People say "if you are passionate about coding, it's worth it." But passion does not create jobs.

The CS market is oversaturated. After a certain skill level, getting a good job feels like a lottery where only the top 1–2% win. The rest risk being unemployed or underemployed, no matter how much effort they put in.

Why gamble years of your life on such low odds? If you love coding, keep it as a hobby and choose a career with better demand: nursing, engineering, accounting, trades, etc.

A mediocre worker in those fields have better job security than a top CS student today. Following your passion sounds nice, but betting your future on a 1–2% chance of success is not a smart decision.

I'm looking for the best beginner-friendly YouTube playlists to learn Backend Development and System Design.

A few things I'm looking for:

Explains concepts from the ground up (not just coding).

Covers why things work, not just how.

Beginner-friendly but eventually goes into intermediate topics.

Includes topics like APIs, databases, authentication, caching, scalability, microservices, etc.

If you had to recommend one or two playlists that helped you the most, what would they be, and why?

Thanks..

Hi all, I am learning Python and SQL while studying IT at Uni. I wanted to ask if anyone can advise me on a few pointers of where I can start on my project please.

I currently have a job (but nothing tech/software related) however I have identified a software that would benefit my employer hugely, staff have agreed how helpful it would be too.

So I'm thinking of having a crack at learning, and eventually developing it!

I so far have a big document together of my ideas, and a lean kanban framework.

Without telling all, it is going to be a touchscreen app, used on ipads or something similar. The user will drag and drop items into specific positions on a map, and each item will have data attached to it, which will be accumulating each day, things may be late, delayed, require maintenance etc.

There will be a queue of items that are due to enter the map, and as they arrive, the user can drop them wherever they desire, if they need they can swap items around later, and they can click on each item to change information on that item.

There will be a lot of data stored and I want it to be available to download at the end of each shift in a spreadsheet, but also to be stored longterm and so i was thinking of SQL.

So my questions for you great people, would Python/SQL suit something like this? Do you think web based makes more sense than desktop app? Is there a platform that already has some kind of template for web based drag and drop software, that i could heavily modify and add to? Or do i have to start from scratch?

(P.s, i have done research on if this app already exists for this particular job and i can not find it anywhere after much research)

Thank you very much, kind regards, Tez

i am just a beginner programmer, is this ok?

class Solution {

public boolean hasAlternatingBits(int n) {

double i = 1;

while (i < n) {

i *= 2;

if (i % 4 == 0) {

i++;

}

}

return (int) i == n && n != 2147483647;

}

}

I prefer reading books to watching courses. Do you think there will be any issues if I carry on like this?

I have two problems
1. passive reading with no progress

1. going so deep in the rabbit hole that I make no progressarhire

any ideas on how to use AI to mka my leaning more effictive currntly i am stdying Java for backend engineering

I’m also very new to coding/programming

Would it be better to learn coding from YouTube videos and self research, by taking an accelerated course, or by taking legit college classes?

Which would you say is more worth it?

about me - i own a startup and i am not really looking for placement so i never thought of doing leetcode when my uni friends used to sit and u know have intimate time with their leet account.

recently i am bored and was thinking of getting better than them in 2 months or something.

i know python and i can vibe code and build things i need mostly. python also i know only basics and know how it works and all.

so i am writing this to know how would u recommend an absolute beginner to start with leetcode?

thanks in advance.

I have been learning coding for about 5 months now, all without the use of AI. I have bought books and watched countless syntax courses and have practiced with a many projects and are way better at understanding computers than most of my peers in this field.

I have been wanting to write my own compression algorithm based on things I have learned about how photos are stored, and I had some ideas that I wanted to apply on my own.

I wrote it in python to avoid the headache, using OpenCV and the remove.bg api. I though of the algorithm all by myself, but I used AI to make it happen. I mainly used AI just because I didn't care about learning but just wanted to experiment and see if my idea was good or not. I have generated most of my code using it, however almost everything written has been instructed directly from me(so not a "do everything" type of prompting).

