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Hellblazer187 posted:That sounds pretty great. Was it local to you or an online thing? Some cliff notes on the GA Tech OMSCS program from a current student: It's essentially the same course work as their brick and mortar MS in computer science program. The quality is fantastic, and coming in with a bachelor's in CS from an already quality school I've felt properly challenged. Most of the interaction between students and students to TA's/Profs is done through Piazza. It's really common to see people complaining that they shouldn't need to - know assembly before taking a high performance computing architecture class - know linear algebra and basic Bayesian stats before taking a ML course, - know C before enrolling in a Masters in Computer Science program - have a undergraduate level understanding of the TCP/IP stack and basic routing algorithms before taking a graduate course on networking. and then dropping out entirely usually with a 5 page manifesto about unreasonable expectations and lack of professor involvement. I think GA Tech has kind of bamboozled a lot of people by not having any formal educational requirements for entry. They just have a list of "things you should know to succeed" which seems to be leading to a high failure/dropout rate for people who think that a Master's program in CS is the kind of thing you do to switch careers from an entirely unrelated field.
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Nov 2, 2017 16:42
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Portland Sucks posted:Some cliff notes on the GA Tech OMSCS program from a current student: Thanks for those notes, that's good information! I did look at the course list there and realized it's way too much as a starting point for a career shifter. I'm still in early days (week 4 of my first real programming class in a decade) but if I were to go for something like that it'd have to be after several self study courses or a program like alpha did or something like that, and likely after some work experience in the field. I'm just really glad it EXISTS as a delivery method for an accredited MS in a useful subject from a real school, even if it isn't for me right now (or possibly ever).
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Nov 2, 2017 17:19
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Hellblazer187 posted:Is web dev the easiest place to break in with basic code monkey stuff? I would say yes but I'm back end so maybe I'm wrong. But it feels like web dev needs lots of people to write boilerplate code while back end or full stack wants people with more design experience if possible even at entry level. Course web dev has also changed over the years so maybe less boilerplate than I figure. I think its harder to break into back-end without a 4 year degree than it is to get into web dev as a self-taught or whatever. But again, could be my own false assumptions. Zaphod42 fucked around with this message at 18:24 on Nov 2, 2017 |
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Nov 2, 2017 18:20
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AlphaKeny1 posted:I don't know why I wrote it that way. i only point it out because some people will treat it as a shibboleth  . same thing as c/c++
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Nov 2, 2017 19:00
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Zaphod42 posted:I would say yes but I'm back end so maybe I'm wrong. But it feels like web dev needs lots of people to write boilerplate code while back end or full stack wants people with more design experience if possible even at entry level. Course web dev has also changed over the years so maybe less boilerplate than I figure. Hm, I think I might have my terminology confused. I thought front end, back end, and full stack all fell under the web dev umbrella. Do people typically only use that term for front end? Anyways, I think Ig get what you're saying and appreciate it!
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Nov 2, 2017 21:03
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Some people use web dev to refer only to front end, and back end as part of normal software development. JavaScript/not JavaScript, basically.
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Nov 2, 2017 21:51
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Pollyanna posted:Some people use web dev to refer only to front end, and back end as part of normal software development. JavaScript/not JavaScript, basically. With full stack being a combination of the two
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Nov 2, 2017 21:56
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Pollyanna posted:Some people use web dev to refer only to front end, and back end as part of normal software development. JavaScript/not JavaScript, basically. Alright, got it. Makes sense. Isn't some backend done with JS now? Am I right that other main languages used for backend are Python and Ruby?
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Nov 2, 2017 23:08
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C# is also common, but not talked about in certain circles because it's not cool and sexy. And yes, Node lets you build back-end services in JS.
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Nov 2, 2017 23:12
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Hellblazer187 posted:Alright, got it. Makes sense. Isn't some backend done with JS now? Java and C# are probably more common overall because they're often what enterprise companies use, or at least what they have their legacy systems built in. Startups and smaller companies tend to be where you see Ruby, Python and the like.
