Programming

16996 readers

248 users here now

Welcome to the main community in programming.dev! Feel free to post anything relating to programming here!

Cross posting is strongly encouraged in the instance. If you feel your post or another person's post makes sense in another community cross post into it.

Hope you enjoy the instance!

Rules

Follow the programming.dev instance rules
Keep content related to programming in some way
If you're posting long videos try to add in some form of tldr for those who don't want to watch videos

Wormhole

Follow the wormhole through a path of communities !webdev@programming.dev

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

snowe@programming.dev

Ategon@programming.dev

MaungaHikoi@lemmy.nz

102

I need help getting back into development (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 1 week ago by jawa21@lemmy.sdf.org to c/programming@programming.dev

52 comments fedilink hide all child comments

A little background: Through my teens in the 90's I did a lot of the things you may expect. I was a script kiddie on mIRC, made a tank game in Unreal Engine, and did some Quake modding. From 2002-2004 I landed a job doing Java web dev, SQL, and overall database administration because my father's friend needed someone that could do that. I was ok at the job, but not great. Being young, my hobby that turned into a 9-5 made me want to stab my eyes out and I quit.

With that said, I can understand a lot of what's going on, but it doesn't "click" anymore. I spent 20 years as a career machinist, but I physically can't do that anymore. Here's the rub - my twin brother is a brittle diabetic and can't work (lots of other stuff going on as well), and our mother is getting old (father passed this year). The only reasonable way forward that I can see in order to be able to support my brother is trying to get back into development.

When I stopped, subversion was what we used. I'm trying to understand Git, but it's a giant conceptual leap. I guess, what I'd like to hear from you all is a way to jump back in as quickly as possible in such a way that it may be a career.

Thanks

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I’m trying to understand Git, but it’s a giant conceptual leap.

In that case, I suggest learning Mercurial first. Its underlying design is very similar to Git, but the interface is more consistent and does a much better job of presenting the concepts to humans (especially those already familiar with traditional version control). Then, once you're comfortable with the concepts and commands in Mercurial, learn Git, since it's everywhere nowadays.

Consider learning at least one new language, if not immediately (since you're in a hurry) then in your free time. Java is only one of many (and not even a particularly nice one IMHO). Try to find a language that you enjoy using; your programming life will be better for it. If you want something flexible and productive, consider Python. For more structure than that, maybe Go. If mobile apps interest you, there are Kotlin (Android), Swift (iOS), and Dart (both). If web development appeals to you, along with lots of job openings and lots of competition for those jobs, JavaScript. If you fancy the esoteric (and well-paying), Elixir and Erlang are worth a look. Lower level languages are in demand as well (e.g. C++, Rust) but they come with various kinds of pain that I wouldn't recommend to someone in your situation.

Above all, please make sure you're reserving time for things that make you happy, sleep, and (if still possible) some kind of exercise. Your own physical and mental health are important. If you endure a bad working environment or wear yourself thin for too long, you will burn out, which won't help you provide for yourself or anyone else.

Take care, OP.