The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

Ten years of freeCodeCamp (Friends)

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Oct 25, 2024

Quincy Larson, the founder of freeCodeCamp, shares insights from a decade of pioneering free coding education. He discusses the importance of community in tech and explores the evolution of their curriculum. Quincy also delves into the complexities of the cloud and how AI is shaping education accessibility. The conversation touches on navigating the post-pandemic job market for developers, emphasizing continuous learning and community engagement as keys to success.

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ANECDOTE

Humble Beginnings

Quincy Larson started Free Code Camp in a closet in 2014, envisioning free developer education.
Thousands of contributors shaped it into a much larger, more impactful platform.

INSIGHT

Systematized Success

Quincy Larson attributes Free Code Camp's success to its systematized approach.
He focused on addressing the common obstacles that cause people to quit or not participate.

ANECDOTE

Team Dynamics

The Free Code Camp team consists of 35 people in 21 countries, operating without a traditional management hierarchy.
They prioritize self-management and a shared commitment to the mission.

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At the tail end of 2019, we got together with Quincy Larson to celebrate ten years of Changelog & five years of freeCodeCamp by recording back-to-back episodes on each other’s pods. Can you believe it’s now five years later and we’re all still here doing our thing?! Let’s learn what Quincy and the amazing community at freeCodeCamp have been up to!

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Featuring:

Quincy Larson – Website, GitHub, X
Jerod Santo – GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X
Adam Stacoviak – Website, GitHub, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X

Show Notes:

Something missing or broken? PRs welcome!