₦airaland Forum

Elxandre:
Hi guys.
I'm trying to find a suitable platform for programming courses.
considering the lengthy time commitment it requires, I'm trying to find the most reliable , so I don't waste good time only to have issues along the road.
Is Alxafrica good enough?

I created a thread about ALX Africa SE program
Check it out, for insights about the program

By the way, the question shouldn't be if ALX is good enough but rather if you will be able to endure the workload.

I assure you one thing, if you're able to make it to the end of the program, you will probably testify about it being one of the best thing to happen to you, no exaggeration.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSjXz3DaUXk
Check out this video to know more about the opportunities and benefits of being in the program.

This guy graduated last year October in ALX and started working with Amazon in London. It's all good but can you cope? The workload and requirements is just too much.

Odogwu002:
Also if you are in Lagos, I don't mind giving you a free desktop in the office with Light and Data to use anytime you wish to do your assignment, I have a friend who owns a cyber cafe and he is willing to help, I just talked to him about you now.

I'm seriously grateful for your kind gesture.

Odogwu002:
Thanks so much for the recommendation.
For more clarification, (SORRY FOR THIS QUESTION).

I have seen a lot of people on this thread say do this and that, but I am not quite where to start and prepare tho.

What should I start to learn first (I MEAN VERY FIRST THING TO LEARN TO SURVIVE THE 1ST MONTH), is it possible for you to just run a list on it. I can rumble around and get great tools to prepare, I have quit my job and everything to focus on only this school. I am certain I will not guard down.

PS: I already have a roadmap for survival till the next 12 month lol so don't worry. Is better to invest and let of everything and focus for better result. As a matter of fact I am quitting so many things from next month 1st.

Although you will be start with basic projects about mindset and community.

These are the ones you should start learning now
- Emacs
- Vi (also known as vim)
- Basic Shell (the Commands)
- Git and GitHub

For Emacs, Shell, and Vi, you need to focus on the commands because you will be using them while you do your projects. No need to download them, you can either practice with Vs code or your terminal.

Git and GitHub are very essential because git will be used to track your code and make changes if necessary while GitHub is used to host all your projects. Not gonna lie, git project WILL frustrate you but if you overcome it, you will have great insight about it.

Once you're done with please use all your energy to focus on C because they is a lot to learn but little time.

Odogwu002:
I followed this thread and I think it's time to comment, Tracy you have done a very good job. Thank you!

Another thing I will love to add for you to note is, instead of writing out the command lines on your book, why not get a NOTION account and store all of them there for easy access and you will not lose any of them. You have to be vigilant.

I am starting the ALX program in August and I must say I am ready for them. I have gotten everything in place and more. I am already exposed to frontend development and I think it's a good time to run this through.

CC: @Anonymous6o6

Thanks for the advice
I will open a Notion account as per said.

I'm also thinking of writing an article on git and github because during the projects, it frustrated a lot of people and made some quit.

And for the August batch, I recommend you try Sololearn app. You are able to learn and practice C programming language. Especially good for those without laptops.

I don't have a laptop so I have been using it to progress just fine

Lathas:
@anonymous6o6,when is the deadline for alx Africa course on software engineering? I don't have a PC now but am planning on getting one soon to get started with the course,thanks.

I'm not here because the next batch is starting on August so you probably have till this month

Emmyxclusive:
thanks for giving us a glimpse of what the project looks like. I think if someone do proper research the problems can be solved. Looking at that c problem, I already know how to implement it in python. The procedure are similar just different syntax. Thanks again anonymous.

I seriously like your optimism
This new week will be focused on debugging, functions and loops.

Next week will be eviction week, I assume.

Technerdguy:
For the very first time since I started alx SE program, I missed a deadline and I couldn't get a single task correctly. All thanks to Betty because she has become a pain in the ass. Betty would complain literally about everything, whitespaces, etc. Like some folks said in Slack that Betty seeks a lot of attention to herself
But I will not give up. I have gone back to the drawing board to restrategize.
Thanks Anonymous6o6 for responding to my mail.

Anytime
Betty hasn't frustrated me much but then again it's thanks to my colleagues.

.

For anyone who is currently in the program or about to start and you're going through challenges that keeps discouraging you to quit, please always reference that David video (The guy who got job offers from three companies but picked Amazon)

Watch it!
Imagine yourself in his position in a year time!
You can do it! Yes you can!
Do you know why I believe his every words? Because of the type of projects we're given, I will show a screenshot now.

ALX has provided great materials that yay need to pass, all you have to do is read them, take notes, do the projects. If you have any challenges, meet your colleagues after going through your notes.