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Nov 3, 2017 00:01
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Nov 3, 2017 00:09
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If I recall correctly, the vast majority of backend is done in PHP. That includes a ton of Wordpress+theme stuff with minimal custom programming, so I'm not sure how the real numbers stack up when you're only counting sites that are handbuilt or made with substantial CMS customization. This isn't to say you'd want to use it, but that's a lot of what's out there.
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Nov 3, 2017 00:18
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For reference, I went to a bootcamp in the summer and landed a full stack position. Lots of C# and stuff, but there's also a whole side of the team that's much more focused on the deep back-end stuff like writing our SQL/stored procedures/etc., while we're more in charge of building the APIs out, connecting up models/controllers/etc., although there's a push for everyone to have more knowledge of the entire process. So, you could start in web dev and join a company as a full stack engineer for sure, and then try to focus on the back end while you're there, and slowly drift into the more back-end heavy positions and roles, either within the company or in a future job.
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Nov 3, 2017 00:49
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Out of curiosity, for all of those interviewing out there, if management at a company you were interviewing at told you they fire a lot of people, how well would you receive that information? Would it positively or negatively affect your likelihood to accept an offer?
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Nov 3, 2017 00:53
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If you're firing lots of people, you're making the wrong decisions at hiring time or failing to provide a good environment for programming. I don't want to work for capricious morons if I can help it.
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Nov 3, 2017 00:54
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ohgodwhat posted:Out of curiosity, for all of those interviewing out there, if management at a company you were interviewing at told you they fire a lot of people, how well would you receive that information? Would it positively or negatively affect your likelihood to accept an offer? 
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Nov 3, 2017 01:26
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I have been working support jobs at software companies in the DC area for the past six years ago. Unfortunately, I was one of several employees who was laid off at my company. On the positive side, I have one class left until I have a computer science degree. Being so close to having a computer science degree, I have been planning on looking for a non-support job soon anyway. Getting laid off just speeds up my search by a few months, but I could really use some career advice. Still, I dont really have the typical background for a computer science graduate. Im 30 years old, and I have a previous degree in English. Im in D.C., and do not really have any desire to relocate to the West Coast. (I actually just signed a lease for a new place with my girlfriend a few days ago, before I was aware I was getting laid off.) I dont really care about working at one of the big companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. I just want to make a decent salary while interacting with (mostly) technical people. I also want to put my support days behind me. In short, Id like to get some advice about what kind of careers I should be looking at. I do enjoy coding, and got to do it about 20% of the time at the job I just left. I was contributing code in JavaScript and Python to two different automation frameworks we developed to test our mobile and web applications. I really enjoyed that work, and would be pretty happy with a test automation / SDET kind of role. That said, I am planning to cast a pretty wide net when I start my job search. Getting a role that is strictly software engineering isn't make-or-break for me. I am open to client-facing roles, so long as it is not a support role. I have enjoyed interacting with clients in some contexts, but I really do not enjoy the conversations that are just troubleshooting. I am not really sure what other kinds of roles I should be considering. Id appreciate any suggestions you all have, as I start my job search.  TL;DR: What can a 30-year-old dude who lives in D.C. do with degrees in English and Computer Science outside of software engineering? What kind of jobs should I be looking at, outside of mobile/web development and QA?
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Nov 3, 2017 01:30
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Hellblazer187 posted:Hm, I think I might have my terminology confused. I thought front end, back end, and full stack all fell under the web dev umbrella. Do people typically only use that term for front end? Anyways, I think Ig get what you're saying and appreciate it! They fall under client and server regardless of tech involved. In mobile gaming we refer to front end people writing code in the engine for the phones, backend people writing the server code the phones connect to, and full-stack someone who will take a feature from backend through to the front-end. None of which is web dev.
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Nov 3, 2017 01:33
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B B posted:TL;DR: What can a 30-year-old dude who lives in D.C. do with degrees in English and Computer Science outside of software engineering? What kind of jobs should I be looking at, outside of mobile/web development and QA? There are a poo poo ton of defense contractors in the DC area. It's actually a pretty good job market as long as you don't mind that culture. Most of the positions they have are coding, but maybe something related to product management would be more your speed.
