Software permeates or drives everything the armed forces do. From the mundane tasks of email and paperwork, to logistics management, force disposition, and more, United States service members use software every day.

During my 12-year tenure in the Air Force, and throughout my time at Galvanize as the Director of Federal Business Development, I’ve gained a unique perspective on the challenges that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the federal government face regarding software development.

For this post, I’ve boiled those challenges down to four, all of which the DOD needs to fix to progress toward true digital transformation and tackle the growing number of global issues that software could help solve.

These four challenges are not purely technical; instead, they’re about understanding and adapting to the unique needs of military operations.

1. Distance from the End User (Or, a Lack of Lived Military Experience)

   Often, software development is outsourced to coders who lack firsthand experience with military operations. This distance – between who develops the software and the end user – is one of the most significant challenges for the DOD.

   Why does it matter so much?

   Because these developers (who have the best of intentions, by the way) simply haven’t spent time on a flight line or in the field. They often work on teams that utilize Agile software development, emphasizing user-centered design. However, the developers are usually far removed from the user (military service members). Instead, they’re building software based on a list of requirements sent to them via a contract – a contract that is rarely written by service members themselves.

   This gap must be bridged – and a great way to do so is to have coders within military units who can either develop software themselves or effectively communicate the unique needs of the military to external contractors. Short of that, contract developers must be on base with our soldiers and sailors living through the realities of service.

    

2. The Cost of Cutting Costs (Or, the Cheapest Bidder Dilemma)

   The DOD’s procurement strategy often focuses on selecting the lowest bidder. While this approach is understandable – given the responsibility to steward citizens’ money – it raises the question: Are we genuinely saving in the long run?

   Quality software development requires investment, and the best tech companies have a higher price tag. The initial savings seen on spreadsheets can be misleading because the long-term costs and missed opportunities of choosing cheaper, less effective solutions can be substantial. Time and time again, the DoD purchases poor-quality applications that cost the taxpayer more in the long run. We need to rethink this strategy to prioritize long-term value over short-term savings.

3.  Navigating the Maze (Or, the Acquisition Process)

   The DOD’s software acquisition process can be incredibly complex and slow. This complexity often acts as a barrier to entry for innovative startups, which can be vital in bringing new solutions. Many small businesses struggle, spending too much precious time waiting for an elusive connection within the bureaucracy to connect them with the correct end user.

   Additionally, the process and price tag for gaining an Authority to Operate (ATO) is a significant barrier. In many cases, gaining an ATO takes more time and costs more money than the actual software development.

   Finally, while a DOD stakeholder in need may have the authority and money to acquire software, every step on the path to a long-term, sustainment contract is riddled with gatekeepers who can (and sometimes do) shut down the project. This can prove too risky for innovative startups.

   Currently, the hard work of a new group of contracting specialists is instrumental in reforming this bulky process, but change is happening slowly. We need to accelerate these reforms to make the DOD a more attractive and feasible partner for tech innovators.

4. Agility at War (or, the Speed Issue)

   The DOD’s reliance on external developers is a significant issue in critical situations where software solutions are urgently needed. The ability to develop and adapt software quickly in-house is crucial, especially in emergency scenarios or conflicts.

   My experience has shown that Agile development teams can be incredibly effective in such situations. We need to build this capability within the DOD to ensure we are prepared for the rapidly changing demands of future conflicts.

   In the 21st century, battles heavily involve cyberspace. The days of wars turning solely on fleet or battalion maneuvers are in the past. The ability to adapt a code base will be the deciding factor in a conflict, and our ability to employ nimble and evolving cyberspace capabilities will determine our success in the next major conflict.

   To accomplish all of this, we need software development teams that know our weapons systems and have used them as operators.

How We’re Addressing These Issues at Galvanize

Our coding training for active duty personnel equips the DOD and the federal government with the necessary tools and skills for digital transformation.

This is about more than just developing software; it’s about ensuring our service members have the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.

The post Overcoming 4 Software Development Challenges within the DOD appeared first on Galvanize.

