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Had a chat with a bootcamp grad that flipped my thinking on learning to code
I always figured the only real way to learn coding was to grind through a CS degree or at least a structured bootcamp. But last Tuesday, my neighbor who's 45 and works at a bike shop told me he built his own inventory app using just YouTube and free online docs over 6 months. He didn't know what a variable was when he started, but now his app handles 200+ parts for his shop. It made me realize that maybe the "right way" to learn is just whatever gets you building something real... not what the forums say is best. Has anyone else seen success going the completely self-taught route without any paid course?
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anderson.david2d ago
Oh yeah totally, I had the same thing happen to me a few years back. My buddy's dad, who runs a landscaping company, taught himself enough Python from random blogs and Stack Overflow to build a whole scheduling tool that tracks his crews and equipment. He didn't even know what a function was when he started, but now he's got it hooked up to text message reminders and everything. It really does make you wonder if all those expensive courses are just overcomplicating what's basically just solving your own problems piece by piece.
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pat_coleman1d ago
That's incredible. It really shows you don't need a classroom or a certificate to build something useful. My uncle did the same thing for his small auto repair shop. He used some free online tutorials to build a simple inventory system for his parts. Now he can check stock on his phone while he's under a hood. It's not fancy, but it works perfectly for him. Makes me think most of those expensive bootcamps are just selling you the same stuff you can find for free if you're willing to put in the time.
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