These are scary times. We are living through an unprecedented global pandemic. The number of unemployed Americans just swelled to six million. When this all ends, we will emerge into a different world than the one we left. None the less, while most companies lay people off, some are still…
Author Archives: Cory Althoff
Is Programming Recession-Proof?
With COVID-19 bringing the economy to a halt, the stock market crashing, and even the most optimistic economists predicting a recession, you are probably thinking about your economic security. I am too, which led me to ask myself: is programming recession-proof? So I dug into the data, and in this…
The Best Online Coding Courses for Self-Taught Programmers
So you want to learn to program? Great idea! Learning to code will help your career regardless of whether you want to become a software engineer or use your skills in another field. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to go back to school or spend 20 thousand dollars…
Should You Learn Python in 2020?
So you’ve heard about Python, but you aren’t sure if you should invest time learning it or not? Don’t worry; you aren’t alone! As the author of a book called The Self-Taught Programmer that teaches Python, and the creator of a Facebook group with fifty thousand self-taught programmers in it,…
The Best Programming Podcasts For Self-Taught Programmers
You probably already listen to entertaining podcasts like Serial and This American Life. But did you know there are also programming podcasts, software engineering podcasts, and computer science podcasts that can help you improve as a developer? There are even coding podcasts that show you a day in the life…
8 Companies That Hire Programmers Without Degrees
Looking for a programming job can be intimidating, especially if you are a programmer without a degree. Sometimes it feels like every employer is looking for someone with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in CS. But don’t worry, in this article I will show you eight companies where you can…
How Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Learned to Code
Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with his long-time friend Bill Gates. And while Gates might be the public face of Microsoft, Allen came up with the name—a combination of microcomputer and software. The partnership between Gates and Allen changed history. Yet when they met, Allen and Gates were barely teenagers,…
Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian Almost Gave Up On Programming in College
At a startup event, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian presented his vision for the future. “Every business is going to be a software business in the future. Just full stop.” But Ohanian nearly gave up on programming in college. After taking a single computer science course, Ohanian stuck with a double…
The Best Programming Blogs You Should Read Daily
Programming blogs offer expert advice from skilled coders, tutorials for beginners, and career advice for programs at every level. By reading programming blogs daily, you can stay ahead of the curve and learn more about the profession. You’ll read about the latest trends, learn tricks of the trade, and master…
What is backend development?
As a new programmer, it can be intimidating to figure out what field you want to specialize in. There are so many different options: frontend development, backend development, data science, mobile development, and on and on. It can all be very confusing. Two of the most popular options are backend…