VET TEC stands for: Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses. It covers tuition for a full-time, high-tech training program. The VET TEC program is offered through the Veterans Administration (VA) and it covers training for technology jobs without consuming Veterans’ GI Bill® benefits.

When Kody left the Marines, he first pursued a Master’s degree in computer science. Mid-degree, he paused his studies to go after a more hands-on, technical experience in a coding bootcamp. He chose Hack Reactor based on reputation and curriculum, and because we’re a preferred partner of the VA, he could apply his VET TEC benefits to fully cover his tuition.

“By the end of Hack Reactor, I was able to look at a technical problem and confidently create a solution to it,” he said. “Hack Reactor’s biggest takeaway was the confidence of knowing you can ship an application to solve a technical problem for a user.”

In the Course Report interview, Kody talks about how he’s been able to apply that technical knowledge to a career in tech. He started as a backend developer and is now the Head of Developer & Product Support at Fedi, described as a “superapp” that combines “chat, money, and more in one private app run by and for communities.”

Learn more about Kody’s work, his passion for Bitcoin, his advice for Veterans interested in using VET TEC funding, and a lot more in the full Course Report interview.

Are you a Veteran interested in tech?

Learn how you can use VET TEC funding to attend a Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamp?

The post How grad Kody Low used VET TEC funding to launch a new career appeared first on Galvanize.

Take Hack Reactor graduate Stephanye Blakely, for example. Her initial spark of interest in coding started back when she was playing games like King’s Quest and Space Quest. Over time, she became fascinated with how the games were built and wanted to explore how she could build her own.

“I got into teaching myself little bits and pieces of languages just to create things. I loved the fact that it was always a challenge. It was like solving a puzzle every time,” said Stephanye, who eventually launched a software engineering career after graduating from our coding bootcamp.

Seeing coding as a problem to be solved – and as a puzzle to enjoy – exemplifies one of the many ways in which gamers and coders are alike. Both get something out of digging into a problem and finding solutions. To explore more similarities, read through our list of common skills or traits that connect gamers and coders.

What do gamers and coders have in common? Here are five common skills or traits:

Problem-solving

Like Stephanye, gamers and coders are interested in solving puzzles and problems large and small. They often get joy and deep satisfaction from doing so, as they tap into critical and creative thinking skills to overcome obstacles in games or to debug code and find solutions to issues on the job.

Attention to detail

If you want to win a game, victory is often in the details. Games require sharp attention to navigate challenges, pick up on and interpret clues, and solve puzzles. Likewise, for success on a coding project, the details require deep attention to write carefully and detect and fix errors.

Persistence

Games are designed to be challenging. They’re meant to engage and encourage creative thinking. To overcome these well-built challenges, persistence is required, just as it is in software engineering when faced with the many possible challenges that can require new ways of looking at things.

For Hack Reactor graduate Jackson Harris III, the practice of persistence in gaming led to his love of coding and his ability to stick with a problem for sustained periods.

“I look at writing code like playing video games…That same feeling I got from playing World of Warcraft for 15 hours a day, is what I get when I write code. I know it’s not going to be the same for everyone, but when I thought about it that way, that’s how I tapped into my passion for coding,” he said.

Adaptability

Over time, gaming has become more sophisticated, both in terms of in-game specifics and hardware. Gamers who enjoy staying up-to-date on the latest releases and innovations have to adapt to these changes, embracing what’s new and different as a part of the overall equation. This same mindset pays dividends in software engineering, a field that’s always evolving its technologies and methodologies.

Teamwork

Some games are single-player, but many multi-player games are extremely popular. Gamers often enjoy working with others to reach new heights. In software engineering, teamwork is a vital component of overall success on the job, and the ability to connect and work through problems in digital spaces is a great skill for a software developer to possess.

Another Hack Reactor graduate, Tommy Gaessler, got his start toward a career in tech through the bonds he forged while playing games with friends: “Growing up, I loved building things, especially Legos and Minecraft worlds. My friends and I wanted to play Minecraft together, and in the early days, the only way you could do that was by coding a Minecraft server. I learned how to code a server and that sparked my passion for software engineering.”

Are you interested in a software engineering career?

