What are some good resources on learning about the coding industry?

Question

Everybody knows how to go about learning about how to code, but what about the coding industry itself? Anyone know of any good resources for learning such things as common career paths, expected entry-level pay, expected mid-level pay... things like that? I'm considering making a switch to a coding career, but I don't know jack shit about how this industry works. In the industry I work in now, I could go on and on about how to make oneself a good career. This is stuff I've learned by just being around that industry.

Coding on the other hand, I have no idea. This industry is so different than the one I'm working in now.

Answer 1

What coding industry, as I see at least a handful of different forms:

1. Software companies - Those companies that sell software likely have developers creating the product and so this is an obvious choice. Microsoft, SAP and Oracle would be examples here.

2. Hardware companies - Drivers come to mind as an example here that is where some code has to be created based on specific components. Intel, AMD and nVidia are examples here.

3. Systems Integrators - This is where a company buys some big off-the-shelf software package that has to be customized to be used and so various consultants are brought in to handle the actual tweaks to be done in getting the system up and running. These are the companies that take the software from the first group and put it into an enterprise.

4. Information Systems - This would be the flip side of the Systems Integrators that are the company that wants the customization that has its own developers that may do other customization parts given how the company wants something structured or handled. When Joel on Software talks about investment banks, this is likely the area he means, I think.

This is without getting into the various types of software environments like Embedded Software, Desktop, Web, Console, and Gaming to state a few examples.

Answer 2

I recommend 'The Nomadic Developer' if you're at all interested in tech consulting.

Answer 3

So you're not a programmer but you consider changing your career to become a coder?

First step is to see if you like it or not. Find yourself a problem and try to solve it by making your first program. For instance, make a game where the computer generates a number between 1 and 100 and you can guess the number: the computer program will only say if your guessed number is too low, too high or the right one.

Do this in your spare time. If you enjoy your learning experience and the job done, move on to learn more about coding and the environment.

Otherwise, keep away from it...