p By pair programming with other Free Code Camp students on our coding challenges. Eventually, you'll work with people at nonprofits to build real-life software solutions.
p Pair programming is where two people code together on one computer. You discuss different approaches to solving problems, and keep each other motivated. The result is better code than either of you could have written by yourselves. Because of its benefits, many engineers pair program full time. And it's the best way to learn coding. Thanks to tools that allow two people to share mouse and keyboard inputs, you can pair program with a friend without needing to be in the same room.
p It takes about 1,000 hours of coding to develop the skills you'll need to get an entry level software engineering job. Many in-person coding bootcamps jam all this into 12 weeks of intensive study. Free Code Camp is fully-online, and there will always be other people at your skill level that you can pair program with, so you can learn at your own pace. Here are some example coding schedules:
table.table
th Time budgeted
th Hours per week
th Weeks to complete
tr.info
td Weekends
td 10 hours/week
td 100 weeks (2 years)
tr.success
td Nights and Weekends
td 20 hours/week
td 50 weeks (1 year)
tr.warning
td Full time
td 40 hours/week
td 25 weeks (6 months)
tr.danger
td Traditional Bootcamp Pacing
td 80 hours/week
td 12 weeks (3 months)
h2 Why does Free Code Camp use JavaScript instead of Ruby or Python?
ul
p We love Python and Ruby. But even if you learn them, you'll still need to learn JavaScript. JavaScript is the most important language of all - it's the language of web browsers. It's also the most popular language.
p At the end of Free Code Camp, you will have pair programmed around 1,000 hours with dozens of other students, built a portfolio of projects that people are actively using, and a roster of glowing references from nonprofits you've helped. On average, 75% of bootcamp graduates get software engineering jobs within 6 months, and earn an average annual salary of $76,000.
h2 Is this really free? Do you claim part of my first year's salary like some bootcamps do?
ul
p Our name is Free Code Camp. We are a free code camp. If you had to pay us (or sign over future earnings), we'd have to change our name. And we are not going to do that.
h2 Does Free Code Camp have an application process?
p Unlike most bootcamps, anyone can study at Free Code Camp. We're not going to tell you that you can't become a software engineer. We believe the only person who should be able to tell you that is you. If you perservere, and keep working through our challenges and nonprofits' projects, you will become an employable software engineer.
