Crossing the Rubycon: How to Learn to Code and Build a Programming Career Nadia Zhuk Author

This is a comprehensive self-help book for aspiring coders, filled with concrete, practical advice as well as useful insider tips and encouraging stories about learning to code and finding a programming job as a code newbie. Unlike most learn-to-code books, this one is actually written by someone who had no technical background whatsoever just several years ago—a former journalist and translator who managed to teach herself to code and find a paid full-time job as a software developer in just 9 months.Drawing upon her experience in journalism, Nadia Zhuk, now a software engineer at Zendesk, has written a detailed and captivating book that incorporates a heartfelt first-person account of her own career change into a well-structured how-to guide that you might want to revisit multiple times as you make your way in the world of IT.The book debunks popular misconceptions about being a programmer, gives a general overview of the industry and helps you figure out which career path might suit you best. It then guides you through the best practices of learning to code, finding your first coding job and getting through your early years as a self-taught programmer.The book also recommends the best resources for self-studying for those who chose Ruby on Rails as their primary technology. The advice is generic enough to be helpful in finding comparable resources for other technologies.Table of ContentsChapter I: My Non-technical BackgroundChapter II: Excuses for Not Learning to CodeChapter III: Choosing Your AdventureChapter IV: Step-by-step Guide to Teaching Yourself to CodeChapter V: How to Find a JobChapter VI: My Life as a Professional ProgrammerChapter VII: Tips for New ProgrammersChapter VIII: Going Forward Praise for the BookNadia Zhuk has written an engaging, inspiring, and practical account of her journey into the often challenging, sometimes frustrating, and always fascinating world of computer programming. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of learning to code and would like to know more about what might be in store, Nadia’s book is a great place to start!Michael Hartl (@mhartl), author of the Ruby on Rails Tutorial