In this Part 2 discussion, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This.Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders & founder of 100Devs) share their insights on how to start learning to code, the best free resources, and the power of community. They tackle whether coding bootcamps are worth it, why free platforms like FreeCodeCamp and 100Devs can be game-changers, and how to overcome the common pitfalls (like tutorial hell). They also talk about building real projects, finding your support network, and carving out time to invest in your future self.

Topics Covered in This Video:

Why you don’t have to break the bank to learn to code

The pros and cons of bootcamps

Essential resources like FreeCodeCamp, 100Devs, CS50, and more

Learning how to learn: active recall, spaced repetition, and building projects

Setting aside “4% of your day” to code

The importance of community and cohort-based learning

Overcoming fear, anxiety, and impostor syndrome to reach your goals

Mentioned Resources & Links:

FreeCodeCamp

100Devs (Discord: discord.gg/100Devs)

CS50 (Harvard’s Intro to Computer Science)

Learning How to Learn (Coursera)

Anki (Spaced Repetition Software)

The Odin Project

MOOC.fi (University of Helsinki)

About the Speakers:

Danny Thompson: Director of Technology at This.Dot Labs, previously worked in gas stations, self-taught coding journey, and now a community leader helping others break into tech.

Leon Noel: Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders, founder of 100Devs, and former Distinguished Faculty at General Assembly. Dedicated to making coding education accessible to everyone.

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!

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Chapter Timestamps

0:00 Introduction & Part 2 Overview

1:07 Why Bootcamp Owners Get Mad About Free Options

2:20 The Value of Free Resources (FreeCodeCamp, 100Devs, CS50)

8:05 Beware of Predatory Bootcamps & ISAs

12:35 Cohort-Based Learning & Community Support

19:10 Tools for Learning: Git, Terminal, & UI Tools

26:00 The “4% Rule” – Making Yourself a Priority

31:40 Building Real Projects (Avoiding Tutorial Hell)

35:10 Additional Free Resources (MOOC.fi, etc.)

36:20 Importance of Community & Finding Your Tribe

43:00 Work Ethic, Motivation, & Overcoming Obstacles

49:00 Q&A: Doing It Afraid vs. Honoring Your Feelings

56:45 Closing Thoughts & Goodbyes