Paths into Software Development

How do I get there from here?

  1. Major in computer science at a "top" school
  2. Get great grades
  3. Get hired at Google

Something else???

or

My winding path

  • Started making websites and games in junior high
  • Went to Potomac State for computer science
  • Dropped out (but kept coding and learning)
  • Went back to school (here!)
  • Started working on open source software
  • Left school to attend Recurse Center in NYC
  • Now work at a software consultancy in Brooklyn!

What is

open source software?

Open Source software
is software that can be
freely accessed, used, changed, and shared
(in modified or unmodified form)
by anyone.

- Open Source Initiative (opensource.org)

(THAT MEANS YOU!)

Examples of open source

  • Linux (operating system)
  • Firefox (browser)
  • Blender (3D modeling)
  • The GIMP (photo editing)
  • OpenOffice/LibreOffice (word processing)
  • lots and lots of dev tooling
  • and so much more!!

Why use open source?

  • Free (as in freedom) and often free (as in beer)
  • Know your apps aren't secretly spying on you
  • Fix bugs yourself instead of working around them
  • Share your work with others

Sharing your work

  • a
  • b
  • c

Outreachy

Google
Summer of Code

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