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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real road map!, August 6, 1999
This review is from: Complete Idiot`s Guide to a Career in Computer Programming (Paperback)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to a Career in Computer Programming is a different kind of computer book. The author firsts describes the benefits and virtues needed as a programer (work ethic, pay, scheduling). He briefly outlines several different programing languages and a course of study. He lists numerous resources for learning and development (and if he doesn't list it he shows you how to find it). He gives a road map to entering the computer field and how to prepare for that entry. And refreshingly he is brutally honest about his beliefs on the direction of computer industry and who's going to succeed in it (you and me!). On the down side: there is a lot to cover and he's really limited with what he can present (there are only 282 pages!). At times the book jumps from subject to subject and he tries to compress complicated subjects into mini primers (9 pages for software modeling - yuck!). The bottom line? If you have any inkling at all of becoming a programer or are new to the field or have a desire to get some positive direction...BUY THIS BOOK! Any lacking in material is easily made up by the author's consistent listing of other study materials. I wish this book had been published a long time ago when I decided to change career paths!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is working for me, December 24, 1999
This review is from: Complete Idiot`s Guide to a Career in Computer Programming (Paperback)
I am very happy to say that I am beginning to do software programming on the job now thanks do to this book. I am an Electronic Technician by trade. I work in a manufacturing plant that makes printed circuit boards(PCBs) and my job is to repair printed circuit boards that do not pass the functional testing process. I have been doing electronic repair for about 10 years now(since I was in the military) and I love it, but I was beginning to see that without some software background that advancement and pay would be fairly limited. However, I did not want to go to college yet; and to be quite honest, I felt that why spend the money on college if I can get my foot in the door with some programming experience on the job? So, I started to do "Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days" by Jesse Liberty; and while I was doing it, I came across this book in researching other books by Jesse Liberty. Well, after reading a few chapters, I started to talk to a couple of Test Engineers at my job and with their help I received some test documentation and a limited test code library. I am proud to say, just after 2 months of self study, that I have developed a simple program that helps me troubleshoot one of the products that I repair regularly, faster and more efficently. The test engineers have seen my my little pet project and are quite impressed with my progress. Now understand, I am not close to being ready to write professional commercial software. However, this is just the beginning and I am planning to create even more code for the other PCBs that I repair. Also, at the same time, I got my foot in the door for advancement to a position in computer programming (hopefully sometime in the near future.) So if you are really serious about changing careers, you MUST buy this book! This is the time for it now! There are not enough computer software professionals out there to meet the demand and employers just want someone who can do the job. This book can help you be the person who gets the job.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great if you want to formulate a career plan, May 31, 2000
This review is from: Complete Idiot`s Guide to a Career in Computer Programming (Paperback)
This book is wonderful for those people that think that a career in programming would be a good thing for them, but don't know where to start. It goes through some programming basics (not languages per se, but theory of programming), and then talks about developing "road maps" so that you are clear on how developing a particular skill fits into a useful career development path. It discusses the types of programmers out there, and why you might be good for one type of programmer or another. Finally, it gives you good advice on landing that first job. It's written in a way that's very easy to read - sort of like if you were sitting down and having a personal tutorial with Jesse Liberty. The author really does back up his books with after sales support when you have questions, or are just stuck. You really feel like you are a part of a community as you're reading the book. After reading this you'll WANT to read his other books, like "Teach Yourself C++ In 21 Days". Full marks, Jesse! There is one downside - he mentions his own books regularly, but if you are intelligent person and can appraise those books yourself (just read their online reviews right here on Amazon.com), you'll be fine, and you won't make a purchasing mistake!
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