Whether or not you’re a gamer, if you have any of the traits or skills above – or if you have a desire to learn how to develop them – software engineering might be a great career path for you. To get started, explore our Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamps, including programs for total beginners, as well as for people with intermediate coding skills.

The post Learn to code: Why gamers can make great coders appeared first on Galvanize.

A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the “increased demand for software developers, software quality assurance analysts, and testers will stem from the continued expansion of software development for artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and other automation applications.”

And this growth spans across industries, as there’s been significant growth in available jobs outside of what’s considered traditional tech. More and more companies are expanding their tech capabilities, which requires them to build development teams that can build necessary software, innovate, and compete. Many of our graduates are working as software engineers in healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, entertainment, and several other industries.

Within this framework, the expanded use of AI tools can both complement and boost the role of the software engineer, particularly when engineers learn how to use these tools with care and responsibility.

In this post, learn how we teach the use of AI tools in our coding bootcamps, how software engineers are already using them on the job, and how learning to use them effectively from experienced practitioners will put you in a position to excel in your career both near- and long-term.

The time is right to learn AI tools for software engineering

Course Report recently published an article looking at the 2024 tech hiring market. They interviewed Zubair Desai, Galvanize Curriculum & Instruction, Lead Software Engineer. He discussed the importance of training to be a well-rounded software engineer who has an understanding of how AI tools fit into the wider job and industry.

According to Zubair, this means learning about AI tools as you’re also developing other vital skills related to the software engineering craft.

“If you deliberately improve your critical thinking/problem-solving skills, software engineering fundamentals, and teamwork experience, you can position yourself as someone who can safely leverage the latest technologies – including generative AI – many times over compared to someone who is only able to highlight their programming knowledge,” he said.

And the timing is right to start learning now.

“This was the year, so far…where the general, average tech person went from taking AI not that seriously, to taking it pretty seriously,” said Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, in an interview on the Hard Fork podcast.

Learning how to responsibly use leading AI tools will put you at the forefront of exciting technological innovation – just as the profession (and the world) evolves to use AI more and more.

How AI tools are already being used on the job

Software engineering is about solving complex problems – and many professional software engineers are already using AI tools to help.

In the 2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 70% (of more than 37,000 respondents) said they either plan to use AI during development, or they’re currently using it to write and debug code, document, test, and more.

But there are limitations to consider, according to Bart Dorsey, Galvanize Coding Bootcamp Instructor. In a recent panel conversation about the effects of AI on software engineering, he mentioned the importance of human creativity.

“These tools can be useful for finding ways to do things that everybody does the same way, because there’s only one way to do it,” he said. “But when you start getting into building an application and it needs to be a specific thing and nobody’s ever really done it before, that’s when it’s going to fall apart, because the tools can’t be creative. They can’t come up with new ideas because they don’t think.”

An article in BrainHub expanded on this idea, writing that while AI tools are helpful, and even transformative in some ways, humans are required for complex problem solving, creativity and innovation, ethical considerations, adaptability and context understanding, collaboration, and communication.

“There’s a lot of fear about the machines coming to take our jobs,” said Bart. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. Instead, I think that the tools are just going to make our jobs easier.”

Another survey, this one from GitHub, shows that belief to be widespread – 41% (of 500 professional software engineers) said they believe AI coding tools can help prevent burnout in their careers, and 57% said they believe these same tools can help them improve their coding skills.

How we teach AI tools

In 2023, we announced the addition of the AI-productivity tool, GitHub Copilot, to all of our coding bootcamp curriculum. Students have quickly taken to the tool, using it to expand their understanding and increase their productivity and coding confidence.

“These are tools that can help us build better stuff, but you have to know how to use the tool in order for the tool to produce something good,” said Bart.

With that in mind, we teach students how to integrate GitHub Copilot into their workflow after they’ve learned how to be proficient programmers without it. Students then use the tool to build a portfolio project to demonstrate their ability to evaluate and blend AI-generated code with their own.

Instructors like Bart are industry veterans and practitioners who have managed the responsible use of productivity enhancement tools throughout their careers, which puts them in an excellent position to teach them to others.

