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Is it too late to learn to think/write code?

7 points by uttiyo ↗ HN
I an 32 years old. Have been a design professional [Architectural Design] for 10 odd years now. I have been lethargically trying to develop a web application for a while now. I have realized over time that the same lead-by-example leadership that I have been able to demonstrate for multi-million dollar real estate and built-environment projects... is not applicable for the world of machine-language... since I am green on even the basic parameters and constraints in question. My [much younger] technology savvy friends tell me - "There is a _time_ for everything" - effectively calling me out to be an over-the-hill humbug.

I think of this as baloney. So my question to HN is in two parts: 1.Are you _ever_ too old to learn to write code? 2. If not, where do I start?

[Warning: People with answers to #2 might frequently be asked stupid questions by me in the future]

15 comments

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uttiyo
I missed putting in an "Ask HN:" on my post. Sorry
scottporad
1. No.

2. To get into it casually, I recommend that people start with Hackety Hack. If you're more serious, I would go take some class. Honestly, that's how I got started...I took an 8 hour class on HTML at the local university computing center.

brianm
It is not too late. The biggest problem people generally have learning something significantly new later in life is fear of looking stupid. As long as you don't mind looking stupid, you should have no problems. By this, I mean displaying your ignorance in asking for help, showing people your not-yet-beautiful-oreven-working code, and so on.

I would suggest Zed Shaw's http://learnpythonthehardway.org/ is probably one of the best self-paced and self-taught courses on truly beginning programming available on the internets right now.

In general, assuming normal health, the only major changes in terms of ability to learn occur in early childhood. There is evidence that you learn much more easily as a very young child, and structural patterns, around language in particular, become harder to change after puberty. This seems to be accepted in cognitive development circles, but the research is not overwhelming.

abbasmehdi
+1 for "internets". Oh how I miss that dubya. :)
billiamram
I wouldn't say it's too late. As with any adoption of new thought processes, you'll face a few challenges in overcoming conflicting ways of thinking if any, but it is definitely doable.

Here are a few "How to" guides with references to other resources that I've found helpful from my time scavenging hacker news:

http://www.jpstacey.info/blog/2011/03/13/how-construct-web-d...

http://www.silvertreksystems.com/checklist.html

http://krainboltgreene.heroku.com/log/2

I generally do better with task oriented learning, so I find it helpful to have something specific that I want to build, but everyone has a different learning style. Either way try to have fun and enjoy the learning. Good luck!

abbasmehdi
One piece of advice, programming is hands on, and that is the best way to learn it.
mbenjaminsmith
I started learning software at 32.

I got a couple of things out of your question:

1. You're wondering if it's worthwhile. 2. You're struggling to finish something that's likely already within your capabilities.

Yeah, it's definitely worthwhile. I've brought a small software company further than a business I spent five years on (a PR agency) in a much shorter amount of time including the time it took me to learn a few languages. Having said that, I became addicted to it and spent nearly 5k hours on programming my first year and almost that much the second. It took no effort because I was hooked as soon as I started. I think you need to ask yourself if you really love writing software and are afraid to completely commit to it (it is time consuming and somewhat intimidating) or if you just think it's any interesting possibility for a career change. If it's the latter it probably won't be worth it for you.

If it does excite you, I'd suggest picking very small projects (and yeah, with an easy language like Python) that you can finish within a short period of time. There's nothing like finishing projects to motivate you and give you confidence to try different things. From a career/business perspective, once you've shipped a few things you'll have some credibility even if you don't have a ton of experience.

ignifero
Don't just learn to code, learn to program. I m of the opinion that one starts with the classics, like C, that will make everything else (e.g. Python) fall into place. Also, despite the sex appeal of rails, I'd start with PHP, that will introduce you the underlying technologies of web dev.

P.s. It's only too late when you are dead. I started a phd at 29. Just beware cause it's addictive, and you may end up smelling a little more

clojurerocks
I am currently teaching a few people how to program. If youre interested in joining us, drop me a line at startupz.net@gmail.com
IdeaHamster
To answer #1, I offer you the biographical sketch of Jens Skou, who decided to take up programming in 1988...at the age of 70: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1997/...
mbmx
Yep this is a great question. I don't think it is ever to late. Just like any job/skill there must be a commitment that must follow. Programming is something that is nothing more than another job it just so happends that many people start young as a hobby. I don't think this means anything but that they got a slight head start. I like you started programing later in life and I'm 33. I have been studying programing and am getting my degree in software engineering in a month... As far as my degree is concerned, I have not really studied programming exclusively until my last 30 credit hours (there was alot of system admin, network, and OS stuff prior on top of a few basic programming)which lands around the time I was 31ish. Most of the stuff I could have learned on my own without a degree. I recenlty got my first job as a .net programmer at 33. I would suggest that if you are going to web dev think in teams of stack. Like .net C# or vb.net, html, css, javascript, and SQL or PHP and mSQL. This sounds like alot but maybe start with heavy emphasis and priority learning the background language as far as syntax(vb, c#, C++, Java). Then do small (very small no overkill) projects developing a test database, test website, and so on. I suggest this approach cause you will be focused on the backend programming language and developing skill while incrementally building comfort for a tiered based environment. You can focus on learning the html, javascript and sql slowly overtime and not at the same pace as the background language of your choice. This is okay because in a 1yr or so you will be able to code effectively for backend and have comfort with the rest of the abstraction. This approach has worked for me and if for me anyone can do it!
mbmx
This last post was directed toward the original post. I just could not find anywhere to respond the originator of the topic but only to the responders on the post.:)
viandante
Same problem for me.

Anyway, call me mad, but we are too used to believe that each specific domain of knowledge must take years to be fully understood. That is just not true. What is stopping you from going from engineering to economics, or from business to programming, or from medicine to architecture, etc.?

The real shame is that we don't have a proper learning system. Universities are wasting the time and brilliance of millions... the real learning is on the field or sharing with people or reading (alone) good material. And that doesn't take too long...

JaretManuel
I am 34 & learning. My answer to your question is whatever you think. If you think it is too late then you are right. The opposite holds true and I hope the latter is your belief. http://JaretManuel.com/hackerville list some of the resources in this posts comments and replies. Go create some luck! Best success.

@JaretManuel