What can you learn from attending a coding bootcamp?
If you are interested in starting or advancing your career in software development, you might have heard of coding bootcamps. These are intensive, short-term programs that teach you the skills and tools you need to become a web developer, data analyst, software engineer, or other related roles. But what can you actually learn from attending a coding bootcamp? In this article, we will explore some of the benefits and challenges of enrolling in a coding bootcamp, and what you can expect to gain from the experience.
One of the main reasons to attend a coding bootcamp is to learn the skills and knowledge that are in demand in the tech industry. Depending on the bootcamp you choose, you can learn different programming languages, frameworks, libraries, databases, APIs, and other technologies that are relevant for your desired career path. For example, if you want to become a web developer, you might learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, MongoDB, and more. You will also learn how to write clean, efficient, and scalable code, how to debug and test your code, how to use version control and collaboration tools, and how to deploy your projects to the web.
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Sony Tamang
Software Developer | Technical Delivery Manager | Ex-Thoughtworker
Depending on a bootcamp, I think bootcamp is a great way to step in tech world as a new developer. It is never going to be as comprehensive as 3-4 years degree but in that 3-6 months time it does teach you problem solving skills and html, CSS and an essential programming language. As a fellow bootcamper and a career changer when I joined a tech company along with fresh Uni grads as a graduate developer, the only knowledge I lacked was that of different languages. They knew Java, C++ and I knew Ruby and Javascript but we both had similar problem solving skills and mindset. Uni grads definitely have more comprehensive knowledge for programming but bootcamp definitely prepares for a starter role in my experience.
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Igor Coraine
Analista de Sistema de Automação
The greatest advantage I've found with bootcamps is the ability to gain a lot of knowledge in a short period of time. You can learn enough about a new technology to start coding and perhaps even develop a real, though not perfect, application. That's why, for me, a bootcamp is an excellent point of entry to embark on a new path of study or even to boost your learning.
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Alex Nguyen
Software Engineer | Prev @Google
Bootcamps offer essential skills to become a software engineer. However, there's a stronger emphasis on front-end engineering over computer science theory and backend development. The skills learned are great for day-to-day swe activities but are not always geared towards interview prep or other software engineering specialities.
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Huzaifa Rehan
LinkedIn Top Software Development Voice | Full Stack Developer | React Native | JavaScript & TypeScript Expert
Attending a coding bootcamp offers a fast-track way to gain essential skills in software development. You learn various programming languages, frameworks, and technologies relevant to your career goals, like HTML, CSS, JavaScript for web development. The bootcamps focus on practical skills, such as writing efficient code, debugging, using version control, and deploying projects online, preparing you for real-world tech challenges.
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Ruth Osoba
Software Engineer @ Citi | Pharmacist
Attending a coding bootcamp not only enabled me to develop technical skills, but soft skills as well. It gave me the opportunity to work on projects in a TEAM as opposed to working on personal projects alone. This mirrors the 'real world' more and enables you to work on the soft skills every developer needs such as teamwork and effective communication.
Another benefit of attending a coding bootcamp is that you will have the opportunity to work on real-world projects and build your portfolio. These projects will help you apply what you have learned, showcase your creativity and problem-solving skills, and demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. You will also get feedback and guidance from your instructors, mentors, and peers, who will help you improve your code quality and design. By the end of the bootcamp, you will have a collection of projects that you can share on your resume, LinkedIn, GitHub, or personal website.
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Isaac Harrison
Software Engineer | Full Stack Developer | React | Typescript | Node.js | Open Source Enthusiast | Computer Science Student
This is a major plus of a coding boot camp that I wish I had realized and gathered my courage earlier as a self taught engineer to embark on. Boot camps usually allow their students to gain hands on experience within their period at the camp which in turn gives it's graduates a better guide into how things are handled in the real world. Thereby, allowing them to take up the experience from the camps' projects and apply to their own personal endeavors. With the projects built from the camp, usually boot camp graduates have the advantage of show casing their skills in a portfolio which at least has some projects to display as opposed to what I had to go through earlier as a self taught engineer without a mentor.
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Nafis Khan
CS @CCNY | Prev. @Meta @GoDaddy @Google exploreCSR
The ability to sit down, engage in creative brainstorming, generate ideas, and effectively execute them repeatedly can significantly expedite your learning journey in the field of software engineering, all while strengthening your grasp of essential concepts. Bootcamps can really boost you up in this case!
