Paths into Software Development
How do I get there from here?
- Major in computer science at a "top" school
- Get great grades
- 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