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Advice for an aspiring developer

April 16, 2010, 10:03 AM PDT

Takeaway: Would you advise a HS student who is thinking about studying CS and becoming a software developer to go down that career path? Find out one developer’s answer to this question, and then take the poll to let us know what you think.

If a high school student asked you whether they should study Computer Science in college with the goal of becoming a software developer, what would you say? Justin James, host of TechRepublic’s Programming and Development blog, was recently asked this question.

Read Justin’s response to the aspiring developer, in which he spells out the good and the bad about the industry and explains why he encourages the teen to go down this path. These are a few of the tips Justin offers:

Be a true software engineer rather than a programmer.
Enroll in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in college and go into the military or try to attend a service academy (unless the teen is personally opposed to this path).
Start learning to program now.
Work development jobs and/or internships in college.
Read Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs.

The comments to Justin’s Career Management column show that not everyone agrees with encouraging a high school student to enter this field. What do you think? Let us know by taking this poll.

Would you encourage a HS student to become a software developer?

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MIS vs CIS

Cybrduck Updated - 6th Jul 2010

I frankly agree that CS alone doesn't make you special. I changed my major so that I could apply my computer skills to the entire business entity. Managment Information Systems (MIS) allowed me to leverage the skills I had as a "geek" and merge them with my desire to be in business.

I found bliss in that I learned about architecture and analysis before programming. I was able to see opportunities and places to apply technology while increasing my skills as a programmer and eventually an application developer.

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RE: Advice for an aspiring developer

r.raj.d 29th Apr 2010

Learn how to code now, and START coding immediately

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Main thing - do you enjoy it?

mstro7 Updated - 27th Apr 2010

I'm 58 years old and have been a developer for 23 years now. There's a lot of misconceptions about what makes a good developer. All of the best developers have the following in common;
1) They enjoy what they do. Will you? A litmus test I've passed on is get the book "HTML Goodies (2nd Edition) by Joe Burns" and go through it in fine detail. Probably takes about a week or two but if you enjoy this book, that's a good sign. It covers a little of everything concerning web sites which also gives a good idea how things are related. It's simple enough for anyone to pick and understand from the start.
2) Stubbornness. The ability to tackle a problem and remain focused until the solution is yours.
3) Puzzle solvers. Do you enjoy crafting solutions to problems.
4) Share information. Be ready and willing to pitch in and delve into the unknown. You reap what you sow so when it's your turn for outside help it'll more likely be there.
5) Remember to always keep in mind the question, "What problem am I trying to solve"? In the business world timely solutions are everything. Form is secondary at best and many times irrelevant. Unfortunately schools are limited in what they teach, Java, OO, etc. These have their place but if you're unwilling to learn other things, then you're like a carpenter with only a hammer in his tool chest. Be open to alternatives.

Most importantly, though, ENJOY IT. Regardless of anything else, time is a precious commodity that no one can give you more of. Use it wisely.

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