I know we are still in the first month but I have made it this far without a laptop. I don't have a laptop, I use my phone for the projects, sometimes, I use my office laptop if necessary. But lately, it's just been my phone alone. I know there will come a time when I will need a laptop to build projects, but I'm just going to be optimistic about it and keep pushing forward.

Below are what the projects look like...

When I told you the struggle is real!!! I was damn serious bruh. Just knowing how to print "Hello World" on C won't make you pass the project, it is more than that. But then again, there are enough materials sent to us by ALX to prepare for the projects. I just can't give up

And it seems alx would be dropping people on the 15th of this month, I can't afford to be one of the victims! I'm just juggling between work and programming.

andyboi4real:
I finally decided to dropout of Alx. I just didn’t have enough time to juggle doing Alx, learning JavaScript, completing my introduction to computer science course by Harvard and work. It’s been a nice experience though, I learnt a lot. Anybody has an Idea if Scores are transferable to subsequent cohort.

Oh my... I keep saying it!
You can't multitasking while doing alx SE program. Even if you do, you won't be able to learn much because of time and workloads. You can always reapply when you're done with others.

tidymenow:
Most inspiring read today.

I was seriously inspired not to give up
The fact that he got two companies interview through the Room and aced the interview really delighted me

I initially thought it was an internship offer he got for Amazon, I was actually a full time job since he is being sponsored to London

Let's work hard mate!

Kedro:
You didn't push to your repo or you deleted sandbox?had to check mine now.

Nah
I didn't
I even checked thrice, my sandbox had all the contents and checkers marked them all up

I don't know why it was graded zero but I will try to make up with other projects.

Richardson556:
Wow you're really pushing hard, but what do you think was the cause of not being scored

I seriously don't know
I had to redo it but haven't been scored yet

When. I thought the worse couldn't happen, my shell project which I did yesterday wasn't scored. It had 26 stressing tasks which took time before I was able to them. But they weren't scored, I was so agitated and tired. I had to delete the directory and redo it all over again. Just finished doing with the task, my thumbs and arms hurts so much that I can't lift them.

charlesdprof:
Please add my to the group.
I have sent you a mail containing my email.
Am for the August cohort.
Thank you.

Be patient, you will be added as long as you have sent your number to him

Yutes:
Hope the ginger hasn't died ?

It can never die!

Hey guys

Yesterday, I was looking forward to the weekend, only to realize it's just Tuesday

This week has been a different hell, the level just went high! Omo advance shell no be beans oh

If not for my peers, oh I seriously don't know what I would have done. I had help doing my projects and I dedicated today to full time studying, because I really wanna understand and be able to do things myself.

While studying, I was feeling a bit down and I decided to check out David's video, Former student of ALX who got hired by Amazon. Just to motivate myself.

(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSjXz3DaUXk)
That's the video if you want to check it out.

It started with the talk about a guy name Charles from one of the previous cohort currently in Canada living his dream as a software engineer. He talked about how he was fully sponsored to Canada by the company that employed him.

After which David came on stage. David who was hired by Amazon is currently in Kenya and would be traveling to London soon because he is starting on July. He actually graduated ALX SE program last year October (2021).

David talked about the projects from alx helping him in his interview. Because he had a good understanding of the projects.

Peer learning days(PLD) played a huge factor for one of the former students of ALX during his technical interview with a company.

David talked about his peers who played a huge factor in helping him finish the program or he may have quit half way. After graduating the one year program, he was added to the "ROOM" and was exposed to many great opportunities.

He got interviewed to two companies through the "ROOM" and got all the offers. Before he got Amazon offer, he already had an offer from a different company through the "ROOM" but he dropped the job offer because he found Amazon offer to be more beneficial.

Through the ROOM, he got connected to great people, some who even help to review his CV.

He said the interview was something he found very very easy that he even wow his interviewers and he got offered the job by the companies where he was interviewed. The first offer came quickly and before he could accept, another one (Amazon) came in which he found better and had to decline the others.

David also explained that a project in the ALX curriculum was an actual test during his interviews in a company and he found it very easy. He had written an article about the project which was part of the task in ALX.

David also talked about the Amazon interview process which had certain steps
- Technical interview
- Coding challenge
- Soft skills


He went further to explain that when you have been added to the "ROOM" and you're preparing for an interview, your pathfinder will help you with resources you need to ace the interview. One thing David also emphasized on was "ALX CURRICULUM" which made his interviews very easy. The curriculum combine with the projects would make you a great Software engineer if you are really dedicated.


