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I'm starting a new career path in computer languages
Posted on 3/10/16 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 3/10/16 at 12:49 pm
Coders,
I don't know anything about coding. I am starting from scratch. Point me in the right direction in building a foundation, what languages I should learn and systems to learn. How will it better my understanding of SAS and SQL?TIA
I don't know anything about coding. I am starting from scratch. Point me in the right direction in building a foundation, what languages I should learn and systems to learn. How will it better my understanding of SAS and SQL?TIA
Posted on 3/10/16 at 12:58 pm to MontyFranklyn
I'd recommend code academy if you are starting from scratch. Get a feel for it before you go buy a bunch of books. That said, I'm more of a DevOps/Network Engineer and definitely not a developer.
Python a fairly useful language in my world and pretty easy to learn, to me at least.
Python a fairly useful language in my world and pretty easy to learn, to me at least.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 1:00 pm to MontyFranklyn
quote:My first recommendation is always Python. It is easy to jump into, and has a wide variety of solid packages/libraries to help with things. However, it's just one tool, so you will eventually want to learn others. Where you go from there will be up to you and what interests you.
I don't know anything about coding. I am starting from scratch. Point me in the right direction in building a foundation, what languages I should learn and systems to learn.
quote:Not sure where you're going here. I assume you're referring to statistical analysis, in which case Python is a solid choice (R is another). And SQL is a language all its own, so plan on learning that in parallel with whatever other language(s) you may use with it.
How will it better my understanding of SAS and SQL?
So you have touched on SA and databases... any idea where you're headed with programming?
Posted on 3/10/16 at 1:08 pm to Korkstand
I'm just trying to make myself more marketable. I have a degree in finance, but all the good analysis jobs want you to know SQL and SAS. I started learning some of that and it is fairly easy and decided that maybe I need to learn coding all together. I just signed up on Code Academy and they have some SQL stuff as welly as all the other base coding stuff. It seems like it will be easy for me to knock out.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 1:15 pm to MontyFranklyn
quote:
MontyFranklyn
Might want to consider this point too but in my experience there are 2 different types of developers:
1) Database Devs/DBAs who all use SQL and such
2) "Regular Developers" that use C/C++ and Java and such.
1 and 2 intermingle some but in my world, they are also very separate. So may want to decide what "kind of" code you like better: SQL or JAVA type coding.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 1:23 pm to DoubleDown
Well considering that I will choose the SQL. In finance there are so many great paying jobs that deal with SQL. I'm going to finish one certification soon and start on 2 more through Coursera and Code Academy. I will then do a SAS certification after that.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 2:27 pm to MontyFranklyn
SQL is probably more useful for your goals, but knowing a bit of scripting and coding wouldn't hurt either. The posters are absolutely right - Python and C++ are excellent languages for getting started. Be sure that you focus not only on learning how to write code in those specific languages, but also learning about the concepts and constructs behind the languages. Once you get the general concepts down, they translate to pretty much any other language. For example, once you understand the concept of iteration and looping, you should be able to write loops in pretty much any language you might be using at the time.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 2:41 pm to MontyFranklyn
quote:
I have a degree in finance, but all the good analysis jobs want you to know SQL and SAS. I started learning some of that and it is fairly easy and decided that maybe I need to learn coding all together.
I got ya, brother. After SQL and SAS, I'd focus on:
-C#
-VBA
-Java
Posted on 3/10/16 at 3:15 pm to MontyFranklyn
khan academy has a good intro to SQL course if you are just getting started with it
Posted on 3/10/16 at 3:16 pm to jdd48
quote:I'm the type that can't learn something like that unless I understand the concepts and structure. The only reason finance made sense to me was learning ECON first.
Be sure that you focus not only on learning how to write code in those specific languages, but also learning about the concepts and constructs behind the languages.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 5:15 pm to MontyFranklyn
Learn HTML and CSS first. Very simple front-end markup to learn.
Python is also very useful. Check out https://learnpythonthehardway.org
Check out some online resources to teach you Javascript / C++ / Python so you can wrap your head around the logic behind coding.
Python is also very useful. Check out https://learnpythonthehardway.org
Check out some online resources to teach you Javascript / C++ / Python so you can wrap your head around the logic behind coding.
This post was edited on 3/10/16 at 5:16 pm
Posted on 3/10/16 at 5:29 pm to MontyFranklyn
I learned C++ and Python first, and that probably helped when I started getting into database admin and SQL. Java, HTML, and CSS are also languages you'll want to learn. None are all that difficult if you enjoy doing it and are a good problem solver.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 5:38 pm to MontyFranklyn
Do something else; anything else. Coding is mostly outsourced now.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 6:26 pm to Slingscode
quote:I know that a lot of coding is being outsourced, but I disagree with your sentiment. I think OP can greatly increase his marketability in finance by adding some programming skills.
Do something else; anything else. Coding is mostly outsourced now.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 9:19 pm to Korkstand
Coding is still in very high demand. In fact, you can now apply nationwide instead of your own city. Companies are hiring for work from home with a national salary
Posted on 3/10/16 at 10:09 pm to MontyFranklyn
PHP and SQL go hand in hand
Posted on 3/10/16 at 10:10 pm to Slingscode
quote:
Do something else; anything else. Coding is mostly outsourced now.
Not mostly. It is outsourced, but not mostly.
I have, and several of the companies I've worked for, have tried to outsource coding. It's failed every time for a project that needs just a few days worth of code.
It really is fine for small projects and modules, but for full on projects, it's just a nightmare. Especially to India. Good god that is horrible.
We wasted tens of thousands of dollars on it and will never try again unless it's specialized knowledge we can't get someone to come in a do for us.
Even then, I'd rather hire someone in the states on Upwork before trying to outsource anything overseas.
Oh, and there is a reason why developers are still paid a lot of money in the States. Believe me, we've tried to outsource to save money. It's worth every penny to have a reliable coder who shows up for work every day and has good domain knowledge. Yes, worth 10 times the salary.
Posted on 3/10/16 at 10:11 pm to MontyFranklyn
I have a subscription to Pluralsight.com.
Easily the best $300 ($30 / month) I spend every year. I can learn about anything and everything IT related. Data Science, Coding, Hardware, etc.
Give it a try.
Easily the best $300 ($30 / month) I spend every year. I can learn about anything and everything IT related. Data Science, Coding, Hardware, etc.
Give it a try.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 7:52 am to gatorrocks
quote:Hmmmm. I will take a look at that as well.
I have a subscription to Pluralsight.com.
Easily the best $300 ($30 / month) I spend every year. I can learn about anything and everything IT related. Data Science, Coding, Hardware, etc.
Give it a try.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 9:11 am to MontyFranklyn
Download the free version of MS SQL Server and the AdventureWorks sample database. There are tons of resources online that walk you through sample SQL code.
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