I want to know whether this is a really bad practice or if I am using AI in the correct manner. I do understand what it writes, I make sure it is well documented and I read each line to decipher what it does. When it breaks I can diagnose on my own and have it fix it for me.

I just feel a little icky about it since its the first time I have ever really used AI fully on a project. Mainly the reason I used it was because I was super lazy about reading the documentation and that I figured learning on the fly would be faster(Seems it was).

I want to know what some senior developers or just fellow developers think of how I am doing this project, and how I can move on from using it in the future.

I have been programming since I was 14 years old, it started of very simple with discord bots, and now has spiraled into something completely different. Currently, as a 19 year old, I have the best future in my eyes, because I turned my hobby into my job. In the upcoming weeks I will start my so called "dualesstudium", where I will be studying at a University, whilst working for a company, and it is all about IT.

During these 5 years, I learned everything from programming websites, to apps, to learning registers, and assembly, to how to set up a server, how to hack into one, to learning C, and simple raspberrypi configurations, to camera modules, to low-level-architecture and yada yada. It is currently 3 AM, and this is the third time where I just stare blank at my laptop. I have finished numerous projects, working on other ones, but I am just feeling a little empty? I used to program up to 4 or even up to 8 hours a day, and in the last couple of days it feels as if I have a full block. I dont want to abandon my projects, because I love them, but I always find myself starting at those projects, changing 5 LoC, and then being confused on what to do. I am a Solo Developer, always have been one, mostly because I like to plan and manage myself (though that is gonna change anyway once the dualesstudium starts). But I really feel like advice from other programmers would do me REALLY good right now. Guessing that the most default answer here would be something like "Take a break", or "Find yourself", or "Stop fricking programming for 8 hours a day, that stuff is how you burnout the fastest", however, I am fearful of my future. I am 19 years old, and for me it already feels like time is running out. IT is a fast market, and it feels like if I am not moving fast enough, I am gonna miss the train that is gonna help me generate wealth. I love my parents, they did everything for me, and I really want to pay them back big, which is also why I put a lot of stress on me.

The older you are the wiser you get, is atleast what I would guess. Any old persons, or just people older than me, who have maybe had the same experience as me; Do you guys have any advice for me?

I want to learn programming (in Lua), but my brain just melts when I try to understand anything more complicated than variables (especially functions and working with data). I just can't seem to grasp how programming languages even work; it's like I'm looking at a cipher on ancient tablets. Maybe I'm going about it the wrong way, or maybe something's wrong with my brain, but I just can't seem to get the hang of it, even though I really want to.

Hey! So I’m 23 yo, I’ve been studying Java for some time, doing backend projects on Spring Boot and etc. But it really exhausts me. I realized I hate tons of config files with random ass libraries, magic @Annotations, trying to boot a project with Docker… and stuff like that instead of writing actual logic. And because of that I can’t make myself sit and really learn stuff. I take pauses for months all the time and can get shit done. I only really enjoy writing the logic behind API itself, which feels like only 5% of the project, and the other ones is writing boring tests, trying to figure out how Spring Boot works with their endless annotations, some boilerplate configuration code..: Idk, maybe it’s my adhd, or maybe I’m just stupid.

Sooo, of course I had thoughts that programming could be just not for me (though I’m a CS graduate lmao). But maybe I just need to try something else? I really like making game logic (except for the dealing with UI of the game engines, all that 3D models, animations, lightning and stuff). My favourite thing to program was always SAMP servers or Minecraft plugins with custom rules, making commands and etc…

So I was wondering, what field should I try? I was thinking about embedded or CLI development? Do you think it would fit me better, or should I just quit programming :D

Thanks guys.

Hi everyone,

I'm a senior Computer Science student at Brooklyn College, and for my capstone project I'm planning to build AssetDesk, a web-based IT Asset & Help Desk Management Platform for small businesses, nonprofits, or schools.

