Hi,

Fun topic.  I got into programming about 35 years ago because I wanted
to solve specific problems (in music) -- so I was drawn in not by
programming itself,
but by a sustaining passion.  I believe that a focused hunger is needed to
get through the thousands of hours of frustration that programming can
require.  Find a project you care about.

Take a course.  Most hackers I have known taught themselves, but a course
will expose
you to basic issues and techniques.  If you work at an institution, sign up
for the
intro course.  Bear in mind that programming is a dying art, computer
programs
just keep getting bigger and more complex, and humans can't keep up.
Computers
already write computer programs, SkyNet is already here.

A minor correction: computers are not eco-friendly, and paper books, in
comparison,
represent a better use of resources.  They are more durable, portable, and
efficient.
Put a tablet on a shelf for 50 years and see if it gives you anything.
Good luck :)

peter

On Fri, Dec 16, 2022 at 9:55 AM Shearer, Timothy <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Chiming in.
>
> Erich's advice and perspective are spot on from where I stand.
>
> For my part (though I'm in a different part of my career) developing code
> (or being a sysadmin, or being a metadata person, or...) in an academic
> setting, specifically in libraries, is super rewarding professionally and
> personally.  The challenges are endlessly interesting, the mission is a
> constant source of energy, and the stuff you work with is almost always
> delightful.  And the folks you run into are the kinds of people who like to
> work with fun stuff, are mission driven, and who are called to solve
> complex problems.  That is to say the folks are pretty great.  A nice way
> to spend time and earn a living.
>
> +1 (x n; n=infinity) on the regex advice.  It's a super power and one that
> gets endless use.
>
> Best of luck!
> Tim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Hammer,
> Erich F
> Sent: Friday, December 16, 2022 9:40 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Circulation clerk learning to code.
>
> Patrick,
>
> I commend you on expanding your knowledge and skill.  Creating, modifying
> or even just understanding computer code can be very satisfying.  While in
> some sense it doesn't really matter what kind of code you learn as a
> beginner, you may want to start thinking about what direction you want to
> go with your coding.  Web design, app development, gaming graphics, AI,
> administrative scripting, and many others are all very different coding
> paths.  Be prepared no matter which direction you go in IT/programming to
> always be learning new things.  It is a fast and ever-changing world.
>
> Personally, I like working in a library (as a sysadmin who writes a fair
> number of scripts) because there is so much variety and surprising
> complexity and the people I assist are generally friendly, intelligent
> (even if they aren't "techies"), and interesting.  If you are more of a
> tune-out-the-world-and-grind-through-a-specific-problem-without-concerning-yourself-with-the-bigger-picture
> person, a larger, corporate coding environment may be more to your liking.
>
> If I can give one single piece of advice that I tell to anyone who will
> listen... Learn regular expressions ("regex").  Even if you decide that you
> hate writing code, knowledge of regexes can be beneficial in ANY job
> requiring general computer use.  It is my firm belief that -- like learning
> to swim or to tie a few useful knots-- *nobody* regrets learning basic
> regular expressions.
>
> That's my $.02.  Good luck!
>
> Erich
>
>
> On Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 18:09, Patrick Pletcher eloquently
> inscribed:
>
> > Hi, this is my first time posting to a list like this. I am a
> > circulation clerk who is learning to code at freecodecamp.org. Right
> > now I am studying html and css, but I plan on going through all the
> > lessons on the website. I enjoy working in libraries, and I also enjoy
> > writing code. I am not sure where I am going with this. Do I stay in
> > the library field, or do I go off in a completely different direction?
> > I would appreciate your input. I think I would like best to work for a
> > company that provides access to eBooks or audio books. I like print,
> > but I don't see people using ink printed on dead trees 50 years from
> now, with all of the environmental issues the planet is facing.
>
>
>

-- 

Peter Velikonja
Head of Research, Koios LLC
http://www.koios.co
*Let's reconnect public libraries with the public.*