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General Discussion

Posted by Nicholas Stanfield
Nicholas Stanfield
Courses Plus Student 216 Points

I'm a 19 year old, aspiring software developer.

Hey guys, My name is Nick Stanfield and I've been coding for about 8 months now and have been working mostly with Javascript, Html, css, and J query. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how I should prepare myself for a career in the tech industry and my Computer Science course for college this fall. Should I move up to object oriented languages or should I stick with scripting languages? Also, I was wondering if the job market needs computer science majors? Am I jumping on the bandwagon to late? Or will there be a rise in jobs/opportunity's for this field of study by the time 2017 rolls on by?

3 Answers

Josue Sandoval
Josue Sandoval
946 Points
Josue Sandoval
Josue Sandoval
946 Points

Objective C is also an important language to learn for IOS apps. Also learn some php to make nice web apps.

The way I design is I first create my design in photoshop. Purely visual designing. After my site and ideas are in a .psd image file file I then start converting my image into actual coding. I code the entire website.

I believe the web is the future. Try to think of a nice web app subscription idea and you can make tons of money. Look at this website we are on. Subscription based and they offer an excellent learning experience through online videos.

Think of something, plan it, design it and code it. You can make a good amount of money. I have so many ideas that I want to work on. Some of them I have seen no competition in. I just need to learn how to build IOS apps and make my ideas come true. I hope to learn as soon as possible before my ideas are no longer unique.

Rick Rakin
Rick Rakin
6,531 Points
Rick Rakin
Rick Rakin
6,531 Points

To prepare for your CS class in the fall, find out what instructor you have and get a syllabus of the most recent class he or she taught. Find out what textbook is used and rent it from a public library over the summer if they have it.

I remember many times during CS 1 and 2 wishing I had more time to read the text slowly but just didn't have the spare time. I ended up rereading the textbook on summer break.

Java seems to be the De Facto language taught for computer science. Maybe it will be different you but I'm betting it the class will teach the first half of a Java textbook.

Going from Java to Javascript = easy transition. Going from JavaScript to Java, however, might suck a little since Java is a little more strict in how things are handled.

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Going from Java to Javascript = easy transition. Going from JavaScript to Java, however, might suck a little since Java is a little more strict in how things are handled.

Just remember Java is to JavaScript as Car is to Carpet. To put it another way, the languages aren't related at all.

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Should I move up to object oriented languages or should I stick with scripting languages?

I'd say learn Python.

My suggested curriculum to prepare you for the fall would be:

  1. Python Course by Learn Street
  2. CS 101 by Udacity
  3. How to Think Like a Computer Scientist Online Interactive book
  4. Introduction to Computer Science and Programming by MIT's Open Courseware