Ask HN: Where should my dad start to learn to code?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12907614

by kerposaurus • 10 years ago

3 4 10 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

My dad's in his fifties and will have to change his career from what he's been doing for the past 20+ years. I recommended he should try coding as I believe he's bright enough to pick it up and the demand for people who can code doesn't seem to be decreasing. He's now enrolled to a python class and slowly moving forward.

Obviously I don't want to force this on him. Just want him to get enough of a taste at first to see if he likes it. If he does, how should he continue?

Should I just push him to try codecademy or similar sites? What would be the shortest path to learn for him to land a job?

jkujawski• 10 years ago

It all depends on what you want him to learn :)

Codecademy seems fine, I've also found https://codecombat.com/play :) maybe it's more fun :)

If you want your dad to be full-stack dev :) Maybe push him towards learning backend development ( like python as you mentioned ) and use some MADPs ( Mobile Apps Development Platforms ), like https://www.kinetise.com. Which basically allows you drag and drop mobile application and connect it to your backend. It will give him more fun to create mobile apps as well.

kerposaurus2• 10 years ago

Well I kinda want him to figure that out himself. I've been thinking of giving him a quick hands on overview of some tools, algorithms and design patterns. Maybe even give him some sort of hobby project to work with.

allthatglitters• 10 years ago

I'm 67 and love programming - all self taught. Without knowing your father let me suggest this with a caveat; there is no right way to learn something as we are each different. What works for one fails for another. Here are my suggestions. First, Python. A "class" or online course doesn't really allow for setting a personal learning pace. I found "Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science" by Zeile to be perfect for me. Second find something - a goal - to motivate the process; a website for a local charity, a payment site for a small municipal water company or for the local town office or volunteer fire company etc. Build it out with Django. And along the way build out a personal website with Pelican. Turn a Chromebook into a linux machine with GalliumOS and use only text editors - IDE's just add unneeded complexity. If you have a compelling reason to learn something - you will. When he builds something - put it on Github. It becomes his resume - along with his dialog of "the road to learning" he might post on his Pelican blog! Results trump certificates and degrees.

kerposaurus2• 10 years ago

Your comment is quite assuring comforting. I guess I'll just try to push him on to lear new things until he's found something he likes :)

Ask HN: Where should my dad start to learn to code?

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