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Yash Raj Mani
Upcoming Software Engineer @ Microsoft'24 | Former SWE Intern-Microsoft'23 || SWE Intern-LingoLeap USA || 14K+ LinkedIn | Final Year-VIT Vellore | DPS R.K.P'20 | Top Software Development Voice | A learner from Bihar,🇮🇳
This is one of the major takeaways from a boot camp, If it turns out to be a guided bootcamp that has few projects that solve some problem, You can freely do it and showcase it in your profile, Eventually, you will get help from the fellows in the camp as well so there won't be any blockers here and this makes the process more faster. And boosts your portfolio with projects and skills and that counts as a great outcome of your time at the boot camp. So don't miss this one!
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Eduardo S.
Full Stack Developer | MBA Project Management | Mechanical Engineer
Os bootcamps são uma ótima oportunidade de você aumentar o seu portfólio, criando projetos atuais com ferramentas usadas no mercado. Isso é realmente incrível, porque você ao mesmo tempo que aprende vai incrementando o seu currículo para concorrer a vagas no mercado de trabalho.
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Sujan Karki
Senior Software Engineer at Cedar Gate Nepal
Its awesome to learn the way of doing real time projects. It helps all the participants to understand the pattern of creating and maintaining various types of projects which makes them ready to get their hands dirty directly after getting enrolled in the project and this adds to the portfolio.
A coding bootcamp is also a great way to network and connect with other aspiring and experienced developers. You will be part of a community of learners who share your passion, goals, and challenges. You will be able to collaborate, learn from, and support each other throughout the bootcamp and beyond. You will also have access to mentors, instructors, alumni, and industry experts who can offer you advice, insights, and referrals. Some bootcamps also provide career services, such as resume and interview preparation, job search assistance, and hiring events.
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Yuliya Sheludyakova
Software Engineer at Optimizely
I find the networking and job search assistance to be the most valuable aspects of the bootcamps. Most people who attend a bootcamp are on a very scary path of changing careers, and being around other students with similar goals, struggles, and fears and seeing them succeed doesn't let you give up and keeps you focused. And since many companies are still skeptical about candidates without a formal computer science education, it can be really helpful to have a third party help you find your first job, as they have partner companies that have had positive experiences hiring such candidates.
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Samuel G.
Software Engineer | Technological Entrepreneur | An Educator
In my experience as a self-taught software engineer, turned founder; I have made great acquaintances from BootCamps attended in the past. Networking is so great, the whole of social media is built on top of this one premise. I say this often, "programming is not something you should learn in isolation; most especially now that the world is a global village courtesy of lightning-fast internet." You'll be amazed at the support you can get if you network with the right minds in a BootCamp.
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Laura Oliveri
🌞🇧🇪 | Ѱ - 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 👩🏽💼 | Rabat 🇲🇦 | 𝐈𝐓 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 👩💻 | Facilitator of 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 💼 | 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 plan |
At Ark-X Talent Factory, we place great emphasis on the significance of networking, whether it's through interactions with peers or by organizing company visits within our premises. We firmly believe that networking is one of the key factors that lead to professional integration!!
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Zakhar Valko🇺🇦
Java Software Engineer - Akvelon, Inc.
The presence of industry professionals, career services, and events like hackathons and meetups provides opportunities to build relationships and gain insights. The collaborative and community-oriented environment of bootcamps fosters ongoing support, creating a network that extends beyond the program and enhances career prospects in software development.
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Ssewannonda Keith Edwin
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate | Udacity Cloud Developer | Udacity FrontEnd Developer
In my experience, bootcamps often have strong connections with industry professionals and offer networking events, workshops, and career fairs to help you connect with potential employers or mentors. This alone helps boot campers to showcase and enter the tech world with ease.
Finally, attending a coding bootcamp can help you develop a positive mindset and attitude towards learning and working in software development. You will learn how to embrace challenges, overcome obstacles, and adapt to changing requirements and technologies. You will also learn how to be curious, proactive, and self-directed in your learning journey. You will discover your strengths and weaknesses, and how to leverage your feedback and resources to grow as a developer. You will also learn how to work effectively in teams, communicate clearly, and deliver value to your clients and users.
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Samuel G.
Software Engineer | Technological Entrepreneur | An Educator
You do not learn everything about a niche in a BootCamp. BootCamps are usually just enough to spark a lifelong journey and help you build enough tenacity to set you in motion on your path.