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Nov 3, 2017 01:36
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You might want to look into the federal government too. Lots of IT Specialist/Cybersecurity type positions. Definitely not glamorous, and you probably won't be doing much coding, but the benefits are pretty good. Those are also the kind of positions where you can climb in grade fairly quickly, and bounce around different agencies since the work is the same throughout the government. Also a good place to get your first clearance if you think you might want to do defense contracting type stuff later. There are also some huge data centers out in Northern Virginia. Amazon has a few big ones in the Herndon area I believe. Tysons Corner and Arlington both have a bunch of tech consulting & contracting type companies. grenada fucked around with this message at 01:53 on Nov 3, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 01:50
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ohgodwhat posted:Out of curiosity, for all of those interviewing out there, if management at a company you were interviewing at told you they fire a lot of people, how well would you receive that information? Would it positively or negatively affect your likelihood to accept an offer? How could this information positively affect someone's likelihood to accept an offer? If I took an offer where I knew that about the company, I'd be treating it as though it were a short-term contract.
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Nov 3, 2017 01:57
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ohgodwhat posted:Out of curiosity, for all of those interviewing out there, if management at a company you were interviewing at told you they fire a lot of people, how well would you receive that information? Would it positively or negatively affect your likelihood to accept an offer? Jesus Christ.
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Nov 3, 2017 03:17
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Cool, looks like I have great news to deliver to the super recruiting conscious CEO when we find out that nobody accepts our offers. Only several months of wasted effort and another year until we start campus hiring. I am absolutely livid if you can't tell. E: the really dumb thing is that it isn't even true. 3 people have been fired out of a team of 45 in 2 years, which I think is really low. ohgodwhat fucked around with this message at 04:36 on Nov 3, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 04:18
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ohgodwhat posted:Out of curiosity, for all of those interviewing out there, if management at a company you were interviewing at told you they fire a lot of people, how well would you receive that information? Would it positively or negatively affect your likelihood to accept an offer? It might depend on context, like if they're just a bunch of major league assholes. For example Netflix pays people a lot but doesn't tolerate drops in performance, or so I've read today. Seems fine to me. It might mean you'll have high quality coworkers and they're willing to hire sketchy-looking people and fire them quickly if it doesn't work out. If they tell you up front that they do this, well hey, that's great and they're offering a fair deal. Sounds like they've got a moral center. Edit: Another take is that they're trying to weed out slackers who think they'd get fired.
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Nov 3, 2017 06:15
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Hellblazer187 posted:Alright, got it. Makes sense. Isn't some backend done with JS now? You can do backend with JS but gently caress that, and mostly people don't, thank god. Yeah its basically JS / not-JS is how I divide front end and back end. And back end is usually Java. Python is more for something you're writing a quick throwaway script for, like to run some tests or setup an automatic deployment procedure, stuff like that. The Dark Wind posted:For reference, I went to a bootcamp in the summer and landed a full stack position. Lots of C# and stuff, but there's also a whole side of the team that's much more focused on the deep back-end stuff like writing our SQL/stored procedures/etc., while we're more in charge of building the APIs out, connecting up models/controllers/etc., although there's a push for everyone to have more knowledge of the entire process. Yeah back end also means being able to handle the DB and likely being familiar with some kind of ORM.
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Nov 3, 2017 06:25
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If someone told me they fire a lot of people I would be terrified of getting fired, work way more than I should to "prove my value", burn out almost instantly and quit before I could even be fired. I can't even imagine what good someone would expect from that point during an interview. Someone signing on who says "well, I kind planned on this being my whole life anyway" ?
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Nov 3, 2017 10:13
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ohgodwhat posted:Out of curiosity, for all of those interviewing out there, if management at a company you were interviewing at told you they fire a lot of people, how well would you receive that information? Would it positively or negatively affect your likelihood to accept an offer?
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Nov 3, 2017 13:30
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Zaphod42 posted:And back end is usually Java. Are you attempting to describe the world here, or just what you've personally experienced, or prescribing how you think it should be?
