I’m having a hard time with some of the projects and assignments of a Fullstack bootcamp program which I am currently two month into. It would be immensely valuable if I had someone I could meet with every week or so to help me better grasp class materials and get through sticking points with projects. At this moment I’m stumbling my way through an assigned project of building a website with html/css/js for a RESTful api based web app which makes a number of fetch requests to a database to map the apis resources to my website. It’s been very challenging and time consuming like every other project, and I wish I had more impressive and professional looking projects so that I could be proud of the portfolio I’m supposed to be making with these projects for when I graduate.
Next week we start the back-end technologies with Java, and soon after we’ll dive into python and MySQL so I’ll be interested in any guidance I can get for those technologies as well.
I’m open to any form of help or suggestions for specific Udemy classes too. Anything that can help me maximize my limited timeframes to learn these technologies and skills. Thank you in advance.
Answers
Thank you, Ruben; DMing you now.
Joe,
That is all really great advice and exactly what I plan to do while job searching after the course ends. The comic you posted at the end is too true - being an artist in one form or another for more years than I can put a definite number to has had it’s affect on my taste and standards for anything I create. Having the opportunity to produce the quantity of works I need to produce in order to start pumping out decent pieces is something I dream of but don’t have at the moment. You’re very right about learning Java - it is far from straight forward as a beginner. The whole class is really feeling the pressure after this week, even the more advanced and experienced students. No way through it but to get through it.
Thank you all so much for the extremely helpful responses. Sorry I went ghost - class has been extremely fast paced and my free time has been lately non existent. Richard - I’m browsing those links you posted to your website and it looks like there’s a ton of value here - thanks a lot! I’ll be a regular here I’m sure. The Java video link appears to be broken though, not sure if you’re aware =)
Hello Cory,
I completed a full stack software development boot camp sometime ago, the projects you described sound a lot like what I had to learn. I'm no expert by any means but if you still need help maybe I can offer advice based on my experience. DM me if you'd like to connect. Take care.
Hello Cory.
Don't be discouraged. I have not taken a bootcamp course, but my impression is that they are fast paced cram courses. I have been through similar 'industry' courses. Do not expect to be an expert after completion. Hopefully, the bootcamp gets you started and provides you with a basic understanding of the different subjects.
The good news is that there is lots of help out there AFTER bootcamp. There is plenty of good, free, material on websites and youtube, as well as good 'pay' material (like udemy as you mentioned and many others). Remember to use Google when you run into problems or have questions. It is good that the bootcamp tries to tie together the various technologies, backend dev, MySql, java, Python, etc. But understand, each one of those topics could be a one semester course.
Getting into development, as you are, it is always easiest to learn one technology at a time. That is, take one step at a time, by breaking the problem into bite sized pieces. A good way to learn programming/technology is to define a practical, realistic, project for yourself and keep at it until the project is completed. That forces you to find answers in areas you do not understand, but THEN YOU ARE LEARNING.
For example, you mentioned java, Python, and MySql were coming up. Lets use these as examples. After bootcamp is over, spend some time with each one separately, maybe a week, maybe more, until you feel comfortable with the subject. Then set a sensible project goal for yourself. For example, for the languages write a program for windows that asks the user for their name and weight, and then display the info. After that go on to MySql, and load it on your LOCAL pc, and MANUALLY make a table having columns for a person's name, weight, and time. By this time you should feel comfortable with each technology. Now tie them together. Modify the programs to store the entered name and weight, along with a timestamp into the local MySql database table. The next step is to implement this project on a SERVER, then a web interface(html), then display all the db data, then... You get the idea. You can stop whenever you feel you are comfortable with the technology. You will be surprised at how much you learn AND UNDERSTAND by doing your own projects. Also, these projects can be used as demos at interviews.
When bootcamp is over, it is just the beginning. In development there are always new technologies and languages coming out, but that is part of what makes it interesting. Look forward to always learning new things and I hope you enjoy your new career Cory.
Joe
(Thanks to Krista for sharing her bootcamp experience!)
Hey Cory,
1. What is the course you are doing? Link to agenda please
2. Often these courses cramp so much that it is typical to get only to a level 3 of 10 if pushing all the time at best.
My advice, better to take a hit of being level 0-1 in some and level 5 in some.
3. So, given that and what you said, I would say, dive and use a python web server,
https://flask.palletsprojects.com/ use to be great
and phone in for Java (though I code in it, it is an impossible impossible path as you will go ahead UT-Austin and other CS grads who spent 4 months studying algorithms)
and if needed use a quick setup DB instead of MySQL for first few projects
4. Latter, just between UI (React and NoCode are also in vogue) v/s Python BE, make one more of your strength.
5. Feel free to DM(for faster attention) me resources and I can recommend if I know about one is better over other
6. Mind control is part of battle. About "I had more impressive and professional looking projects", the one way I know is to build so many and focus on improving next. It seems you already have good taste, see this
https://www.zenpencils.com/comic/90-ira-glass-advice-for-beginners/
I've added links to information & videos under these sections of my EE webpage that might be useful:
http://eehot.com/ee.html#datascience
http://eehot.com/ee.html#languages
http://eehot.com/ee.html#training
Instructions & links for how to get free LinkedIn premium for one year:
http://eehot.com/ee.html#networking
Hi Cory,
I'm a frontend engineer that went through a coding bootcamp (Flatiron web development) back in 2019. Feel free to send me a direct message and I'll see what I can do to help with your current project.
Best,
Krista
Your Answer
Please log in to answer this question.