Hi all,

I am posting to (hopefully) get some opinion from the free software comunity on what some of you may think of the relatively new model of learning known as "coding bootcamps". Now many of these programs offer online learning tools and techniques to learn some of the basic fundamentals. The learning platforms seem to be a faily solid way to dive in to an intensive learning environment. The concern I have about online learning , and perhaps others as well are the privacy issues related to these learning utilities. I am fairly certian that many of these services use google analytics, cookies, as well as many other 3rd party tracking utilities to theoretically improve their services and understand where students may get stuck. My concern, however is that all of these tracking utilities (can and maybe do) are used in a nefarious manner in order to understand how an individual may think from an analytical standpoint versus from simple search engine queries. I suppose my question is geared toward some more experienced programs and privacy conscious individuals. Basically is this privacy concern and particularly the use of this type of data on the paranoid side of things. Or is there a grounding basis in my concern ?
As far as learning to program this type of platform seems to me, to be ideal. If some of you with more experience in programming could help me out your input would be highly valued to me. It seems to me to think of programming as a science is quite a mistake. A craft is a much more appropriate word from my limited understanding.

thank you

Coding bootcamps have instructors. Why would they need anything to profile you other than just having your instructors observe you and scrutinize your work process and work products?

Note that that's exactly what instructors are supposed to do. I'm not sure what you think is "nefarious" about it.

What was that saying? Computer science is to programming as biology is to microscopes?

I would not spend money on "boot camps." They are exhausting, too-intense courses that are generally taught by under-paid interns ... e.g. "hungry American folks whose jobs have been displaced by H-1B Visa workers, as your job will be, too." The industry is new, un-regulated, and unabashedly willing to make absurd promises.

If you want to do the same thing much easier, save up $10,000 in tuition and take an evening course at your local community college (if it has not already been "privatized").

Computer programming and related subjects are basically craft skills. You learn them through experience, period. You learn it by doing it, over and over again. And, in so doing, you learn about more than languages and compilers and syntax and such: you learn about the business environment in which programmers work, and which programmers, by their efforts, support.

The first job I had was tearing pages off a line-printer and shoving them through the proper slot. I didn't care, because that meant I was inside the computer-center (there were no real "PC's" at that time ...), and therefore had the opportunity to show that I was serious, interested, reliable, honest, and utterly incapable of reading a password upside-down while it was being typed in. What I learned about what I do, more than thirty-five years later, I learned on the job ... as will you ... starting with a line-printer, and a stack of manuals. I read every page of every one of them.

Without trying to sound like your Dad , "any technical aspect of this, you can learn on-your-feet, and you undoubtedly will." The stuff that really matters is the stuff that even a college course can't teach you. Certainly not a boot-camp. So, if you've got $20,000 burning a hole in your pocket to send to a "camp," instead, send it to me.