Slow Down

 After jumping in the deep end the first few weeks, I've decided to take a step back and slow down. I took a break from Head First Java (for the most part) this last week to give my brain a rest. I plan to resume my course on Khan Academy this weekend and focus on that only for a few weeks. 

I've realized that being overwhelmed is counterintuitive. Out of all my studying and research, I've had more disappointments than successes. I'm blaming this on trying to wrap my mind around more than one thing at at time in the beginning. This is where it really helps to know from the beginning where you want to end up. 

From now on, I'll be updating my progress weekly. There just isn't enough to write about for a bi-weekly update. (Especially, since I'm pretty much talking to myself here.) 

So Much Information

You might not want to jump head first into several different things like I did. Actually, DO NOT jump into C, Java, and app development all at once. You have been warned. This stuff is hard enough to figure out as it is, you don't need to be trying to figure out how an app goes together when you can't even read the language to know what it is trying to do. 

First, I suggest going to Khan Academy and going through their programming course. They focus more on visual stuff in the beginning; drawing shapes and making text show up on screen. This will help you get a feel for how to write code and what punctuations you need to use when doing so. I'm not sure what syntax they use, and it may be a little 'elementary' at first. 

Programming languages are called that for a reason. They are languages, and with any language you have syntax (the set of rules that define what various combinations of symbols mean). Just like with the English language, sentences (called statements in a coding program) have a certain way they are organized to make sense to the computer. These statements are made up of words (predetermined keywords) and symbols. The languages (C, C++, Java, Python) all have their own syntax. 

My Train Wreck: 

I bought a book called 'Head First Java'. I'm only about 30 pages in, and it's pretty good so far. I would definitely suggest this book if Java is on your wish list of languages to learn. (I get nothing for suggesting this book.)

I will post some of the app development resources I have later (Microsoft visual studio tutorials and android developer). Those are on my backburner for after I have learned Java...because I realized I had to take a step back and not jump in this head first. 

-Petunia

Where to Begin?

Spray Rainbow Artwork

When you take a course at school or online, they usually have an organized and well planned out syllabus or teaching plan. Each new concept is built on top of the previous. That's all great and everything, but I didn't have access to these. 

It's the wild, wild west. 

My first step was to google as much as I could about the coding/IT field. It turns out that it is as varied as the freckles on my face (and there are a lot of them). I'll let you do your own googling to figure it all out and decide where you want to be in this vast field of computer language. 

I'm still not completely sure where I'm going to end up. App development, website development (front end or back end), security, help desk...there are so many options. All I know for right now is that I need to learn the basic programming language to get started. (Actually two because it's better to be well rounded.)

There are basically three tiers of programming languages:

1. Binary (or machine) - this is the lowest tier and it is what every language is build from. If you've ever seen the matrix, you've seen binary. To you it may look like a black screen with green ones and zeros scrolling around on it (of course this is just an example). It's the most basic thing a computer understands (on/off). No human can read this. It's just not possible, so don't even try. 

2. Assembly - I don't know how to explain this other than to say that I envision this as the language of the hackers from the 80s and 90s. Think IBM computers, guys in their garages and basements shutting down whole government systems. People that know this stuff are considered "old school" and can run circles around anyone born after 1995.

3. High Level Language - Here's where coding stopped being only for the super math geniuses and started being shared with the average and above average intelligent people. These are programs like C, C++, Python, and Java.

My Train Wreck:

I have chosen C and Java as my preferred languages since they are both used widely. 

Humble Beginnings

History lesson: Prior military, single mother of two (eighteen years now), I got my associates at thirty-one years old (Honors), rocked at designing HVAC and plumbing delivery systems for three years, moved eight hundred (yes 800!) miles from home without a secured job and only my mom's support, got a job within two weeks maintaining cad files for a boat company, and have been blowing my bosses away at that job for the last (almost) two years. 

After a particularly difficult day dealing with the less than wonderful aspects of working, I started venting to my daughter and told her that I was quitting at my two year anniversary and the next job I get won't be limited to this state. As an afterthought, I added "this country either". It was those three little words that will change my life forever. 

We quickly decided that we would sell everything and move to New Zealand. We researched visa requirements, economy, the job market, housing, quality of life and cost of living. I came to the conclusion eventually that I would need to change jobs to be able to have a secure income throughout our journey by working remotely. 

My current occupation in Computer Aided Design work could be done remotely, but many employers prefer to have their CAD designers on campus (and honestly, many parts of my job would be torturous if I worked remotely). Freelance work is hit or miss, and it's not likely to pay the bills consistently. Since I had always been interested in coding/IT, I made the decision to change careers. The market for IT jobs is currently skyrocketing, and the Information Systems bachelor's program was only a few classes off from my original program. 

Reality check: Within weeks decided that I would continue at my job while finishing my degree and that we would vacation overseas. Yes, I'm prone to flights of insanity and irrational impulsive decisions. I truly do love working for this company, and some of the people here have become like my extended family. 

I have a hard time waiting for change, and don't graduate until December of 2022 or May of 2023. I'm ready to start in a career in IT, so this leaves me one option...teach myself! Welcome to the show!

-Petunia