January 2017 – Znergy

My First Javascript Project

Well, it’s nearly 1 am, and I just finished posting my first project to GitHub. I have a lot of potential code that I could pull from to start adding more projects to GitHub, but I’ve only recently learned how to work the software. Alright, so first project posted, it’s still a work in progress, but I wrote all of the code for this application today. The weirdest part, I wasn’t using android studio or java. I was using javascript, which I’ve only touched for the first time a week ago.

Earlier, I had this feeling that I should continue with the web development course I’m taking on Udemy.com. So, I followed the feeling, jumped on and started the next video. When out of nowhere, I was like “well, if I use what he just explained. I could start doing some of the basic logic for a blackjack game.” All though, I’m going to give myself a lot of credit, because I was pulling from a lot more than a couple lines of basic javascript, the instructor was teaching.

I was using similar code, I had used previously with Java. The entire time I was coding, I kept feeling surprised when the code would work. It was like, each problem or bug I encountered didn’t discourage me from continuing. The problem of hitting a barrier, then stopping, has plagued me in the past. Regardless, I didn’t stop. I kept going, and even though it’s still early, I feel proud that I made so much progress in a completely new language.

The project I’m working on is blackjack, which I always play when I go to the casino. I’ve always thought it would be cool to build out, all of the casino style games, and play around with them. Only now do I believe I will actually get there. Anyways, I made some decent progress today, and I have to say I’m a huge fan of javascript now.

If you’re interested in seeing my code, you can follow my GitHub link at https://github.com/Znergy

Just click “Blackjack-Game”, to see my html, javascript, and the Readme file.

The Github Meetup

I went to a meetup about Github yesterday, and learned a lot more than I expected. The meetup was held at an old fully restored hotel in downtown Portland. It was interesting because the elevators were skinny, resembling a rectangle more than the usual square shape modern elevators have. Regardless, I crammed myself in with another programmer and we headed up to the third floor.

The meetup event organizer was Tech Academy and the host was from Code Oregon, they had part of the third floor reserved. As I was walking in, a cart full of pizza rolled right by me. I have to say, any meetup with pizza is infinitely better than a meetup without pizza. People were already starting to take their seats, and everyone seemed to be meeting each other. One thing I definitely need to improve on.

After, we all got our fill of pizza and soda the presenter was ready to start. A guy named Michael, started us off. We dove straight into Git and Github. Apparently, there is a difference between Git and Github, by the name I just assumed they were one in the same. However, Git is the actual version control software. Where as, Github is a “social media platform for code”.

Alright, so what is version control? Version control is the task of keeping a software system consisting of many versions and configurations well organized. Basically, if you have a file, and you upload that file using Git. Git will track the file, and report anytime changes are made to that file. Meaning you can work by yourself or with a team and be able to track the changes everyone makes.

Now the fun part is Github. With Github you can upload your projects, create a portfolio using markdown language (aka Readme), and make all your code visible to future employers or anyone else for that matter. Michael told a story about a kid who was going to these meetups and was actively using Github to help contribute to open source projects, and one day this kid got a phone call from a company out in Colorado. The company offered him a system admin position for $55k, and it was all thanks to his GitHub account. When a company cold calls you, that’s when you know you’re doing good.

Another thing that’s cool about Github, you can follow other coders. Let’s say your favorite language is Java, well you can find some google engineer who codes in Java, and look at his work. I’m sure you can reason why that would be extremely beneficial, but I’ll tell you anyways. First, it allows you to see quality code from working software engineers or developers. Second, it’s free. You’re allowed to pull down the code from Github, and mess around with it.

The technical side of Github, I’m still learning myself. When I start at Epicodus, here in 10 days. I’ll be diving really deep into using Git through the terminal or command line, but for now I’ll probably stick to the Github desktop client. If you’re interested in messing around with Github and posting your own projects or playing around with the version control software, follow this link to download the desktop client, https://desktop.github.com/.

Anyways, it was a fun meetup with a lot of interesting people and topics. I even got in front of all of them for a brief minute to talk about my greatest weakness. Overall, I would say that I’m a fan of Tech Academy and Code Oregon, and I’ll definitely be back. If you’re in Portland, I would check them out at https://www.meetup.com/CodeOregon/. Thanks, for reading.

Coding Bootcamp

The next 6 months..

Starting Feb. 7th, I will be attending a coding bootcamp for Mobile Application Development. The bootcamps name is Epicodus and it will be held in downtown Portland. Epicodus is known for implementing a growing style of programming, called peer-programming.

Peer-programming, is when two programmers work together, to increase efficiency and reduce errors. The best part about going to a peer-programming bootcamp, is having to constantly communicate with other campers, and having to adapt to my partners skill level.

Every day, I will be partnered off with another camper, and that implies at some point I will be partnered with someone more knowledgeable and less knowledgable then myself. I like this idea for a couple of reasons..

Explaining code to someone else will be a valuable skill later on..
If I get stuck at some point, my partner may be able to bail me out, explain why something is done, and hopefully fill that gap in my understanding.

Now, at the time of writing this post, I’m a couple days from starting my Epicodus journey. However, there has been obstacles. The most prominent one, and the one that never seems to stop is money. The reason why I hit this obstacle so hard and without time to swerve was due to a lack of knowledge.

I’ve never had to be so diligent about my finances, and how I spend my time. Because I’ve never done anything like this before, and no one I know personally has. People talk about mapping their own course, well I’m really trying to do just that. A few days ago, I gave this entire commitment (time/money) a lot of thought. The conclusion I came to is simple. I want more from my life, and I’m tired of waiting for it to happen.

My advice, for attacking the money obstacle..

Be very thorough in how you calculate your upcoming expenses.
Always add room for unexpected costs.
Don’t assume anything until the money is actually in your hand.

I thought I had been thorough, then my financial aid ended up being 1/3rd of what I got the semester before. That was tough. When I tried to adjust to the amount I was getting, it no longer worked. However, the next day brought a lot of positive encouragement.

When I woke up, I still felt pretty depressed. I mean someone could say, well you don’t need a bootcamp to be a software developer. That’s absolutely true, but I wanted to commit myself. Not hope that later on, I would find my way to the goal line. Well, my phone rings. It’s my old boss, she tells me that they are moving forward with rehiring me and the paper work is being finalized.

Armed with that new information, I started readjusting my finances, and although I didn’t have the next 6 months worked out. I was able to lock up the money for the first quarter of the bootcamp, and put a pretty big dent in the rest of it. Good, mission accomplished.

I’m telling this part of the story, because I got thrown a curve ball, and you will probably will too. A six month, 40 hour a week, bootcamp is going to challenge you. Adapting to those challenges, then overcoming them are powerful skills to develop. Lastly, I’ll leave you with some wise words..

“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” – Mike Tyson