I saw the founder of Codeacademy on Colbert, which reminded me that I've wanted to learn to code for a long time. I worked on the accounts side at an interactive agency, and wished I was on production instead.
I had some time today while DH took DD off my hands, and I've blasted through the HTML section. I'm now onto CSS, and it is so.much.fun.
The teenage me would have been embarrassed to spend Saturday night learning to code but I'm stoked. 
grapefruit / 4110 posts
Yup, I teach programming C++ and Java mostly. HTML and CSS are a ton of fun the next step from there is JavaScript. Another fun way to play with programming is VBA in Microsoft Office products.
nectarine / 2163 posts
I'm not, but DH is, and he's always trying to teach me bits here and there. he mostly does QT and python, and occasionally C++
I did a udacity beginners python course, which was pretty fun!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Mr. Jacks is also a software engineer. Most of it goes above my head... but I know he works in a lot of languages from VB, C++, and a bunch of other stuff that doesn't stick with me!
I had to learn some basics to get STATA to do what I want it to do, but now I have analysts to do that kind of work for me.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
I am relatively good in HTML which is important for my job, but I work with a web developer so I can get by without having to learn too much more. But I'm thinking about getting training in programming for Drupal in the future. Maybe taking some more web development classes. It's a very good stable job economy, especially for women!
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Ah, now Mr. Jacks is telling me that he actually mostly uses C#
persimmon / 1081 posts
@brownie: cool! Must be a fun job. Codeacademy has JavaScript so I will definitely try that next. I'm almost done with the CSS section! DST bought me some more time tonight, everyone is in bed.
@mrs. wagon: do you need a college degree in CS to get a programming job? It seems like a lot of the famous tech entrepreneurs are college dropouts, but what about the every day programmer?
And a question for everybody: are you planning on teaching coding to your LOs? It seems like such an important skill, I think I may need to insist my LOs learn.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I'm a SQL developer. I work a little w/ VB.net and XML. I enjoy it and I would love to teach it to DD if she takes an interest. DH is also in technology, but on the software architect side.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
@mrsmate: I think we hired our current programmer before he finished college and the director of web development at my old agency did not have a college degree. In my experience, if you have in-demand skills (like Drupal) a degree is not a MUST for some companies. And you can always freelance or contract too. The company that created Drupal (Acquia) is hiring up all the devs. It took us 2 years to find ours!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
@BabyBoecksMom: you're a SQL developer?? Hott!! Beauty and brains... Oh myyyy 
nectarine / 2163 posts
@mrsmate: my DH doesn't have a degree, but he also works as a programmer in the film industry, so possibly not quite the same thing
he is also very insistent that our LOs will learn coding, which I have no issue with
coconut / 8430 posts
I'm a software developer and mostly work in C# though I did do a lot of database work in my most recent job.
@mrsmate: Some jobs require a degree, some do not. Since there is no licensing requirement in the US, a degree isn't a mandatory thing like it is to be a doctor or lawyer. However, most big companies typically require you to have a degree if you are starting at an entry level job.
I think this video is awesome.
And some learning resources:
http://code.org/learn/scratch
pomelo / 5257 posts
@mrsmate: I had to take a java class in high school (it was a requirement at my school) and also have used minimal HTML as a journalist, but my H is a database engineer and does programming. He works for a sports team. His college degree is not in computer science or engineering. He went to our college's undergrad business school and majored in finance and IT. In my experience, it definitely seems like if you're a proficient programmer you can get a job doing it even if that's not what your degree was focused on! Are you thinking of a career change?
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
I got one of my degrees in MIS so I took a few programming classes. VB is my fave though.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I have my Master's in Computer Science and both Hubs and I are software engineers.
bananas / 9899 posts
I'm a front-end programmer. Meaning I know HTML, CSS and basic PHP and JS. I'm primarily a web designer, but my knowledge of the code helps me design better.
My DH has a programming background (studied computer science), but now he mostly does sales and manages everyone (the rest of our employees are developers).
My dad taught me HTML when I was 11 and for some reason I loved it (even though at the time I wasn't in to computers at all). I spent hours fiddling with it to see what I could make.
coconut / 8472 posts
I'm a software designer - meaning I design the user experience and other people implement it. But I do know HTML and CSS, and would really like to learn JavaScript. DH is a software quality assurance engineer, meaning he tests the code developers write, which involves write some of his own sometimes.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I don't know how to code, I really have no desire to learn, but my husband knows how and will teach our son. I think it's one of those things that doesn't hurt you to know, especially since a lot of the software development efforts are being outsourced/offshored these days...it helps to be able to talk things through and spot problems early on.
I think that the best developers are ones that have the technical knowledge as well as the business knowledge. It makes sense in the area I am in, because if you don't understand the complexities of the product, you can't design well.
persimmon / 1081 posts
@sunny: wow, what a great video! thanks for sharing.
@MrsSCB: I'm only on day 3 but I'm definitely interested to find out if I could do this as a job. Just doing some quick research, an entry-level programmer in Boston makes almost as much as my husband, who is a licensed civil engineer in the public sector w/10yrs of experience!
@pui: I'm getting the same feeling I did when I baked my first cake or sewed my first dress, like whoa, look what I just did! Who knew I could do that?
Thanks everyone for chiming in w/what you do. I have no idea what a lot of it means but I'm eager to find out!
coconut / 8430 posts
@mrsmate: btw there are many kinds of programmers. The jobs that tend to pay more will usually require OO languages (C++/C#/Java) but those are much more difficult to learn. Scripting and web programming are easier to learn but tend to pay a bit less. All skills are in high demand though!
My husband likes to say... This is one of those jobs where you truly create something out of nothing.
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