The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Five years of freeCodeCamp (Interview)
Nov 15, 2019
Quincy Larson, the founder of freeCodeCamp, shares insights into its remarkable five-year journey as a transformative coding education platform. He discusses the evolution from a single curriculum to a thriving global community, addressing challenges in the nonprofit sector. The conversation highlights the need for improved tech hiring practices and the impact of multilingual resources. Quincy also elaborates on the shift to project-based learning and the complexities of Jamstack architecture while emphasizing community support and the importance of affordable education.
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Risky Investment
- Quincy Larson invested $150,000 of his savings into Free Code Camp, money originally intended for a house down payment.
- He and his wife lived in a small one-bedroom apartment with their newborn while he worked on the project.
Sustainability Model
- Free Code Camp achieved financial sustainability through monthly recurring donations and tax-deductible status.
- This allows for budgeting and eliminates reliance on merchandise sales, which previously barely covered server costs.
Graduate Success
- Over 40,000 Free Code Camp graduates work at tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Spotify.
- Free Code Camp's LinkedIn alumni network includes 60,000 people in technical roles.