Is it possible to learn programming without paying anything?

[DonIago]

Are you familiar with the adage about biting the hand that feeds you?

I wasn't going to say anything, having had enough of this the last time you started a thread like this, but it's galling that you're continuing to attack people who are offering you free advice in good faith while resisting any help they offer.

When you won't even reveal what your last course of study was, something that should be a pretty non-controversial, low-pressure question and that may enable people to better assist you, why should anyone be inclined to reach out further?

I hope you find a career that makes you happy and successful, but you're not going to find it by lashing out at anyone who tells you things you don't want to hear.

 

[Finn]

You’re being Classist, right? I’m too poor to study IT this late into adulthood, so I’m obviously to stupid to learn anything. Poor = stupid. Do you vote Conservative?

Whut?

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Are you familiar with the adage about biting the hand that feeds you?

I wasn't going to say anything, having had enough of this the last time you started a thread like this, but it's galling that you're continuing to attack people who are offering you free advice in good faith while resisting any help they offer.

When you won't even reveal what your last course of study was, something that should be a pretty non-controversial, low-pressure question and that may enable people to better assist you, why should anyone be inclined to reach out further?

I hope you find a career that makes you happy and successful, but you're not going to find it by lashing out at anyone who tells you things you don't want to hear.

It was in social and political sciences.

 

[StarCruiser]

Good lord...

Okay - you need to stop being so defensive. You have basically started trolling (probably not deliberately but still).

IT is a very variable business to be in. I know, I've been in it - in one form or another - for over 30 years. If you really have the mind for programming (and no, that has nothing to do with wealth - just intellect and focus) by all means push for it. Coding/Programming can be a good business to be in but - remember that MANY (almost all) IT jobs can be outsourced or even off-shored. Especially things like programming.

Do you have good basic health now? Are you reasonably fit? If so, maybe look to start out just learning how to service computer equipment in the field.

If you have ever repaired or built your own computer system, you may have the basic skills for that. Some service providers will require some type of degree, others will train you to handle certain types of service themselves.

It doesn't pay as much (in proportion) as it did 30 years back but, it's still at least a living wage over here (Texas). Once you get your foot in the door that way, get more stable income, then you can start looking at adding skills. Depending on who you are working for, they may even pay for you to learn some programming skills.

Above all, you need to keep in mind that you can't just magically jump into something completely different from what you have been doing and expect to be immediately successful. If you have only used web browsers and surfed the "InterTubes" (old nickname for the internet) and have no experience actually supported computers, or doing ANYTHING like programming, you will find that this career path has a VERY steep learning curve.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

That's out of the way. Now, as I said, I've been at this for over 30 years. I took every science class my little home-town High School had back the late 70's to early 80's, including Computer Science. I hated math (without purpose) with a passion and didn't do well in those classes but, for whatever reason, did extremely well with Biology, Chemistry and Physics classes (the instructors were incredibly good and really cared, that always helps).

Even with all of that, combined with general exposure to computers through most of the 1980's, I went down the path of old-school drafting instead. Comes in 1986 and BOOM! Oil industry crashes hard (not quite as bad as it is now but, I digress). I had to find a new career - and all I could do for awhile was retail jobs. That's what pushed me to getting into computers for a living.

Even having been at this for 30 years, I most definitely do NOT know everything. I also have absolutely NO interest in programming. I did do some in High School and in the Technical School I got my Computer Science Degree from but, I couldn't really get into it solidly enough to want to do it for a living. That work is very tedious and time-consuming.

Remember the old Programmers' mantra:

"It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of java that thoughts acquire speed. The hand acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion."

There's a reason for that!

 

[Australis]

I started studying IT later than you (33). I didn't want to be a blue collar worker any more. Blue collar work didn't pay well.

I want to work in IT... if I could get all the training paid for me, I would do it straight away. IT sounds ideal, secure well paid work, pandemic proof, can be done if you have physical disability, you can do it as you age and get unable to do manual work, you can afford to live; all good.

Let me tell you a little about myself. I went to college and got qualifications, they weren't much but a definite step up. I learned a little programming, learned (on the job) a little HTML, a lot about databases (there are still database jobs around), and a lot of technical support. A lot of it really is on the job. Then I got cancer and had to take time off, a couple years. Now that I'm looking at going back... everything has changed. So much is now automated, and the IT industry is going through a lot of changes.

In other words, it's not as secure as you might think it is.

Again, what is the thing your passionate about, driven to learn more about? If you want to do a job because "the money", it will not go well for you.