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Nov 3, 2017 13:59
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Vincent Valentine posted:If someone told me they fire a lot of people I would be terrified of getting fired, work way more than I should to "prove my value", burn out almost instantly and quit before I could even be fired. Heard from someone who worked for the US Postal Service for a long time and they described their experience as being almost exactly like this.
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Nov 3, 2017 14:20
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B B posted:TL;DR: What can a 30-year-old dude who lives in D.C. do with degrees in English and Computer Science outside of software engineering? What kind of jobs should I be looking at, outside of mobile/web development and QA? Do you like documenting business processes and going to meetings to discuss same? Good BAs make as much or more than devs and you can pretty much slot yourself into any mid or large sized company anywhere you speak the language.
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Nov 3, 2017 14:57
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He's running towards a language with real generics support 
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Nov 3, 2017 15:23
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Munkeymon posted:He's running towards a language with real generics support I like to think he's recoiling in horror from modern language features.
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Nov 3, 2017 15:26
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Zaphod42 posted:Python is more for something you're writing a quick throwaway script for, like to run some tests or setup an automatic deployment procedure, stuff like that. What? Django my dude. Python is perfectly acceptable for running production systems with.
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Nov 3, 2017 16:07
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Python allows way too many options for being clever for my taste, but it does at least have a contract system. Contracts are awesome and I wish more languages had them.
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Nov 3, 2017 17:01
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Munkeymon posted:Do you like documenting business processes and going to meetings to discuss same? Good BAs make as much or more than devs and you can pretty much slot yourself into any mid or large sized company anywhere you speak the language. I know I'm not the poster you're responding to, but... tell me more. Edit: Nevermind, did some googling. That does look like an attractive option someday possibly. Hellblazer187 fucked around with this message at 17:37 on Nov 3, 2017 |
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Nov 3, 2017 17:22
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ultrafilter posted:There are a poo poo ton of defense contractors in the DC area. It's actually a pretty good job market as long as you don't mind that culture. Most of the positions they have are coding, but maybe something related to product management would be more your speed. Thank you for the suggestion, but it is probably a no-go for me--at least for a while. My last job didn't drug test and I got into  over the past year. I'm giving it up until I find a new job just in case I need to do a drug test, but I may end up resuming once I secure a job. (It's really helped with my sleeping and stomach issues.). Anything requiring a security clearance is out, unfortunately. Munkeymon posted:Do you like documenting business processes and going to meetings to discuss same? Good BAs make as much or more than devs and you can pretty much slot yourself into any mid or large sized company anywhere you speak the language. I would definitely be open to this sort of thing. I'm hoping to have my resume done within the next day or so. Would you mind giving it a look once I'm done? Edit: I am also going to be applying for some front end developer roles, but the imposter syndrome is strong in this one. I have never done a white board interview, and they terrify me. B B fucked around with this message at 23:52 on Nov 5, 2017 |
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Nov 5, 2017 23:48
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B B posted:I have never done a white board interview, and they terrify me. They are terrifying, but whiteboard interviewing is a skill like anything else. Buy a whiteboard and practice going through problems on it while talking about what you're doing. If you just get comfortable coding on a whiteboard and talking about what you're doing you'll probably be ahead of 90% of the competition for anything that isn't one of the big 5
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Nov 6, 2017 01:06
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Volguus posted:Which reminds me: Wasn't IBM writing some banking ledger software that would take advantage of the blockchain to have immutable and traceable transactions? Anything come out of it? I always thought that this would be a great way to use the technology, not the lovely bitcoin mining. Storing historical data seems perfect for it.
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Nov 6, 2017 04:12
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They advertise about tracking tomatoes on Bloomberg TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ljxY5nY7w MrMoo fucked around with this message at 04:56 on Nov 6, 2017 |
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Nov 6, 2017 04:54
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What happens when you start running out of excuses to leave work a couple hours early to go interview somewhere else? I said I was at the dentist two days and the doctors another day. Not sure how to take off anymore without it seeming blindingly obvious that im off to an interview
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