im gonna post about my journey into the tech field, my struggle to find internships, and the new skills i've learned/began to practice this week
There'll be other content etc.
General goal is to get a paid internship of some sort
#tech journey of a 16yo
tacit geyser
2/22/23:
I learned a LOT this month. I wrote my first tests, created my first Golang API, used Docker for the first time, used Jira, and made a CI/CD pipeline to AWS EB
i've also been increasingly interested in math
Calculus & trig sounds intriguing, especially because i'm really into simulating 3d space
not so sure how I can go about that though
math kinda brought upon my interest in Haskell, even though trying to write code with it as a complete beginner is a pain
I might make a calculator app with it 🤷♂️
Been super interested in Rust lately, i love its versatility
I'm gonna try writing more apps in Rust, but I'm not exactly sure what to make. I might make a web development CLI or do some embedded programming with my raspberry pis
In my internship search, i'm doing well. My response rate skyrocketed, not sure exactly why, but it's probably because of 3 of my newest projects which utilize more skills. Last month, i had so many responses, but i got ghosted. One made me set up an interview and never called me and the other scheduled an interview with all the other candidates while I was at school (😢)
Currently i'm waiting upon a response for one unpaid but flexible SWE internship and i'm making deals to get a paid one 🤞
native badge
👍
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Any reason why you want a paid internship right now?
native badge
Making software without other people using it isn't fun. Money kinda does that.
native badge
i've also been increasingly interested in math
Calculus & trig sounds intriguing...
Learning Haskell as a 16 y/o is absolutely nailing it.
Haskell's basically the gym.
If you code purely in Haskell from now on, you'll essentially be a savant by 18.
tacit geyser
Any reason why you want a paid internship right now?
Mostly to have money to invest back into my learning.
I want a nicer laptop, a few books on machine learning and algos, and other things to immerse me more into programming
Also it's a bit annoying working for someone but not getting paid.
tacit geyser
Haskell's basically the gym.
How so though? I know it's quite hard to interpret but I don't see how it'd change everything?
native badge
Haskell forces you to do a few different things the Proper Way.
Haskell includes 98% of everything you need, and specifically encourages you to use it the proper way.
Types etc.
tacit geyser
I see, guess i should practice DSA in it
Would skills in haskell transfer over to other languages? Or does it just offer another way of seeing things
native badge
two programming languages is probably good
Typescript for websites, and a hard one like Haskell for backend etc
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Mostly to have money to invest back into my learning.
I want a nicer laptop, a f...
You could get everything besides the laptop for free.
I think it's good though, continue doing what you are doing. However, keep in mind that if there's ever a question about earning money vs. improving your earning ability, pick the latter.
tacit geyser
You could get everything besides the laptop for free.
Yeah, but it's just nicer having other ways to learn programming other than having my computer or phone in front of me.
native badge
Strongly strongly endorse physical books.
Japanese calligraphy pencil to write in the margins of programming books off Amazon is my superpower.
Just does so much for you reading a tech book on the train to work.
tacit geyser
Mostly to have money to invest back into my learning.
I want a nicer laptop, a f...
You don’t need too nice of a laptop. You can get an old thinkpad for $100-200 and install Ubuntu or Mint
tacit geyser
You don’t need too nice of a laptop. You can get an old thinkpad for $100-200 an...
i mean my laptop has great specs but i just need a better screen for UI/UX and more battery
Maybe Linux would provide better battery life?
native badge
Linux doesn't provide better battery life.
Power management of subsystems isn't the same as MacOS.
Linux Desktop, Apple Laptop, is the way IMO. I say this as a computer builder of decades of experience.
native badge
Mostly to have money to invest back into my learning.
I want a nicer laptop, a f...
3 best programmers I know:
One is a pure Apple aficionado. However, their speciality is making Smalltalk GUI applications. SwiftUI is their language. Crap, crap typist. They're a terrible typist. Didn't stop them writing millions of LoC and becoming co-author on the Extreme Programming scientific paper.
Next dev has a shit laptop. They've worn a hole in the keyboard with it. They do algorithms for cryptocurrency I think.
There's an erosion groove below their touchpad. And the keyboard is a mess, they were missing a key.
Third is part of mechanical keyboards. Youngest, just does normal stuff.
Point is:
Most things don't make you faster.
Mechanical keyboards are comfortable and healthy for RSI.
Programming is procedural muscle memory, and thinking. It's a performance art like music. Think, type, think, type.
Think like a physicist. Curious, greed, lust for books.
Work like a musician. Deliberate practice, grind Chopin.
Produce Haskell. Produce whatever you want.
And show people. Help people with it.
tacit geyser
This man, this
If i could pin this i would, its golden
I understand what you mean
It is quite a waste of money purchasing a new device when mine works perfectly fine for my purpose. Its efficiency depends on my will
I'm better off building my savings
Thank you man
native badge
allg, it's genuinely no big deal.
Secret to life is learning stuff. Key to learning stuff is making mistakes, and getting feedback. Secret to feedback is 99% of people are extremely happy to give it, just ask and be willing to listen.
Just have fun along the way. Learning, growing, acquiring Haskell-fu, is genuinely enjoyable while you're doing it.
The act of learning is what's fun. Not the end goal.