Learning to code can be one of the most fulfilling things you can do. It can lead to a new career, making new connections, or just discovering something brand new that is engaging and fun.
There has always been debate over the best way to learn to code. Some argue you should pursue a traditional education path by going to university, others think being self-taught is the only answer. And then there are those that wholeheartedly swear by coding bootcamps.
A coding bootcamp is usually a short course(usually a few months) that teaches you everything you need to know about becoming a competent developer. There has always been controversy surrounding them tough as some believe coding bootcamps to be a scam.
I am not here to debate the legitimacy of some of these establishments but to convince you that going to the right bootcamp can actually yield a lot of benefits as it did for me.
My journey as a developer
During the pandemic, I was lost. I was attending a university that I was miserable at, paying an exorbitant amount of money to watch a prerecording of a professor with a monotone voice and a cheap microphone that you can barely hear.
I had to ask myself, is this really what I want to do? It obviously wasn't.
So I scrambled to quickly find a way out. I looked on the internet at what my options were. I thought maybe I could get a trade degree in something practical such as plumbing, or maybe start my own business.
That's when I found it. Web development.
I witnessed countless claims that this was the career that was future-proof, pays a high salary and you DIDN'T NEED a degree. Ridiculous I thought. No way this was for real.
As I dove deeper and discovered more, I was starting to get convinced. Maybe this was the path for me.
I soon signed up for a coding bootcamp called Le Wagon. It was started in France and now has branches all over the world.
What appealed to me most about Le Wagon over other bootcamps was the fact that they embraced the product-first approach. By the end of it, you will have the chance to build an MVP(Minimum Viable Product) and have a demo where you showcase it to other people.
I was always a huge fan of practice over theory approach of learning, so this appealed to me greatly.
After 9 intense weeks, my team and I were able to build our MVP, CryptoCanons. A news aggregate for all crypto-related topics. (Quick side note, CryptoCanons is a mobile app. It will not look the best if opened on desktop)
I haven't stopped coding since.
Community
Personally, this was the best part for me of attending a BootCamp. The community you build with like-minded individuals from all walks of life is simply amazing.
I met people who were changing careers. Chefs, procurement managers, musicians. All people who were getting started on a brand new journey, and you can be in it together.
Bootcamps are hard, you have to be thinking of code 24/7. But having people to share some of that hardship with made it easier and so much fun.
Even better, was the community I gained after the bootcamp. A Slack channel full of people that have previously graduated from Le Wagon. Alumni located all over the world, that could help you and guide you as you start a brand new career as a developer.
Focused Learning
When you decide to study coding on your own, starting is quite easy, just pick a programming language and learn it thoroughly. But what are you supposed to do after that?
Knowing how to progress effectively can be quite hard. But universities and coding bootcamps make it much easier in this regard as they have already done all the hard work and figured out what the best way to progress will be.
You never have to worry if what you are studying is relevant or even necessary. And you never have to worry about wasting time.
You just have to show up and learn.
It's hard to be motivated
We, humans, are simple creatures. We tend to be emotional and doing hard things is, well... hard. So we seek external motivations to keep us going.
Unfortunately, motivation doesn't always strike. Sometimes you have to force it out.
And paying for your education and being liable to other people are great motivations.
Some downsides
As great as things can be, there are always downsides.
I loved my time at Le Wagon, but I have to admit that bootcamps are not perfect.
One of the greatest downsides is the price. Bootcamps usually cost a lot of money and not a lot of people can afford them.
You will never go very deep with any one topic. It is essential to continue studying after the bootcamp. Sometimes you get the feeling that you are still unprepared to start working.
Finally, there is no guarantee for a job. You might argue that there is no guarantee even if you attend a university, but at least you have an accredited degree that will always be helpful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you have the means to support yourself financially and have the money to attend a bootcamp because you want to switch careers or start a career from scratch, I believe coding bootcamps such as Le Wagon are amazing places to get started and learn the fundamentals and be a more confident developer.
Plus the people you meet along the way and the connections you make will help you way after you leave the bootcamp.
And that alone is worth it, in my opinion.