Reply to: Testers

[Zero Liability]

I seem to be pushing Pluralisight all the time so sorry. However, the course below looks pretty basic.

Pluralsight Training

Also, seem to be a few more courses on beginning programming.

Pluralsight.

Regarding which language to learn, I'm not entirely sure. What do you want to produce? Phone apps, Desktop apps, Websites?

I think there are quite a few generalists out there like me, who are competent at many technologies but not experts. Starting again, I would specialise in a specific technology and learn it well and become an expert in it.

Just to warn you, learning a new technology is extremely frustrating and slow but can be rewarding if you stick with it - good luck.

I've heard of pluralsight before, as well as udemy. As for the platform, I'd like to be able to produce desktop apps.

[BrilloPad]

Speaking of Testers.... where is Mich these days?

+1

[woohoo]

Apologies for reviving this... so to clarify, as someone who wants to learn some coding and also see if it could be a good area to change careers to, would a language like Javascript be suitable, or would I be better off with Java or something else? I'm looking at courses at the moment to purchase, to get a start on it.

I seem to be pushing Pluralisight all the time so sorry. However, the course below looks pretty basic.

Pluralsight Training

Also, seem to be a few more courses on beginning programming.

Pluralsight.

Regarding which language to learn, I'm not entirely sure. What do you want to produce? Phone apps, Desktop apps, Websites?

I think there are quite a few generalists out there like me, who are competent at many technologies but not experts. Starting again, I would specialise in a specific technology and learn it well and become an expert in it.

Just to warn you, learning a new technology is extremely frustrating and slow but can be rewarding if you stick with it - good luck.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Apologies for reviving this... so to clarify, as someone who wants to learn some coding and also see if it could be a good area to change careers to, would a language like Javascript be suitable, or would I be better off with Java or something else? I'm looking at courses at the moment to purchase, to get a start on it.

It doesn't really matter - if you've never coded before then the basics from pretty much any language will be useful in learning pretty much any other language, and at least a basic understanding of varying different paradigms (Object Oriented, functional, etc) will make you a better programmer in the long run.

Once you get past the basics its more important to look at the bigger picture, but at that point you'll be better placed to work to out for yourself rather than having to just trust other peoples opinion.

[Zero Liability]

Apologies for reviving this... so to clarify, as someone who wants to learn some coding and also see if it could be a good area to change careers to, would a language like Javascript be suitable, or would I be better off with Java or something else? I'm looking at courses at the moment to purchase, to get a start on it.

[cherhill]

Think you are being very harsh here. I am tester and have been for 16 years. I hate it and would love to do something else as it is a dull job and quite frankly most people can do it without much training unless it is something niche. We are also aware we are bottom of the chain. However, it is hard to move into a different area once you are doing it.

Most of my fellow testers feel exactly the same way as I do. However, yes you do get the odd one or two who think they are important and so are a pain the ass and you do get the odd one or two who actually like doing it but they are very much in the minority.

[woohoo]

Try again, that definition easily fits a trade, there is or was a commonly accepted definition of what constituted a profession, like it or not it's what you've already seen in this thread.

No I won't try again. I'm happy with the definition I have.

[TykeMerc]

I did do a quick search for the definition of profession, quite a few out there. For me if you train, learn skills, treat it as a career and get paid it's a profession.

Try again, that definition easily fits a trade, there is or was a commonly accepted definition of what constituted a profession, like it or not it's what you've already seen in this thread.

[woohoo]

Anyone can plaster a wall, doesn't mean plasterer isn't a profession. Anyone can cook a meal, doesn't mean chef isn't a profession.

I did do a quick search for the definition of profession, quite a few out there. For me if you train, learn skills, treat it as a career and get paid it's a profession.

[woohoo]

I think you are massaging your ego at the expense of zeroliability. You don't seriously believe an average joe can go from no knowledge to contracting in three years. That's very rare - and about the fastest it could be done. You want us to believe that's your calibre. That's the real point of your post.

Amazing, you have read me like a book.

Though I didn't consider myself a programmer until I was 28 and I started when I was 20.

However, with modern resources like Pluralsight, stackoverflow the amount of books out there I don't see any reason why you can't get to a competent standard within 3 years - assuming your doing it on a day to day basis.

[vetran]

Legally, programming (and other roles in the field such as business analysis) aren't professions. To be a profession, you need:

• reservation of title. For instance, you must have certain qualifications to call yourself a medical surgeon. Everybody else is not allowed to call themselves a surgeon; and
• reservation of function. A surgeon's work can only be carried out by a qualified surgeon. You can't perform surgery without certain qualifications.

i.e. a closed shop so we can charge £250 an hour .

I'd like it to be treated as a more of a profession level with say accountancy or lawyers, though that would mean the pace of development might slow.

[Cenobite]

Legally, programming (and other roles in the field such as business analysis) aren't professions. To be a profession, you need:

• reservation of title. For instance, you must have certain qualifications to call yourself a medical surgeon. Everybody else is not allowed to call themselves a surgeon; and
• reservation of function. A surgeon's work can only be carried out by a qualified surgeon. You can't perform surgery without certain qualifications.

[GlenSausio]

Anyone can plaster a wall, doesn't mean plasterer isn't a profession. Anyone can cook a meal, doesn't mean chef isn't a profession.

I beg to differ. Chefs are professional cooks. Anyone can cook, only professionals can chef. Cooks are not chefs.

[GlenSausio]

Boll0cks, nice eh! Why not ask me to justify my statement instead of being a tit.

I think you are massaging your ego at the expense of zeroliability. You don't seriously believe an average joe can go from no knowledge to contracting in three years. That's very rare - and about the fastest it could be done. You want us to believe that's your calibre. That's the real point of your post.

[d000hg]

Anyone can plaster a wall, doesn't mean plasterer isn't a profession. Anyone can cook a meal, doesn't mean chef isn't a profession.