There are so many myths about getting into the software engineering field as lots of fallacies have been pushed out there which in turn dissuades those intending to get into the field.

In this post, we will be building a sort a guide with the aim of helping as many persons as possible get into the software engineering field.

Before we proceed, here are answers to some of the questions that have been asked a thousand times over.

1. Do I need a university degree? No
2. Do I need a background in computer science? No
3. What is the estimated salary? NGN 900,000 to NGN 3,000,000 per annum
4. How long will it take before I can build something useful? Usually between 1 - 3 months.

Alright, now that we have that out of the way, its time to tackle yet another huge stumbling block that beginners need to overcome - What Languages Should I Start With?

The number of programming languages available cam sometimes confuse a beginner in making a choice as to wish to learn.

So, we review the most popular and useful languages and where they are best applied so you can have an idea where to start.

1. Javascript: The language of the web. There isn't a single website that isn't running javascript in one way or the other. In recent years, javascript has also been used heavily in mobile application development with frameworks like ReactNative, Vue and Ionic. Javascript is an excellent choice of language for beginners.

Best suited for: Web Development, Mobile Development.

2. Java: Not related to javascript in anyway. The android operating system is built with java and this makes java the defacto language for android programming. Java is also a very popular general purpose language and as such can be used in any field. Frameworks like spring make build website backends possible and JavaFx is used for desktop applications.

Best suited for: Android Development, Backend Development, Software Development.

3. PHP: PHP powers over 80% of the internet. In fact, there is hardly any internet server that doesnt a version of PHP. The popular WordPress CMS is written with PHP and with exciting frameworks like laravel surfacing in recent time, PHP outshines all when it comes to ease of web development.

Best suited for: Web Development

4. Python: Python is a popular general purpose language. It has been passed as many as the easiest for beginners to get started with. Python excels in data manipulation which makes excellent for data science and machine learning. Django a web framework for python makes building web applications with python easy and fun.

Best suited for: Data Science, Machine Learning, Web Development

5. C/C++: C++ is pretty much low level and mostly not advisable for those just starting out to try this first. C++ speed and performance is unmatched by other language which makes it the perfect choice for heavy applications and softwares.

Best suited for: Game Development, Desktop Applications and Libraries

Other notable mentions include:
- Kotlin: Android Development
- C#: Game Development with unity and windows programming.
- Objective C: MacOs programming
- Swift: IOS programming

After you have made your decision on which area to dive into, you now have to get your learning hats on.

Here are my top 3 ways to learn as a beginner.

3. Books: This is my least favourite as books get outdated very quickly and it is very difficult to comprehend some concepts on your own if you are just starting out.

2. Training Institutes: This is a good option to get started as a beginner. One drawback is that most of these institutes charge expensive fees. Also, flexibility of the classes can be a problem especially if you are working or schooling.

1. Join a Community and get a Mentor: This is by my opinion the best way to get started as a beginner. Programming communities like https://codekobo.com can help accelerate your growth and learning as you will have access to self-paced courses that you can learn with on your terms and time. Also the community will always be there for you when you need help and run into challenges.

Before we round up, here the 3 things I believe every beginner has to do to grow as a software engineer.

1. Write lots of code: You should form a daily coding habit where you work on a project everyday. It can be as little as an hour daily. This is where being part of a community really shines as you can easily find the motivation and projects to work on.

2. Don't be afraid to ask: Ask questions if you don't understand how a concept works. The question might sound dump but remember you are just starting out and everyone was once at that stage. Also ensure you make Google your best friend.

3. Always finish a project you start: When starting out, it is common to have tons of projects to work and experiment on. but never jump to another project without first finishing the latter. It is a lot better to have one completed project than having 100 uncompleted ones as you would learn and understand a lot more from 1 completed project than a hundred uncompleted ones.

Thanks,
Hope this really helps someone out and would also love to hear your thoughts and addition.


This guide was produced by https://codekobo.com a platform where you can master web development and programming with a welcoming community to guide through all the way.

We are currently running a one-on-one Programming mentorship program. Check this thread for details https://www.nairaland.com/5398048/code-kobo-one-on-one-programming-mentorship

I love this. Thumbs up buddy.

resosdigital:
I love this. Thumbs up buddy.

thanks