This video really helped me find myself, I'm so motivated that I will increase the pace of my studies. If you calculate the time David graduate and the time he got those offers, it seems almost impossible, but it wasn't impossible! Because we know the process is hell but the result will be sweet!

I hope you're inspired today.

Richardson556:
@Anonymous6o6
I'm not yet added to the WhatsApp group for August batch.. please tell him to post the link here. Someone should post the link

Please be patient
He added a couple of people today, you will soon be added.

Technerdguy:
I didn't bother to attempt the C project yet. Although, I have created my git repo and installed Betty already.
I focused my attention doing Shell, init files, variables, and expansions projects.
Will probably try the C project after I must have done with today's projects.

As for the command line, I was able to form detailed and comprehensive note that I do refer to from time to time.

It takes grit!!
It takes a growth mindset!!
It takes the power of yet!!!
It takes courage and determination to do "the hard things" and survive alx

Bro... Without Grit, I would have given up since

I feel so mentally exhausted yet, they're three projects available for me to do and I have to finish today!

The past week has been quite a struggle, a number of people I know ended up quitting. Some applied for other courses alx has to offer. Not just C project but also Shell project on int, variables, O/I redirection are now accessible.

I have to confess, the C project is seriously frustrating, especially when "Betty" marks the task with error, you have to keep redoing it until you got it.

Just having the knowledge of C isn't enough to get you through the projects if you don't jot down the command lines.

Below are pictures of my script for C and after running it with Betty, it returned error.

Avast:
Upcoming ALX students for software engineering program, read this book up to chapter 11.


Thank me later

Bro I need it
Where do I download it

ALX is hard bro
It is hard!

It can get overwhelming if you don't prepare ahead. I'm just grateful to have great peers around me. To learn is not by doing the projects alone because the whole essence of the project is to check if you really understand the topic materials sent to you.

Not going to lie, but I have forgotten most of the shell permission commands, (it was quite a crazy one). I will be dedicating today to re-reading Shell and doing my C project.

Disneyboy:
Hello.. I just got accepted yesterday. I'll appreciate if I can be added to the whatsapp group...

Need to prepare b4 hand... Software engineering

Someone already dropped his email (ebubechiufomba@gmail.com)

Send your WhatsApp number to him

Richardson556:
Please I'm begging brother @Anonymous6o6 I sent you an email please reply. I just got accepted for August batch please i need your help to know the prerequisite stuff i should start getting familiar with.

Alright
I will be reply your email now

djsteplion:
I've been following this thread for over 2 weeks now. Thank you so much @ anonymous6o6 and other guys that have been contributing. You guys are inspiring.

We're all glad to be of help. I also learnt a lot from the people here

awesomeJ:
About USD 40,000. THAT'S N24millon for one year

I'm glad you made a research, we're using same curriculum with them, and when you graduate, we will be getting same certificate with them.

That's an opportunity you don't see everyday

Ebube043:
Are you running it with your phone?

Yeah
You can use your phone for it
Lately, I have been using my phone for all projects

Classic1:
Hello Anonymous,

Please Which shell should we learn, the programming or shell scripting?
I'm kinda confused on which.

Both
You need to know the command lines and how to run shell script.

Haven't you been added to that WhatsApp group yet?

Technerdguy:
Hi at Anonymous6o6, I just downloaded termux for Android based on your recommendation and I'm stacked on how to get it connected to my ssh.
A little guidance will help �

Sure

Go to your dashboard, click on sandbox
Then click on ssh, it will copy ssh
Paste it on termux and press enter
It will request for a password
Go back to the sandbox, you will see the password there, copy it and paste it on termux
And you will be logged in.
Then you can change your directory

For C

Good Morning Everyone

You know, it's quite funny but I won't begin this day with negative words

One thing that keeps me going in this program is that I see a lot of opportunities if I finish. Spoke with some senior developers and showed them alx curriculum.

They were so amazed and encouraged me to push up to the finish. one of them said, if I struggle enough to finish the first 9months but securing a job won't be a problem as long as I have my GitHub projects as a backup. IL

I read an article of a startup starting STEM courses for 2million dollars. I quickly checked out their curriculum software engineer, it was funny because it was the normal curriculum for web dev with an addition of data structures and algorithms. Keep pushing forward folks.


Now unto the struggle of alx, Omo yesterday's project really stressed me oh. I couldn't even finish it, I had to wake up by 4am to finish it. Read my note on shell again to refresh my memory.

C project is now available, I was quite surprised to see that because we're starting next week Thursday or is it Friday? But I think the reason why it is available is so we can read ahead, there's a lot of materials to read on.