When my temporary contract was ending, and my wife and I found out we were expecting our first baby, life got real—fast. But life doesn’t stop, right? Somehow, I managed to secure a full-time job (not exactly as a software developer, more like a semi-developer role).
Today, I wanted to share the resources I leaned on back then (and still would, even now) if I were working full-time and had a goal to move into software engineering.
Self-Taught Learning (Main Sources)
1. Udemy
💡 My favorite platform for heavy-duty courses.
Courses here are LONG—like 40–68 hours kind of long. They’re designed to take you from zero to advanced levels, but they’re intense and can be overwhelming for beginners. Udemy feels more suited for intermediate-to-advanced learners.
⚠️ Pro tip: NEVER pay full price. Wait for discounts—they happen all the time.
2. Codecademy
💡 The opposite of Udemy in many ways.
Codecademy is all about quick theory + maximum practice, right in your browser. No setup required. It’s fantastic for complete beginners. You get three frames: theory, terminal/log, and output—simple, clean, and engaging.
⚠️ Pro tip: Start with the free version. Only upgrade when you absolutely need it.
3. YouTube & FreeCodeCamp
💡 Free and packed with gems.
The challenge here is filtering out the noise. Not every tutorial is gold, but if you search wisely, you’ll find gems that are super valuable.
Text-Based Resources (For Reference)
- MDN (JavaScript)
The holy grail for JavaScript devs. Perfect for checking methods or digging into JavaScript intricacies. - React.dev (React)
Whether you’re starting with React or just need to look up hooks, this is the official go-to resource.
⚠️ Note: Text-based learning wasn’t my jam, but I know it works for others.
Books
Fuck, I have no idea. Books never clicked for me. 🤷
Bootcamps & Part-Time Courses
- Location matters.
I’m based in Toronto and attended Juno College (formerly HackerYou). I took part-time courses in Web Dev (CSS & HTML) and Web Dev (JS & React).
Pros:
✅ Community vibes.
✅ Structured learning.
✅ Supportive environment.
Cons:
❌ Expensive (we’re talking $$$).
❌ Sometimes outdated material.
❌ Group pacing can be tough—if you fall behind, you’re screwed.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Self-paced online courses feel more effective now.
Final Thoughts
I hope these insights help you on your coding journey. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or just trying to figure out where to start, remember—you’re not alone in this.
Good luck, keep pushing, and let’s share experiences in the comments. Let’s chat and support each other in this wild coding adventure! 🙌
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