Our Career Services team also has the professional experience to teach AI tools from a career-search perspective. Led by Director of Career Services Lena Johnson, the team uses a tool called Hiration to help students and graduates find software engineering roles.

“We now offer our students a one-year premium membership to Hiration, a platform using AI to optimize LinkedIn profiles, customize resumes, and ensure overall application alignment,” Lena explained to Course Report. “Hiration’s AI features go beyond the application phase, providing interview preparation support by offering feedback on video interview responses, including the quality of both content and non-verbal behaviors. Empowering students with AI-driven tools enhances their readiness and confidence in the job search.”

AI is here to stay; it’s time to embrace it

We know that generative AI will continue to grow, shift, and change, and we’re committed to teaching the latest and best in our curriculum. This moment in time is an opportunity for software engineers to embrace the idea and practice of lifelong learning and the need for adaptability. 

By acquiring these skills, and cultivating this mindset, software engineers can position themselves to leverage AI and contribute effectively to the development of creative solutions across industries.

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Learn more about how we teach AI (and a lot more) in our coding bootcamps. 

The post How AI tools can positively impact your software engineering career appeared first on Galvanize.

Ask the average person to name an organization driving today’s tech, and they’ll likely name a member of what stock market buffs call FAANGM companies: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google, or Microsoft.

Few would mention the military, even though there’d be no Internet without ARPANET, the pioneering network created by the Department of Defense in 1969. While the private sector is responsible for developing the programs and apps consumers use daily, the military has long focused on hardware as the foundation of its operations.

But that’s rapidly changing. Mostly because it has to — and nobody recognizes that better than military leaders.

Understanding software as a “critical capability”

The U.S. Army Deputy Assistant Secretary for Data, Engineering, and Software recently called software “the most critical capability” and an “enhancer to the force,” adding that “what we’re trying to do is posture ourselves to be able to deliver…capabilities on-the-fly as needed, quickly.”

Recent legislation mirrors this point of view. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, Congress notes that due to a competitive labor market for those with software development, data analytics, and cybersecurity skills, the military must upskill its current forces to address the need for this experience on the modern battlefield.

“There is significant interest among the active duty force for this type of training,” the legislation states, adding that “the best way for the military services to grow an organic coding capability is to incentivize participation, ensure service members who complete the training work in their chosen field, and ensure that those in the program remain competitive for promotion.”

In other words, the military needs to be agile and service members need opportunities. There is an urgent need for soldiers who can change code in the middle of an assignment to adapt to real-world circumstances. In-house developers and data analysts who are tactical experts in every domain will enable the Department of Defense (DoD)  to bring true agile combat capability to the battlefield.

Better training through software in the military

This type of training is already underway. The U.S. Space Force runs a Supra Coder program aimed at fostering a homegrown engineering workforce. According to the program website, it’s about “aggressively and immediately expanding and nurturing our internal digital talent to address potential future knowledge and capabilities gaps vis-a-vis our peers and adversaries.”

Run by Galvanize in conjunction with the Space Force, the program structure is familiar to anyone who knows bootcamps. The Software Development Immersive is a fast-paced, three-week bootcamp leading to a three-month internship with a Space Force software factory.

Meanwhile, the Air Force has been hosting its BRAVO hackathons since 2021. Aimed at testing and validating new ideas using actual Department of Defense data, the hackathons are open to all American citizens, even if they don’t work for the military or government or have a security clearance. The concept is adopted from similar practices used by Google, Microsoft, and other big tech organizations.

The results: software for the military, made by the military

Military coders are proud of their projects — and rightfully so. Space Force Radar Analyst Theodore Kruczek built IRIS, a Space Electronic Warfare (SEW) GitHub sandbox that allows players to try their hand at analyzing and jamming enemy signals. Additionally, a combined effort of the Air Force and Marines yielded Puckboard, a planning app that’s moved the scheduling of flights, leave, events, and more from physical whiteboards to the digital space.

Military coders have a lot in common with their private sector counterparts, though they ultimately judge their efforts by uptake and not revenue. It all comes down to the user and whether they adopt their creations or not.

