Key Topics Covered:

Why consistent, daily coding practice beats “cramming”

How to effectively network and stand out at meetups and hackathons

The importance of learning fundamentals like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Linux, SQL, and Git

Whether (and when) to dive into AI, LLMs, and machine learning

Why “free” doesn’t mean “low quality” and how freeCodeCamp remains a top resource for millions

How to pace your job search timeline—and why 6 months might be too short

The future of AI, job prospects, and how to keep your skills relevant

Enjoy the discussion, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into coding, careers, and the tech industry!

In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel sit down with Quincy Larson, founder of freeCodeCamp.org. This is the first guest episode we have ever had!

We discuss the realities of learning to code, the importance of fundamentals, how to navigate AI hype, the true value of “free” educational resources, and much more.

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

00:00 – Introduction

02:06 – The Power of Consistent Daily Practice

05:21 – Auditing Your Local Job Market

08:03 – Fundamental Skills vs. Frameworks

11:05 – The Evolving Complexity of React & Next.js

13:29 – How Quincy Got His First Dev Job

17:02 – Networking & Meetups: A Game Changer

19:07 – Today’s Job Market & ‘Impossible’ Myths

24:27 – College, Costs & Alternative Pathways

27:24 – “I Need a Dev Job in 6 Months!”

31:06 – Reframing Disappointment & Burnout

35:50 – Why ‘Free’ Doesn’t Mean ‘Low Quality’

40:08 – Ask Quincy: AI & Building Your Own LLM

44:20 – The Future of AI & Open-Weight Models

48:30 – AI in Search, Ads & Monetization

51:30 – The Bottom Line on AI & Dev Careers

53:00 – Conclusion & Final Shout-Outs

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!