I'm currently a mechanical/process engineer in the automotive industry and I'm looking to switch gears into software development. I've always had an interest in programming, and even enjoy making complex Excel spreadsheets, but I don't have formal coding experience. I've worked with 3D modeling software like Solidworks and AutoCAD, but programming languages are new territory for me.
What's the best way for someone in my position to start transitioning into this field? Are there specific programming languages I should focus on or courses I should take? Should I lean towards web development, back-end, or something else? Additionally, I'm interested in finance, but I'm not keen on the idea of recommending mutual funds and government bonds for a living. Is there a way to combine finance with software development that's worth considering?
2 Answers
Don't be misled; working with Excel isn’t programming! It's a powerful tool but not equivalent to programming languages. As for transitioning, there’s no one-size-fits-all path. It all depends on what area of software development interests you. Take some time to explore what aspect you want to pursue before diving into specific courses or languages.
Right? It’s like asking someone with a mechanical background what specific engineering discipline they should explore. It’s really about your personal interests!
Software development is just one piece of the vast IT landscape with many specializations like web development, back-end development, DevOps, and data science. Start by looking at job postings that catch your interest and check out the required skills or technologies. For finance, Java is common, but there's a shift toward Python and data science tools. Remember, it's more about understanding ecosystems like cloud services and APIs than mastering just one programming language.
Actually, you can do quite a bit with Excel by using VBA or writing Python scripts! I think there's a lot of value in learning how to apply those skills to programming.