“Whenever we are dealing with people and the uniqueness of what we care about and how operations exist, you have to take that into consideration,” said Maj. Eric Robinson, the Development Chief for Artificial Intelligence Assisted Scheduling for the Department of the Air Force-Massachusetts Institute of Technology AI Accelerator. He was also the lead Puckboard developer for many years.

“At the end of the day,” he said, “if they don’t use the system that we make, then the system that we made was wrong to begin with.”

Crucial code: the future is software

It’s no exaggeration to say that lives, as well as the future of nations, will be affected by how the military continues to embrace software development. Done right – and with the right people who are trained to understand and operate the software effectively – it will enable our armed forces to continue to achieve goals set by leadership.

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Here at Galvanize, we’re a trusted provider of coding training for active duty service members, leaders, and teams. Learn more about our programs, which include Agile for executives, product management, software engineering, and data analytics. Equip your teams with the skills they need for enduring success.

The post How military software development is an “enhancer to the force” appeared first on Galvanize.

Lena Johnson, Galvanize Head of Career Services, and Zubair Desai, Galvanize Curriculum & Instruction – Lead Software Engineer, answered questions about the hard and soft skills software engineers need in 2024 and beyond. They touched on tech trends like generative AI, and talked in-depth about who’s hiring and what they’re looking for.

The importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Zubair was quick to point out the sustained importance of solid coding fundamentals. That’ll never change, he noted, but in 2024, it should be considered only a starting point.

“If you deliberately improve your critical thinking/problem-solving skills, software engineering fundamentals, and teamwork experience, you can position yourself as someone who can safely leverage the latest technologies – including generative AI – many times over compared to someone who is only able to highlight their programming knowledge,” he said.

This can be accomplished through immersive training, like coding bootcamps, where the emphasis is on training the well-rounded software engineer. By mentioning generative AI, Zubair hit on what our team believes to be the biggest trend to come out of 2023, and it’s sure to grow in 2024. We teach the generative AI tool GitHub Copilot in our programs. This tool equips students to build on their coding fundamentals and enhance productivity by using the tool responsibly and ethically.

The key soft skills to help you get hired on the 2024 tech job market

In her part of the interview, Lena answered questions about career preparation and trends she’s noticed in 2023 that are likely to shine a light on the year to come. Among them, she highlighted the need for adaptability and resilience.

“Adaptable employees can maintain their performance and composure in the midst of shifting markets, tech trends, and unforeseen challenges,” she said. “Resilient employees can bounce back, learn, and stay positive in tough times, creating a workforce that is innovative, productive, and striving for improvement.”

These approaches can be cultivated in a variety of ways. In our programs, students are provided ways to strengthen them through the Career Services team, which provides related lessons and guidance. Adaptability and resilience are not only valuable for landing the job but also for sustaining a long, fulfilling career.

Read the full Course Report interview for more

You can read the full Course Report article here. It contains much more from Zubair and Lena, including a discussion of popular programming languages and important tools, as well as more on how our bootcamps help students position themselves well for the 2024 hiring market.

The post Course Report interviews Galvanize on 2024 tech job market expectations appeared first on Galvanize.

“With the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the tech industry, coding schools offer a unique and effective way to acquire the essential skills needed to thrive in this competitive field,” the team writes.

Throughout the article, they focus on the aspects of the coding bootcamp experience that set it apart from other academic options. Those aspects include:

• The ability to learn new skills quickly
• Access to practical, hands-on learning and projects
• The opportunity to learn from industry experts
• Affordability (especially as compared to a 4-year degree)
• Training on how to be adaptable to advancements in tech 
• Strong industry connections

As part of this project, Newsweek also named the Top Coding Bootcamps 2023, and we’re honored to be on the list. They included an article about our decade-long history, our coding programs, our career services, and more.

Read the full Hack Reactor by Galvanize Newsweek write-up, and if you’re ready to start your coding journey, learn about our beginner and intermediate programs.

The post Newsweek names Hack Reactor to list of top coding bootcamps 2023 appeared first on Galvanize.