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Yash Raj Mani
Upcoming Software Engineer @ Microsoft'24 | Former SWE Intern-Microsoft'23 || SWE Intern-LingoLeap USA || 14K+ LinkedIn | Final Year-VIT Vellore | DPS R.K.P'20 | Top Software Development Voice | A learner from Bihar,🇮🇳
Hey, as a software engineer, going through a coding boot camp is always a game-changer. I learned to adapt super quickly to new tech and changes. So, for anyone diving into this world, a coding bootcamp isn't just about code. It's about getting that winning mindset and attitude that'll take you far in the software game. And always come do it with the mindset of a hungry learner and open to help!
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Laura Oliveri
🌞🇧🇪 | Ѱ - 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 👩🏽💼 | Rabat 🇲🇦 | 𝐈𝐓 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 👩💻 | Facilitator of 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 💼 | 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 plan |
The advantage of learning in a bootcamp setting is that it allows individuals to experience and adapt to real-world professional realities. Everyone in the bootcamp almost faces the same difficulties and obstacles, which fosters a sense of mutual support and collective progress. There is no competition among participants; rather, they are all united by a common goal.
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Isaac Harrison
Software Engineer | Full Stack Developer | React | Typescript | Node.js | Open Source Enthusiast | Computer Science Student
This can not be overemphasized. A coding boot camp can be visualized hypothetically as a community of software engineers pulling each other to succeed. This means that among the members of the community, others might get to gain courage and self esteem of seeing themselves as real software engineers when they see others succeed from the same community who were literally just as they were when the community was still in it's tender stages allowing them to follow the blue prints and guide and eventually achieve similar positive results. Moreover, with the mentorship that comes with a coding boot camp, usually "struggling" students may eventually get on track and not fall off due to the vast amount of support they may receive from the camp.
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Alejo Boga
Software Engineer @ZeltaAI || TypeScript, Python, React, NestJS, AWS
Bootcamps are like rocket fuel for your mindset. They teach you not just to face challenges but to embrace them eagerly, adapt on the fly, and continually push your own boundaries. It's this resilient attitude that becomes your solid foundation for thriving in the ever-changing world of tech.
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FAIZA BUKHARI
Software Engineer | Web Developer | Front-End Developer | UI/UX Designer | Engineer cum Demonstrator
Attending a coding boot camp provided us with practical skills and knowledge in programming languages, web development, and other tech-related domains. We'll likely gain hands-on experience, learn industry best practices, and collaborate on real-world projects. Additionally, coding boot camps often focus on fostering problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication, which are valuable in a professional development environment. Keep in mind that the specific curriculum and outcomes can vary, so it's essential to research and choose a boot camp aligned with our learning goals.
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Juan Antonio Moreno Valderrama
Frontend Angular Developer at Plytix PIM
En primer lugar hay que ver por qué quieres hacer el bootcamp. En segundo lugar, piensa que esta profesión es dura, llevo 20 años, y todos los años tengo que seguir estudiando, y que al principio cuesta mucho, "sueldo bajo", muchas horas y al llegar a cosa, a seguir aprendiendo. En tercer lugar, tienes que comprometerte, es una inversión alga, los bootcamps suelen costar un dinero, y luego tienes que intentar hacerlo muy bien. Por último, si no sabes programar, aprende antes, empieza con cursos de Udemy cuando estén baratos, para ver si esto es lo tuyo, y busca un bootcamp donde haya requisitos previos y todo el mundo los cumpla, para que no haya gente que haya que explicarle todo y todo vaya muy lento.
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Chukwuma Jonathan
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In this section, I'd like to share a personal story that illuminates the power of coding beyond the screen. It was during a hackathon where my team and I developed an app for a local non-profit. The challenge was intense, but the real reward came when we saw how our software streamlined their operations, directly impacting the community they served. This experience was a vivid reminder of how technology, when thoughtfully applied, can be a force for positive change. It taught me that coding isn't just about algorithms and syntax; it's about people, communities, and making a difference. This project didn't just enhance my skills; it expanded my understanding of the societal impact of technology.
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Ssewannonda Keith Edwin
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate | Udacity Cloud Developer | Udacity FrontEnd Developer
In my experience, It’s important to note that coding bootcamps do not substitute for a traditional degree, however they compliment your education and gain practical experience 1. If you’re interested in attending a coding bootcamp, explore the different types of bootcamps available and the skills they teach 2. Consider the cost, location, and reputation of the bootcamp before making a decision
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Fernando Ferrer
Senior Data Architect/Engineer | AI Professor | Investor | #90DayFinn | Premier's Award Nominee | Mentor
Get into a bootcamp ran by people that have experience in the field and use real life business cases. The days of the brain teasers are over, interviews focused more on solving real life scenarios.
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