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General Discussion

Posted by Brendan Curtis
Brendan Curtis
3,413 Points

What are tips and suggestions that you wish you knew when you first got started in coding?

Let me start off by saying that I am new to coding and have just started with the HTML and CSS. I went to college for business but after a year out of college I have realized that is not really where my passion lies. The first thing that I am trying to figure out is if a degree in Computer Science is necessary to land a job? I am using Treehouse to get my feet wet and really learn the basics, but could it be used as my main source of learning and would I be on par with a person who comes out of college with a CS degree? Also I could use some tips and suggestions for things that maybe you wished you knew when you first got started. Thank you in advance.

Simon Coates
Simon Coates
28,695 Points

another helpful hint is frameworks/libraries are your friends. and version control and testing in a development environment. All of these actually speed you up. And get a second or third monitor.

3 Answers

Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson
7,324 Points
Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson
7,324 Points

A degree in Computer Science is definitely not required to land a job in programming, this is especially more and more these true days thanks to services like TeamTreeHouse.

One thing I wish I knew before I started (I kind of did but I didn't take it to heart) is that programming is hard and you WILL find yourself pulling your hair out trying to figure something out. Don't let that discourage you! It happens to everyone, and it happens many times even when you believe you have mastered a language you will still stumble across something that will drive you nuts because you can't figure it out.

Good luck on your journey. :)

Simon Coates
Simon Coates
28,695 Points
Simon Coates
Simon Coates
28,695 Points

don't be intimidated. Being afraid of code will mean you won't challenge your understanding so much.

learning is aided by sleep.

don't put on 20 kilograms sitting at a desk.

Shane Robinson
Shane Robinson
7,324 Points

Lol the last one is funny, but very true. To go with your 'sleep aides in learning', exercise also aides in learning! That is something I am just now starting to appreciate myself, I already gained that sitting weight.

J V
J V
4,471 Points
J V
J V
4,471 Points

I'm currently on the Web Design track and have been on it for about 3 weeks now. So far I am loving the courses and have been recommending Treehouse to all my friends and family who are trying to learn to code from scratch. The lessons are structured very well for beginners and people who need a refresher. What I like best is that Treehouse brings focus to best practices.

In my 3 weeks of practice, I have one tip for my Treehouse colleagues. Finish a few courses at a time (preferably an entire track), THEN practice. I could have finished 2 full tracks by now. My problem, however, is that I am obsessed with doing everything perfectly the first time. After the first HTML and CSS Basics courses in the Web Design tracks, I started trying to build my own websites from scratch, spending hours trying to figure out why certain things (specifically layouts) were not working/displaying as planned. I realized shortly afterwards that Treehouse has a course within the track to teach you about layouts and how to structure web pages (face palm).

My 2 cents: Keep at it.. practice after completing a track, rather then after each course.

And to answer your question about whether a CS Degree is necessary: http://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-engineer-negotiated-a-starting-salary-from-120k-to-250k-in-just-a-few-weeks-2016-4