardless of the field you work in, because of how embedded the language is in the online world. But what is the best way to learn JavaScript?
How Long Does It Take To Learn JavaScript? (& How To Learn Fast)
Feb 05, 2022 by Zulie Rane
A good programming language is one that newcomers can learn fast. This is one of the reasons why JavaScript is so popular – it’s possible to learn Javascript really quickly and with minimum fuss. In this article, I’ll break down how to learn JavaScript fast, how long you should expect it to take to learn JavaScript, and why JavaScript is worth spending time on. Let’s jump into the best guide on how to learn JavaScript fast.