In general, this is the case: I had a great interest in everything related to computers all my life, but I didn’t learn how to download software from an Internet and use it, because I didn’t want to read a little while, and there was no time after that. Traction in this direction did not disappear anywhere - I was still picking on my PC, restoring the performance of my computers to my friends and a lot of things in that spirit. But he didn’t do anything concrete. Now, already, finishing the Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, I understand that this is of course good, but definitely not mine. I would very much like to write any programs, at least for myself, well, or even better - at least not great, but to have an income from it. If I had such an opportunity now, I would gladly go to study at a university with such an orientation. But unfortunately there is no possibility. And so, against the background of the foregoing, I want to ask the advice of understanding people: is it worth it, at 24 years old (maybe it's too late to start), to start learning the programming language (s). Could I have something? And, in general, what do you think about self-study - is it really possible for yourself to master the programming language (s) well enough? And if such an option is possible, then where to start? What language to take, so as not to lose the basics, but at the same time learn these basics more quickly and move on.

Closed due to the fact that it is necessary to reformulate the question so that it was possible to give an objectively correct answer by the participants Nick Volynkin ♦ , Streletz , torokhkun , Vlad , user194374 Dec 1 '15 at 7:44 .

The question gives rise to endless debates and discussions based not on knowledge, but on opinions. To get an answer, rephrase your question so that it can be given an unambiguously correct answer, or delete the question altogether. If the question can be reformulated according to the rules set out in the certificate , edit it .

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    "it is never too late to learn" (c) someone Even after studying at the institute for the necessary specialty is not a guarantee that you will become a programmer or learn how to write code. The main thing to sharpen brains, and then learn some language (the first is more important). If you have a predisposition, then this simplifies the task every 2 ps. The result depends largely on how much time a day you can spend on training, if you learn a lot at once the fundamental languages ​​C #, Java and the like. If a little, I would recommend javascript+html you can write some site for yourself and evaluate your future prospects - jmu
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    I advise you to start with ++, there are a lot of materials in the internet and then JAVA, JS. A html, css master a maximum of a week and then you can gradually deepen. I strongly advise against video tutorials on PL. - bemulima
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    > I advise you to start with ++, there are a lot of materials in the internet and then JAVA, JS, why not immediately with Java or JS? Why bother with C ++, if you subsequently deal with the front-end on JS? Or vice versa - why JS, if you know C ++? - DreamChild
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    language learning means learning algorithmization (parallel), so the most important thing is to learn to think correctly, to make up algorithms, analyze, develop logical thinking. and transfer the algorithm to the code is not so difficult. if you follow your logic, it turns out that you have learned a language - you learned how to program, but what about those people who wrote this language, apparently they already knew how to program before!? it is clear that without knowledge of the language you will not go far, but if you don’t have a base, it will be very difficult, you believe me, I have some living examples trying to master programming :) and they are 30 - jmu
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    @jmu, it is impossible to clearly state the algorithm in a natural language if you do not know the real programming language (and preferably several, and diverse, for example: C, Java, Shell, SQL, Lisp ...). Naturally, in the design process (even if only “in the mind”) the algorithm is not thoroughly recorded in a specific language, but the features inherent in the languages ​​that are supposed to be used in the implementation are necessarily taken into account. Well, and to the question: those people who wrote this language, apparently they already knew how to program before that!? the obvious answer is YES * (and, already on it). - avp

6 answers 6

In principle, 24 years old - the age is not so critical. Of course, you will have to spend a certain amount of time so that your employer could be interested in your knowledge and skills, that is, to study. This is not a momentary process (despite the admonitions of cheap video courses authors there), and it will take at least several months (and most likely, not less than a year or two). Therefore, the most important thing you need to remember is that you do not have much time and, therefore, you need to forget about all sorts of laziness. In addition, in the process of learning, try to look for and perform some kind of freelance work - you will most likely not be taken to permanent cooperation right away, but with the help of freelancing you can gain at least some experience.

As for self-study, this is quite real, although it is somewhat more difficult - one constantly has to force oneself, bang, motivate. Not everyone succeeds. In addition, own mistakes are not always noticeable. However, not all professional programmers graduated from the university in their respective specialty, and therefore there is nothing impossible in self-study. In any case, programmers in terms of self-study have a definite advantage - for this, a computer and the Internet are enough (well, of course, there are heads with brains). Say, "self-learning" this way on a neurosurgeon is unlikely to succeed

By the way about self-study, a survey on Habré:

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The conclusions, I think, are obvious.