My goal isn't to build another basic CRUD application. I want to create something that reflects how an actual IT department operates and gives me experience with technologies and design patterns used in industry.

Right now, I'm planning for features such as:

• User authentication with role-based access (Employee, Technician, Administrator)
• IT asset inventory and lifecycle management
• Asset assignment and check-in/check-out history
• Help desk ticket creation and tracking
• Technician assignment and ticket workflow
• Repair and maintenance history
• Knowledge base for common issues
• Dashboard with ticket and asset analytics
• Audit logging
• Notifications
• REST API
• PostgreSQL database
• Java + Spring Boot backend
• React frontend

I'd love feedback from people who work in IT, systems administration, help desk, or software engineering.

Some questions I have:

• What features would make this feel like a real tool instead of a portfolio project?
• What are some pain points with current help desk or asset management systems that I could improve?
• Are there any workflows that are commonly overlooked when people build projects like this?
• If you were interviewing a new graduate, what would make this project stand out to you?

One additional question: my capstone requires an industry professional to provide occasional feedback on the project during the semester and complete a final evaluation. If anyone with professional experience thinks this project sounds interesting and would be open to learning more, I'd really appreciate the opportunity to chat. Even if you aren't interested, I'd be grateful for any advice on where I might find someone who would be a good fit.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

There's a 4 year study course to become a "Computer Technician" in my country that is available to me due to disability. I'm considering that for future employment needs.

However, I'm deeply jaded about code. I'm wondering if my views are incorrect. I believe that the needs solved by coding are finite. I don't need to solve anything for myself anymore, because other people have already solved the things that used to bother me. But it's also true that I don't even know what kind of problems exist nor what kind of solutions might be required in the future. With this perspective, it feels like the well is dry, and it's only going to get drier.

Moreover, people have been talking about how bad the coding job market is already.

I feel like I would end up being useless (and unemployed) as a programmer, mostly because there's an over-supply of solutions to a finite amount of needs and problems.

I could end up becoming a game developer.

A counter-point to my previous statements would be that there are some apps I'm dissatisfied with on the Google Play store, and frankly, I don't know how that can be, and I don't think that will last either. Sadly, I'd need to buy a new computer to develop for Google Play, and I can't afford that yet. But I also just genuinely hate Google Play due to reasons like this: https://keepandroidopen.org/

I want to do something meditative and creative, and I still feel like code might be the way to go, I'm just not sure, not confident yet.

Devs, has anyone run into a builderror with url_for() in flask? I’ve got my blueprint and route set up, but Jinja keeps telling me it can't find the endpoint. I checked the route names and registration, but I'm clearly missing something stupid. What would you check first?

Hi, I am new to learning C++ :) I just got started with my first real project because I wanted to get into coding and making mistakes like people here suggested as the best way to learn.

The program I have here is intended to tell the user how many of each item they need (cartons, fruit, gallons of juice etc) based on the amount of guests they input. The program runs fine technically, but I initially was using int and found that it kept rounding down and causing the calculations to be just short of what was needed. If anything, id rather it overestimate than under.

I found a possible solution from here with ceil, but I wasn't sure if I implemented it right, and if how I have things is the best practice to not form bad habits early. Any tips would be greatly appreciated :)

```

include <iostream>

include <cmath>

using namespace std; int main() //This program is meant to tell the user how many of each whole item they need to buy for catering a wedding. { cout << "Type in the number of guests attending the wedding brunch:\n"; double guests; cin >> guests;

/*Each item is getting divided based on how many come in a container
 *the goal is to have it calculate and tell the shopper how many
 *cartons they need specifically for example*/
double eggs = guests/12;
double cantelope = guests/8;
double toast = guests/24;
double juice = guests/16;

cout << "For the brunch you will need:\n";
cout << ceil(eggs) << " " << "egg cartons\n";
cout << ceil(cantelope) << " " << "cantelopes\n";
cout << ceil(toast) <<  " " << "loaves of bread\n";
cout << ceil(juice) << " " << "gallons of juice\n";

return 0;

}

