Julie, a former pharmacist turned software developer, shares her inspiring journey into tech. She recounts her initial discovery of Ruby and her transformative bootcamp experience. Julie emphasizes the importance of community support in programming, especially for beginners. She provides valuable advice on starting with Ruby on Rails and discusses the challenges of navigating career changes. The conversation also delves into personal growth, balancing family life, and the amusing challenges of motivating kids for outdoor fun.
Julie emphasizes the importance of supportive communities and accessible resources in her transition from pharmacy to software development.
The podcast aims to empower junior developers by addressing their unique challenges and providing a platform for mentorship and collaboration.
Deep dives
Transitioning to Software Development
The speaker discusses transitioning from a career as a pharmacist to becoming a software developer, highlighting the desire for greater flexibility and work-life balance after starting a family. Initially studying alone for a year, they slowly discovered a passion for programming through engaging in problem-solving and logic puzzles. Over time, the speaker found supportive communities and resources which fueled their journey toward a career in programming. This transition illustrates how exploring personal interests and seeking connections can lead to discovering new career paths.
The Beginning with Ruby
Ruby became the speaker's first programming language due to a structured boot camp curriculum that offered a clear learning path. They initially chose Ruby based on recommendations from peers and the availability of resources like Codecademy and App Academy. This choice allowed the speaker to gain a foundational understanding of programming in an accessible manner. Learning Ruby jumpstarted their journey into software development and emphasized the importance of selecting a beginner-friendly language.
Creating Supportive Spaces for Junior Developers
Through hosting the 'Code for All' podcast, the speaker aims to provide a platform that specifically addresses the needs and challenges of junior developers. Their motivation stems from personal experiences during their learning journey, where they struggled to find accessible resources tailored to beginners. The podcast aims to contribute to building a community that empowers newcomers by discussing relatable topics and experiences. This initiative underscores the importance of mentorship and collaboration in nurturing the next generation of programmers.
Learning Through Collaboration and Experimentation
The speaker advocates for the significance of pair programming and learning from mistakes, citing how collaboration helps develop essential problem-solving skills. They encourage developers to embrace failure as part of the learning process, emphasizing that making mistakes can lead to valuable insights and growth. By fostering an environment where questions are welcomed and experimentation is encouraged, junior developers can cultivate resilience and adaptability. This approach not only enhances technical skills but also builds confidence in navigating programming challenges.
This is a cross over episode from the Rubber Duck Dev Show's feed and livestream! Julie joined Chris and Creston to talk about how she transitioned from a pharmacist to a software developer and some of the things she encountered along the way. Learn how she discovered Ruby, what her bootcamp experience was like, how she had the idea for this podcast and how we subsequently met.
Why is Julie making content for juniors? Listen and find out!
We also get to hear her advice on where people should get started with Ruby on Rails in 2022 and the importance of communities.
We hope you enjoy and a big thanks to Chris and Creston over on the Rubber Duck Dev Show!
They are live every week at 8pm EDT on YouTube and Twitch so please go give them some support in the chat and let them know you came from this episode!