Customer Reviews

Complete Idiot`s Guide to a Career in Computer Programming

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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!

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.

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!

I strongly recommend this book to anyone contemplating a career (or a career change) in programming. As a relative novice, I'd found it difficult to find straight answers about such things as the differences between the various programming languages, their uses, strengths and weakness, and the salary expectations associated with them. Liberty's style is friendly and clear enough for the uninitiated while he manages to avoid dumbing it down too much to be substantive. In addition, the author personally supports his books in a helpful online forum. I appreciate his help and I recommend this book highly.

I bought this book up after just barely glancing at it in the bookstore, and was not able to put it down for several days. Being of the Complete Idiot's Series - I was surprised at how "readable" it was. I am a soon to be graduating student in Computer Science and this book really brought together alot of things I have learned, and things that I have wondered about. It is very inspiring, very informative, and very honest about what I have heard/know of careers in Computer Programming. I highly recommend this enjoyable, informative, and entertaining book to read for anyone who might be interested in working in the field. Best of luck to you. I am going to go out there and pick up other books by this author!

8 months ago I was doing tons of career research in the hope of figuring out which direction to take with my life. I am now a web development student at Spokane Community College and am really excited about my future for the first time in years. This book was the turning point in making my decision. Jesse Liberty inspired me. I have traveled 1,700 miles to study in what I judged to be the best web dev program in the U.S. A year ago I never would have dreamed I'd be doing this. The book answered many of my questions about programming, while at the same time convincing me that there is a nitch for me in programming and that there is no reason to be afraid of trying to learn to program.

However, Mr. Liberty pushes the study-at-home method pretty heavy. Since he is an author of tutorial books it's in his best interest to get people interested in them. My personal experience is that I tried learning programming at home, and found I could learn it. However, despite the fact that I'm very enthusiastic and motivated, I found it difficult to consistently motivate myself to do it day after day. Having no feedback from anyoone else, and being at home alone day after day, week after week grew tiresome. Also, when it comes to web programming, there are so many different languages and technologies, I found I just wanted to study in an established program with like-minded people. So, I have opted to return to school.

One other point on which I disagree with him is his suggestion that a beginner should jump in and start learning C++. Here again, he writes C++ tutorial books... The fact is that C++ is the most difficult programming language. Beginners will find Visual Basic much easier and more fun. And there is PLENTY of demand for VB programmers. (Incidentally, a great VB tutorial book is "Programming With Visual Basic 6.0" by Diane Zak, which we're using at school.)

If you're considering a career in programming of any kind, GO FOR IT! Don't be scared. Prorgamming isn't as hard as you think. Millions of people are going into networking because they have the perception that computer programming is super-hard and boring. It's not hard, just complicated. It just takes time to learn. And if it's so boring, why do so many programmers find their work so rewarding and satisfying? Did you ever stop and wonder why there are so many programmers who write programs for fun in there spare time after working all day programming at their jobs? I find it extremely satisfying to know that when I graduate I'll be able to go anywhere and get a job - a very high paying job. And where else can you find a relistic possibility of moving into management within just a few years, due to the tremendous growth in the industry.

Good luck in your new career!

Jesse's book is informative enough. It answered a lot of needed questions about languages, what to learn, where the field is headed, what's most lucrative, what area of development fits you best, etc. What I don't understand is that even though the author has 20+ years of programming and has written numerous tutorials on the subject why he would shift the entire learning focus of the book towards C++.

Surely he would know that using C++ as a start-up language is going to turn a lot of newbies off to the subject, due to its cryptic syntax and numerous operators. C++ is one of, if not THE most difficult of OOP languages to learn. It's written FOR advanced programmers BY advanced programmers. Granted, you're compensated better for knowing it, but C++, compared to VB is also like taking the blanks out of the gun and putting in real bullets. That's not to say that VB isn't a serious developmental language; VB and it's numerous objects make application development easier than ever. There's a tremendous demand for VB programmers anywhere, and it's beneficial for when you move to scripting in Visual Interdev. C++ works better and more efficiently with your machine, which makes learning the detail all the more important.

There has to be a learning progression. You're better off starting with VB and working your way up to C++ and Java; the main reason being that, assuming the user knows nothing to begin with, VB will be easier, less frustrating and take less time to learn than C++ will. Before learning any language, I also recommend books about general programming and software design. "Code Complete" is good, if not somewhat dated.

This book should be titled "The Essential Guide to Beginning a Career in Computer Programming". Written in a simple fashion (in the Idiot's tradition) it is easy to understand, without wasting your time. However, it's true value rests in it's realistic guidance to entering the field. The information about the different areas whereyou can begin programming is excellent. It includes an introduction to some programming concepts (about 80 pages worth) that is useful if you are still trying to decide if you want to become a programmer. It is not, however, an introductory programming book and should not be used as such. If you know anything about basic programming concepts already, then this book is not for you, unless you are just looking for more information about starting out as a programmer.

I am presently changing careers to computer programming and this book was instrumental in helping me make this decision. There has long been a serious need for this kind of book. While there are several computer career guidance books out there, this is the one to get. The others talk about the computer/technical career field, but this one talks about actually becoming a programmer.

I have returned to college to take programming courses and the drop rate for these classes is about 50%. These people should have read this book first. Then they would have known that programming was not for them. Save yourself some money. Buy this book!

Some time ago (December 1999), I wrote a review on this book and I stated that it was working for me. Well, I wanted to update that message and say that it has worked for me completely. I am now a Test Engineer (since May 2001) for a major company ... and I have completed my first project. I created the program using MFC(Microsoft Foundation Classes) and C++. It has impressed my supervisor throughly and is in use at the company at this time.

This came about by hard work and study on my own part (I did not go to college.) and by studying and applying the information found in this book and some others (especially Jesse Liberty's "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 days" and Scott Meyer's "Effective C++").

If you are really serious about changing careers to computer programming, BUY AND USE THIS BOOK!!! I did and within one year I started a better paying career that is very enjoyable and rewarding to me.

I could not put down this book for the last few days and now I am INSPIRED. This book literally answered all my questions. I had some experiences in VB6 and VBA (Excel & Access) but was confused over the difference between the other programming languages and the various terms. I heard a lot about C++ and Java, but had no idea what it is. Also, I have been secretly wondering what I need to do to change career (from accounting field) . Now I feel lucky that I stumbled across this book in the store a few days ago. This book is very informative and easy to read. The layout and style of the book make the contents easy to digest (important for me).