It wasn’t in computer science or any other STEM subject.( I don’t even have passes at GCSE maths or science.) It’s i. an academic subject, one which has no crossover with computer science or IT

Let's say your original degree was in medieval poetry. A lot of that stuff is now being digitised and still requires real people to translate it. Does your previous discipline appear online? Then someone had to sit down in front of a computer to make that happen.

 

[cultcross]

You’re being Classist, right? I’m too poor to study IT this late into adulthood, so I’m obviously to stupid to learn anything. Poor = stupid. Do you vote Conservative?

You don't sound like someone who wants to study IT because every suggestion made to enable you to do so gets dismissed. If your question is actually "will someone give up their time to teach me programming for free", the answer is no, unless you have a friend who would do it for you. If you want to learn yourself, using free resources, there have been plenty linked in the thread. The internet allows free study of almost anything, but you're going to have to put the work in, and be willing to explore the subject, not just dismiss everything as "too advanced".

Plus, you have a skewed view of the industry:

I want to work in IT... if I could get all the training paid for me, I would do it straight away. IT sounds ideal, secure well paid work, pandemic proof, can be done if you have physical disability, you can do it as you age and get unable to do manual work, you can afford to live; all good.

IT is, naturally, very open to automation, outsourcing and all the other things which make jobs insecure, and the tech world can be volatile like any other business. If what you want is a secure, pandemic proof job with good Ts and Cs, and you have a social sciences background, I would consider the public sector before IT.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Good lord...

Okay - you need to stop being so defensive. You have basically started trolling (probably not deliberately but still).

IT is a very variable business to be in. I know, I've been in it - in one form or another - for over 30 years. If you really have the mind for programming (and no, that has nothing to do with wealth - just intellect and focus) by all means push for it. Coding/Programming can be a good business to be in but - remember that MANY (almost all) IT jobs can be outsourced or even off-shored. Especially things like programming.

Do you have good basic health now? Are you reasonably fit? If so, maybe look to start out just learning how to service computer equipment in the field.

If you have ever repaired or built your own computer system, you may have the basic skills for that. Some service providers will require some type of degree, others will train you to handle certain types of service themselves.

It doesn't pay as much (in proportion) as it did 30 years back but, it's still at least a living wage over here (Texas). Once you get your foot in the door that way, get more stable income, then you can start looking at adding skills. Depending on who you are working for, they may even pay for you to learn some programming skills.

Above all, you need to keep in mind that you can't just magically jump into something completely different from what you have been doing and expect to be immediately successful. If you have only used web browsers and surfed the "InterTubes" (old nickname for the internet) and have no experience actually supported computers, or doing ANYTHING like programming, you will find that this career path has a VERY steep learning curve.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

That's out of the way. Now, as I said, I've been at this for over 30 years. I took every science class my little home-town High School had back the late 70's to early 80's, including Computer Science. I hated math (without purpose) with a passion and didn't do well in those classes but, for whatever reason, did extremely well with Biology, Chemistry and Physics classes (the instructors were incredibly good and really cared, that always helps).

Even with all of that, combined with general exposure to computers through most of the 1980's, I went down the path of old-school drafting instead. Comes in 1986 and BOOM! Oil industry crashes hard (not quite as bad as it is now but, I digress). I had to find a new career - and all I could do for awhile was retail jobs. That's what pushed me to getting into computers for a living.

Even having been at this for 30 years, I most definitely do NOT know everything. I also have absolutely NO interest in programming. I did do some in High School and in the Technical School I got my Computer Science Degree from but, I couldn't really get into it solidly enough to want to do it for a living. That work is very tedious and time-consuming.

Remember the old Programmers' mantra:

"It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of java that thoughts acquire speed. The hand acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion."

There's a reason for that!

The “servicing in the field” thing I won’t be able to do if it requires being able to drive — I cannot drive due to health problems (as in I can’t legally get a driving licence). Would it be something non-qualified people could get into, using just public transport?

 

[Galactic Alignment]

You don't sound like someone who wants to study IT because every suggestion made to enable you to do so gets dismissed. If your question is actually "will someone give up their time to teach me programming for free", the answer is no, unless you have a friend who would do it for you. If you want to learn yourself, using free resources, there have been plenty linked in the thread. The internet allows free study of almost anything, but you're going to have to put the work in, and be willing to explore the subject, not just dismiss everything as "too advanced".

Plus, you have a skewed view of the industry:


IT is, naturally, very open to automation, outsourcing and all the other things which make jobs insecure, and the tech world can be volatile like any other business. If what you want is a secure, pandemic proof job with good Ts and Cs, and you have a social sciences background, I would consider the public sector before IT.

