Career in programming

[sniffy]

Hey guys

I've recently started programming in C++ in my spare time. Although I've only scratched the surface, I really enjoy it and I feel it is something to look into as a job in the future. I'm sure programming in my spare time and doing it as a job would be two very different things but I feel it is something I should look into.

What is the best route into the industry? Is doing a computer science course at university the only viable route for me into the industry? I'm currently at 6th form doing a BTEC in system support and AS level electronics. I'd really appreciate some opinions on the matter so I can give my brain some food for thought. Thanks guys.

 

[Una]

CS is not really the only way into the industry. If you can demonstrate good coding ability, get the interview and pass the coding tests which are often asked.

Sure having a CS degree really helps you because you understand things a normal programmer would not but it depends on the job to how much of your CS background you can put to use.

A good way to start out would be to contribute to an open source project (possibly do google summer of code etc..). If you can demonstrate the skills needed you should be fine.

As for working as a programmer.. I have been working on and off commercially as a programmer while I study for my CS degree. I find the sort of programming that I do (financial stuff) quite boring and would not want to spend my life doing it...

 

[Haircut]

I did a degree in Mathematical Physics and now work as a developer for a large company.
To be honest not many of my colleagues have done CS degrees, most were scientific of some sort though. I definitely don't think a CS degree is a pre-requisite.

I would say that there is a world of difference between 'programming' and developing professionally. I would estimate that no more that 10-15% of my time is spent actually programming.
To be honest I reckon that business knowledge and ability to communicate with users is far more valuable in my sort of role than actual programming skills.

If you want to spend your time developing algorithms and hardcore CS stuff then you probably won't find what you're after working in the average business.
If, on the other hand, you want to help develop business applications and learn anaylsis and project management skills then this may be way to go.

 

[Chaos]

Some company's take junior programmers so if you did not want to go the uni route you could probably do a Diploma at colllege doing software engineering then try for a junior position. On the job experience would be more valuable than uni imo.

 

[sniffy]

Great reply, thanks Una.

How difficult is the math involved at commercial level? I imagine it varies depending on which area of the industry you work in but I imagine each programmer must possess a certain level of mathematical ability to be component at his job.

Edit

Thank you Haircut and Chaos. Something for me to think about. I'll probably post some questions up one I have had a good think.

 

[Haircut]

How difficult is the math involved at commercial level?

I work for a bank and I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've needed to know maths beyond GCSE level for my job.

 

[Una]

Great reply, thanks Una.

How difficult is the math involved at commercial level? I imagine it varies depending on which area of the industry you work in but I imagine each programmer must possess a certain level of mathematical ability to be component at his job.

Depends on the area totally... You got heavy mathmatical areas like financial derivatives/games programming to the not so mathmatical areas of just creating bog standard applications (web browsers/word processors etc..)

As Haircut says a CS degree is not really needed but most people I know have a scientific/numeric degree (because it requires the same sort of logic/analytical skills). However there are places like Google which ask CS questions in their interview process (Algorithm analysis etc..). Just depends where/what you apply to.

This may sound a little messed up but, programming in general is quite easy. Its the designing/implementing a good solution to the problem which is the hardest part. Anyone can hack together code to provide a working solution but for it to be any good you really need other skills.

 

[Welshy]

If you want to go into development specifically and want/need a university degree, then I suggest going for Software Engineering. In my course I'm learning a range of languages, some project management, development techniques, a bit of everything concerning development.