Elixir Wizards

Learning a Language: Elixir vs. JavaScript with Yohana Tesfazgi & Wes Bos

Nov 2, 2023

42:14

This week, the Elixir Wizards are joined by Yohana Tesfazgi and Wes Bos to compare notes on the experience of learning Elixir vs. JavaScript as your first programming language. Yohana recently completed an Elixir apprenticeship, and Wes Bos is a renowned JavaScript educator with popular courses for beginner software developers.

They discuss a variety of media and resources and how people with different learning styles benefit from video courses, articles, or more hands-on projects. They also discuss the current atmosphere for those looking to transition into an engineering career and how to stick out among the crowd when new to the scene.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

Pros and cons of learning Elixir as your first programming language
Materials and resources for beginners to JavaScript and Elixir
Projects and methods for learning Elixir with no prior knowledge
Recommendations for sharpening and showcasing skills
How to become a standout candidate for potential employers
Soft skills like communication translate well from other careers to programming work
Learning subsequent languages becomes more intuitive once you learn your first
How to decide which library to use for a project
How to build an online presence and why it’s important
Open-source contributions are a way to learn from the community
Ship early and often, just deploying a default Phoenix app teaches deployment skills
Attend local meetups and conferences for mentoring and potential job opportunities