Public sector jobs are very low paid and insecure. You only get single year contracts at best. They aren’t more secure than private sector and you’ll be paid less. I’d rather work in something that offers a decent standard of living. I’m NOT after like earning £100,000/year immediately, just something where I can eat properly, have a holiday once a year, afford to see a dentist regularly, etc... just the basics.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

I started studying IT later than you (33). I didn't want to be a blue collar worker any more. Blue collar work didn't pay well.


Let me tell you a little about myself. I went to college and got qualifications, they weren't much but a definite step up. I learned a little programming, learned (on the job) a little HTML, a lot about databases (there are still database jobs around), and a lot of technical support. A lot of it really is on the job. Then I got cancer and had to take time off, a couple years. Now that I'm looking at going back... everything has changed. So much is now automated, and the IT industry is going through a lot of changes.

In other words, it's not as secure as you might think it is.

Again, what is the thing your passionate about, driven to learn more about? If you want to do a job because "the money", it will not go well for you.


Let's say your original degree was in medieval poetry. A lot of that stuff is now being digitised and still requires real people to translate it. Does your previous discipline appear online? Then someone had to sit down in front of a computer to make that happen.

The jobs available that SPECIFICALLY require my existing degree subject require postgraduate qualifications, i can’t use my degree other than for jobs that require generic degrees (like a bachelors degree of any subject is the minimal requirement). It’s a long time ago I did my degree and I honestly don’t remember the course content .

 

[Galactic Alignment]

BTW I realise now that I’ve fallen for the “got a degree in Subject X? Get a job using Subject X” baiting. My degree is of little use and I WANT TO RETRAIN!

 

[DimesDan]

BTW I realise now that I’ve fallen for the “got a degree in Subject X? Get a job using Subject X” baiting. My degree is of little use and I WANT TO RETRAIN!

That's fantastic, what have you done in the last year since you asked the same question to further your knowledge base around the IT industry?

 

[Galactic Alignment]

That's fantastic, what have you done in the last year since you asked the same question to further your knowledge base around the IT industry?

Applied for jobs, asked at recruitment agencies? I. Got nowhere of course, but at least I tried. If the gatekeepers won’t let me past the gate, and I can’t afford to take taught courses, there’s not much more I can do from what I know of things. On the job paid training would be ideal, bu t that doesn’t really exist.

 

[DimesDan]

Applied for jobs, asked at recruitment agencies? I. Got nowhere of course, but at least I tried. If the gatekeepers won’t let me past the gate, and I can’t afford to take taught courses, there’s not much more I can do from what I know of things. On the job paid training would be ideal, bu t that doesn’t really exist.

And it that time, have you researched anything about the IT industry? have you looked at any free online resources? Have you been proactive in anyway?

 

[Galactic Alignment]

And it that time, have you researched anything about the IT industry? have you looked at any free online resources? Have you been proactive in anyway?

. If I’m applying for jobs, with their long form filling, how is that not “proactive”?. I am asking here about IT, how is that no “proactive”? OF COURSE I haven’t signed up for a computer science degree or whatever, BECAUSE I CAN’T AFFORD TO. I AM S TARVING TO DEATH, I DO NOT HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS LYING AROUND

You really have the cruelty of a concentration camp guard. My great grandparents were likely murdered by people with your same mindset.

 

[DimesDan]

. If I’m applying for jobs, with their long form filling, how is that not “proactive”?. I am asking here about IT, how is that no “proactive”? OF COURSE I haven’t signed up for a computer science degree or whatever, BECAUSE I CSN’T AFFORD TO

You really have the cruelty of a concentration camp guard. My great grandparents were likely murdered by people with your same mindset.

Because I am asking you questions about what you've done in the last year, you're comparing me to a concentration camp guard. That's amusing in the absurdness of it.

But to answer your question, no, I personally do not think you have been proactive in the last year. You haven't shown any growth or willingness to grow or actually learn a new trade such as being in the IT industry since last time you asked.

 

[Finn]

Dude...Dimesdan has been exceedingly nice...more than myself.

Get help please.

 

[Kor]

If you have been researching the IT field, and coding is more appealing than the various other aspects of IT, then a good starting point might be the "Simple coding" course offered for free by OpenLearn (from the Open University):
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/scie.../content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab

This should give enough of a taste of coding that you can tell if it's something that you really want to pursue further, or if you would rather get into another branch of Information Technology.

Kor

 

[Gary Mitchell]

.

You really have the cruelty of a concentration camp guard. My great grandparents were likely murdered by people with your same mindset.

That was completely uncalled for.

 

[Finn]

^yep

 

[{ Emilia }]

This thread is getting a temporary timeout. I’m currently busy offline but expect another mod post from me before I reopen this.

I’ve been shaking my head in disbelief a lot reading this.