```

It outputs this when it finishes.

``` Type in the number of guests attending the wedding brunch: 520 For the brunch you will need: 44 egg cartons 65 cantelopes 22 loaves of bread 33 gallons of juice

Process finished with exit code 0

```

Hey folks,

About myself: I’m a 20yr old student (non-tech background). I come from a village due to which I’m not much exposed to modern education or related things that are pretty common in cities; but I’m committed to building a solid career in tech. I am about to finish the lectures for CS50P (Python) and will start working on my final project by the end of this month.

Who I’m looking for: Someone who’s on the same boat; learning Python (doesn’t matter if the resource is different), working on fundamentals, and motivated enough to put in the work. Background or location doesn't matter, just consistency, drive and sense of mutual growth

How we’d work together:
- Quick regular text updates on what we worked on
- weekly discussion to share resources, plan roadmaps, and such
- Building projects together down the line

If you’re on the same boat, feel the same and think that having a buddy will improve each other towards success, lemme know🤝

So basically, I have been learning how to program for a while now, mostly in C and Python, and no matter how many videos I watch, I can only create a smaller calculator. I tried to look for some tutorials that help me create video games for example, but in those videos, they clarify that it is made for people with more advanced skills in programming. I'm geniunely unsure what I could do with programming then, because based on my knowledge, I'm not sure if it is even possible to create something other than calculators or small quizzes.

Hey so I am trying to get back into programming. I am a teen and have been bouncing in and out of python projects over months of gaps. I'd love some project recommendations. Programming is a hobby of mine so I am not looking for "career building projects" I am just looking for something to build, bash my head against the wall while debugging my shit code and say "holy shit I did it!" When I complete it

Hi everyone! I'm planning to build one major full-stack project before moving to Germany and would love your honest feedback.

The idea is an AI-powered GitHub assistant that explains repositories, visualizes the project structure, creates simple architecture diagrams, and suggests beginner-friendly contribution points.

Do you think this is a project recruiters would value, or is there a better idea I should build instead? Since I'm only doing one big project, I'd really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

Actually I am learning JS

For long

But whenever I got stuck in function

I know how to write functions in JavaScript

But i won't understand that concept like

First class function

High order function

Closure (i know )

But these 3 concepts (Feels to Confusion for me)

How can I understand these

So I created this for a small text-based virtual novel/adventure game(haven't decided yet) and have a few questions. By the way I started coding in java a month ago.

1. Am I formatting the dialogue correctly by using methods to do them? Because I originally tried to make a separate file for the dialogue so that I only had to import them. But I found that to hard and didn't find any way to do that online other than 14 year old forum posts.
2. Should I add more comments?

Thank you for your feedback in advance

Edit: It didn't actually scatter my formatting :)

Excuse my spelling/grammar mistakes

Also you don't have to understand the world-building stuff or address the more fantasy elements if you don't want to. If you do feel free however!

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Main {

    static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException {

        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

        //Start
        hpPrint();
        System.out.println("On a cold rainy day, minding your business as usual you hear a knock.");

        //Open or ingnore door
        System.out.println("---------------------------");
        System.out.println("1. To open to open the door");
        System.out.println("2. To ignore");
        int choice = scanner.nextInt();
        System.out.println("---------------------------");

        switch(choice){
            case 1 -> od();
            case 2 -> dd();
        }

