If you can read, you can become a Software Developer

Can you open a book?

Can you read?

Then you can become whatever you want. I chose the path of becomming a software developer, or programmer as some call it. There are so many resources out there to learn to program that it’s almost too easy. I started learning to program from a book called Learn Visual Basic in 14-Days.

I broke the spine on this book within the first 4 months. Duct tape was my friend, as it kept this book together. Most books are based on “Learn XYZ in 14 Days” and are an excellent place to start. Any visit to www.Amazon.com will get you want you need, or better yet just visit your local Barnes & Noble and browse the Computer/Programming section.

I’ll tell you a secret that most software programmers don’t want you to know. We really don’t read an entire book from cover to cover. When you see someone in the book store with one of those massive computer books and you’re thinking “Wow, that person’s really smart to be reading such a big book”, he’s really not that smart. Persistent maybe, but not necessarily smart. Most software programmers only buy books for maybe a chapter’s worth of information, the rest is throw-away.

So if you think you need to read an entire book of 800 pages just to start learning to program software, think again. Starting out to learn how to program just takes determination and persistence. If you like sitting at your computer, if you like the prospect of making on average over $40 hr, then go find a book. It’s really very simple. You just buy any book that starts with “Learn ??? in 14 Days” and you’ll be on your way.

Another secret of software developing. We rarely, if ever, know how to do everything that the client or customer wants us to do. More than not, we’re scouring the web, especially Google, on how to do a specific function in our programming language of choice (mine happens to be Microsoft’s C#). Typically, if we can’t find it in a book on our desk, it’s not in our brain, then it’s off to Google we go.

Some of the most popular and best paying programming languages to learn are: