Which learning path makes the most amount of sense?
Which learning path makes the most amount of sense?
I just found out about The Odin Project, a self-paced online course to learn full stack web development. There are two paths: one is Ruby on Rails and the other is full JavaScript and nodejs. I am leaning more towards Ruby but I wanted to get some more opinions from folks in the field.
From what I can tell (maybe it's just jobs around me) employers are not really looking for ruby devs. Since you'll have to learn JavaScript anyway for the frontend I don't see a reason to go ruby beyond personal challenge.
Thank you! Then it sounds like the more sensible path is JavaScript and nodejs. While I like the idea of personal challenge, I am trying to learn how to do this so I can get out of the skullduggery of my present career as a senior desktop support engineer. I see myself more going towards DevOps with it. From the reading I did about DevOps, it seems that I would need at least some familiarity with a programing language. I am thinking if I could get a handle on JavaScript and python, I would be in pretty good shape, yes?
DevOps is usually more backend or full stack (though in bigger companies it's its own job entirely).
Python is always a good start in that regard. But honestly, the basics for programming are pretty much the same across languages (with a few exceptions). So you could go with JavaScript, C#, Python, ... whatever beginner friendly language you prefer.
This course gets you started extremely fast (Python, but in your browser, so no need to install anything): https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-python-3
Personally for a learning language and if you're using Windows I'd lean towards C# (With Visual Studio Community, it's free). It does give you a good idea of what data types, classes, etc. are and if you want to dive deeper you can transition to C++ afterwards to learn about memory management and pointers (but it's not a fun language to work with, in my personal opinion).
As for DevOps, you could do the first courses for Azure (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/microsoft-azure-fundamentals-describe-cloud-concepts/) or AWS (https://skillbuilder.aws/?dt=sec&sec=fdt).
If you have any questions, feel free to ask :)
I'm currently a security and DevOps engineer.
DevOps is really just a fancy word for a sysadmin you can ask to code and that knows enough programming to work IAC tools.
If your goal is devOps, learning to code at all is of course the first step, but afterwards I would tend more towards learning the basics of CI/CD, python (because if you know python you can learn other languages quickly) and a healthy dose of cloud environment and IAC tools like terraform and Ansible.
You will not find much to do with Ruby. Node is more popular and more in demand. A lot companies and OSS project have o Node. Ruby is very niche.
I thought Ruby was still pretty relevant given that Mastodon is essentially coded in Ruby but I am coming to the same conclusion you are based on another person's comment.
As a front-end developer with 10 years of experience, I'd suggest going with JavaScript. It's one language for both stacks, you can learn the core front and back end ideologies, and if you decide to go with a different language for back-end, it shouldn't take too much time to learn afterwards. From my experience it would be easier both to learn and potentially to get a job in the field.
Are you brand new to programming? If so, it doesn't really matter what your first language is, so long as you don't stop with one.
Go the JavaScript route. React is the most popular front end technology rn, and Node is also really common. You'll have the best chance at either contributing to projects, or getting a job this way
To add on to the other top comment right now, it's not like learning a spoken language. Once you know one, you can pick up another similar language without too much bother. Or should be able to, if you're not crap.
As for what employers want to see, that's something I'm less qualified to tell you.
FYI, you are able to edit titles on the fediverse in case you want to the missing word.
Ha! I had no idea and made the correction. Thank you.
I didn't know about the Odin Project, looks super interesting so thanks!
You're welcome! I am going to work on it slowly but surely. It's going to be up to me to elevate myself out of my own miserable circumstances. The key to life improvement, I have always maintained, is lifelong education. Yeah, I ain't no spring chicken compared to the kids coming out with degrees but I can probably hang with them with some effort.
Great attitude.
I just started my TOP journey recently too! I was also wondering which path people recommended, so I'm glad to see someone else on Lemmy asked! I'm going to have consider a little harder as I was leaning towards Ruby on Rails path.
I was kind of learning towards Ruby myself simply because the language syntax looks to me to be saner and easier. I realize I am up against quite a challenge developing skills and knowledge in the area of full stack development so I obviously I don't want things to be too challenging. However, the overwhelming advice I have been given is JavaScript is the way to go and Ruby is for niche stuff.