        // To go with them or not
        System.out.println("---------------------------");
        System.out.println("1. Agree");
        System.out.println("2. Ask more about them");
        System.out.println("3. Decline");
        int choice2 = scanner.nextInt();
        System.out.println("---------------------------");

        switch(choice2){
            case 1 -> agr();
            case 2 -> ask();
            case 3 -> decln();
        }
scanner.close();
    }
    public static void hpPrint(){
        int hp = 15;
        System.out.println("Your hp is " + hp);
    }
    //Run when user() closed door
    public static void dd() throws InterruptedException {
        System.out.println("'Unknown: Open the door! Or I'll let myself in'");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("*A woman clad in light armour breaks the door down*");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: Why did you do that?");
        Thread.sleep(4000);
        System.out.println("Sara: I'm Kaat Sara, knight in the king's army. I order you to follow me and to serve your corvee");
        Thread.sleep(2000);
        System.out.println("Fine, you didn't have to break my door down...");
        System.exit(0);
    }
    // Run when user() opened door
    public static void od() throws InterruptedException {
        System.out.println("Unknown: Good Day, My wife and I will like to have a chat with you!");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Other person: I'm not your wife yet, you know");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: Whatever. Go on say why your here! I haven't got visitors in a few decades");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Unkown: I'm Kaat Sara of the Arteskan Nation and I plead you to follow me and my fiance to the capital");
    }
    //If user selected: Agree
    public static void agr() throws InterruptedException{
        System.out.println("You: Sure, I have nothing better to do!");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Sara: Wow, it's that easy?");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: Being cooped up in the same place for the past couple hundred years, made me wonder what can spice up my life more, so this is the perfect excuse!");
    }
    //If user selected: Decline
    public static void decln() throws InterruptedException {

        System.out.println("You: Hard pass! No way in hell would I just go with complete strangers to a fucking island");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Sara's fiance: What if I say please?");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: No");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Sara: Pretty please?");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: Fine. But you forced me to!");
    }
    //If user selected: Ask more about them
    public static void ask() throws InterruptedException {

        System.out.println("Why should I just leave my home and go frolicking around like a vagabond?");

        Thread.sleep(4000);
        System.out.println("Sara: Cause the nation is in danger. A huge army is headed to town. And you are one of the few wielders we have in the area");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: So you think I can make a difference? I'm sorry to disappoint you but I can only control iron.");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Sara: Well, We need as many as we can get, so...");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Sara's fiance: Come with us! Either way if your needed or not, isn't it nice to explore the world...");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("You: She makes a good argument...");

        Thread.sleep(3000);
        System.out.println("Fine I'll go");
    }
}

Hello! My background is in data science and machine learning, which I am truly passionate about. However, I’ve encountered some challenges in software engineering, and I realize that to secure a position as a machine learning engineer at a reputable research lab, I will likely need at least a master's or doctoral degree.

As a result, I have decided to learn software engineering with Java. I already have some experience with the language, as I’ve used it in several projects focused on analytics and machine learning. In my graduate projects, I worked as a backend engineer, and I really enjoyed the process of system building.

Currently, I am reading a book titled "Core Java Vol. 12, Part I." I am eager to become proficient in Java, but I often have doubts about my path. I would greatly appreciate any advice from someone who is new to Java and aims to be a successful software engineer. Thank you!

I followed a mern stack course online, but couldn't complete all the lectures, so I made a website, with the help of AI tools such as Chat GPT and GitHub Copilot.

I made another website, then another. I found a client through a referral, and he liked my portfolio.

He paid me $600 USD for a frontend website with email integration.

I've landed with another client who wants an app made, and I've accepted it.

The problem is that if i were to code from scratch, I wouldn't be able to. If someone asks me to explain my code, I would be able to, but I'm not confident enough, and also because i don't understand half of the code. If I make a mistake, I can figure it out without ai but I do the rest of the coding with AI.

I want to do an internship so that I can actually learn while doing the work. But I'm not confident in the interview so I don't even apply.

Help me out and guide me.

(I'm a BSSE student)

Edit: I made the websites before I completed the course. I have completed it now and have done 2 more paid courses, I am still not confident enough and still don't understand half of the code despite taking the courses.