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    And I’m annoyed by the amount of results in 144% ?! :) - Dmitriy Simushev
  • @DmitriySimushev I think there is nothing surprising - you could choose several options .. One type of education does not exclude another, and, say, a part of knowledge a person could get at the university, another part - with self-study - DreamChild

By age - the most it. You just have more adult brains than a teenager, and if you have the desire and self-discipline, then everything will be extremely good. In my opinion, you need to decide on several points:

  1. Do you want to learn how to write programs in which area? Options: stationary PCs, tablets and smartphones, web. The choice of languages ​​depends on it.
  2. Immediately you need to understand that there is no that final set of knowledge, after which you can stop and say that you are an accomplished programmer. You will read books and learn new technologies all your life, because the development of technologies is ahead of the speed of learning.
  3. Similarly, you need to understand that 1 language is not enough for you. If, for example, you choose the web (website creation), you will need to study (gradually): HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, basic administration of linux servers (for example, on CentOS - installing control panels and necessary software) and etc. (the list can be continued). Whatever direction you choose, it will be a system of interconnected technologies. The higher your level, the more this system will be.
  4. You will study technology yourself (from books) - or do you have someone who can become a mentor? If you can study on your own, this is a huge plus. The trick is that at your age there is usually more will and motivation than teenagers, so this is quite real. Also, if you allow finance, you can go to courses. You will save, indeed, a lot of time, but spend more money. Depending on the level and duration of courses for 1 language, they will cost you from several thousand rubles to 150 thousand. When choosing a learning path from books / articles, it is important to choose worthy ones. It is difficult to do when you have no experience. Therefore, decide on technologies (see p. 1) and ask the question to prof. forum about good books. If you choose the web, you can write me a personal message, I will give you a list of those that I consider the most worthy and adequate.

In general, I can say that everything depends entirely on you. By experience - if you have a really strong motivation and have a head on your shoulders, you know how to discipline yourself (and not go drinking beer at the first call of a friend) - in a year of diligent study you will achieve very high results. For two you will become a pro. This is true even if all of you will study on your own and do not take courses.

  • > By age-the most disagree. By the age of 24, it would be nice to have at least a year of work experience (with a not very favorable set of circumstances, when, say, the programmer did not work anywhere during his studies at the institute, and then he joined the army and started working only from 23 years). If this were “the very thing”, then everyone would start learning how to program from that age. I will not argue that 24 years is a lot, but if there is an opportunity to start earlier, then it is better to start earlier. - DreamChild
  • You can always think of the option that will be better for 24 years. :) Someone has already earned a million dollars. But this does not negate the fact that at 24 years old people already have the ability to see the essence and summarize information much better than a teenager or even a young man. To begin earlier, the author of the post has no opportunity. But if you start now, the opportunity to become a pro is very big, and that’s what I wanted to say. - Retrill

And so, against the background of the foregoing, I want to ask the advice of understanding people: is it worth it, at 24 years old (maybe it's too late to start), to start learning the programming language (s). Could I have something?

People in 35 start and succeed. So go ahead.

And, in general, what do you think about self-study - is it really possible for yourself to master the programming language (s) well enough?

Realistically. Judging by myself: the only thing that - the basic algorithms were once explained to me by friends; the rest myself.

And if such an option is possible, then where to start?

IMHO, with javascript'a start perhaps. Although probably others will go.

What language to take, so as not to lose the basics, but at the same time learn these basics more quickly and move on.

I started with Pascal.

In general, I can recommend this resource http://www.codecademy.com for you to start learning, well, or other similar ones.

    At 24 you need to start correctly. 1.Linux, bash. 2.Python 3, GNU C / C ++ 3.English 4.Mathematics for the programmer.

      the main thing is that not only desire and traction be. and cometke off all the rest otherwise there will not be enough time for development

        Of course, it’s not too late, if you know how to use a search engine and formulate your question correctly, then everything is fine. :) It’s best to get acquainted with Pascal and then switch to C / C ++, and somewhere through 100,500 bicycles and annoying tasks without a beautiful interface and the special importance of your calculators and displaying text messages on the screen, start looking a little at C # and Java, compare see them, what is common and what is the specificity of each of them. Thus, you will already understand that when solving some kind of problem, you can choose a language intended for it. Someone said a long time ago that you need to learn how to program, and it’s not a long time to figure out the language. Then I did not understand how this is so, that you also comprehend the truth and not be lazy. I advise you to start with the book "Lafore OOP C ++" (do all the examples, tasks and not copy and paste, but rewrite someone else's code character by character) and then "Rope long enough to shoot yourself in the foot."