With that question in mind, we asked some of our coding bootcamp instructors about their favorite software engineering resources, including the best software engineering blogs, podcasts, books, and YouTube channels. So no matter if you prefer to listen, read, or watch, you can dive into their wide-ranging recommendations. These will be useful for anyone just starting their coding journey, and also for professional software engineers who want to stay on top of new developments, tools, and technologies.

Best Software Engineering Blogs

A look at how big tech companies are doing things:

• Netflix Tech Blog: Read how the engineering team at Netflix navigates new developments and projects for one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world.
  Recent posts include: Streaming SQL in Data Mesh and Detecting Scene Changes in Audiovisual Content
• X (formerly Twitter) Engineering Blog: This blog provides a look behind the technological curtain at X, sharing how the social platform operates and iterates for the best user experience possible.
  Recent posts include: How We Rolled Out Security Keys at Twitter and A Look at Twitter’s Recommendation Algorithm

Other company blogs:

• Toptal Engineering Blog: Toptal is a company that connects businesses with freelance software engineers and other professionals. Its engineering blog is a hub for tutorials and new technology announcements created by professional software engineers in the Toptal network.
  Recent posts include: 5 Pillars of Responsible Generative AI: A Code of Ethics for the Future and Computer Vision Pipeline Architecture
• LogRocket Blog: LogRocket is a replay and monitoring technology company that specializes in giving engineering teams access to how users interact with their products. Its blog provides industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources, often with a focus on frontend development.
  Recent posts include: Developing an effective CI/CD pipeline for frontend apps and Validating Structural Data with Valibot

Personal & community software engineering blogs:

• Kent C. Dodds: Software engineering educator and public speaker Kent C. Dodds shares expertise on technical topics, personal anecdotes, and career advice.
  Recent posts include: How to useEffect vs. useLayoutEffect and I Migrated from a Postgres Cluster to Distributed SQLite with LiteFS
• Tania Rascia: Tania is a software developer in Chicago who makes open-source projects and writes about code, design, and life on her blog.
  Recent posts include: Using WebSockets in a Redux Application and Understanding the GraphQL Type System.
• Seldo Blog: Laurie Voss is an experienced web developer who has maintained this website for 20 years.
  Recent posts include: On AI, ML, LLMs and the Future of Software and A Look at Why There’s No Such Thing as the Fundamentals of Web Development.
• Martin Fowler: Martin Fowler is the author of Refactoring, and his blog is a respected platform for software development that features articles written by him and his colleagues.
• dev.to: This is a beginner-friendly, community-driven platform where developers share articles, tutorials, and insights related to software development. It’s an inclusive hub for developers to learn and engage in discussions on a wide range of tech-related topics.
  Recent posts include: 50 Ways to Bring in Extra Cash as a Developer and 11 Fun Python Libraries to Make Your Day Better

Best Software Engineering YouTube Channels

• BashBunni: The host explores software development, among other topics, often in a livestream format. She’s a believer that the best way to understand how something works is to break it and try to put it back together.
• Jack Herrington: Watch videos about frontend development, from basic to very advanced. These include tutorials and technology deep dives.
• Low Level Learning: This channel is presented by Low Level Academy, which teaches you what you need to know to start a career in systems programming.
• Ben Eater: Ben’s tutorial-style videos are largely about electronics, computer architecture, networking, and various other technical subjects.
• The Coding Train: In these creative coding video tutorials, learn about subjects ranging from the basics of programming languages like JavaScript to algorithmic art, machine learning, simulation, generative poetry, and more.
• TJ DeVries: Interested in watching live coding? TJ is a live coder who sometimes uploads his recordings to share with those of us who missed the live session.

Best Software Engineering Podcasts

• Py.bites: Tune in to learn about Python development, and career and mindset skills.
  Recent episodes include: Maximizing Your Developer Experience and How to Land a Dev Job in 2023: Proven Strategies & Mistakes to Avoid
• Coding Blocks: Hosted by a group of professional programmers, this podcast covers a wide range of technical topics and career tips.
  Recent episodes include: Code Confidence using NASA’s Ten Simple Rules and Keyboards, Cloud Costs, Static Analysis, and Philosophy
• Code Newbie: Code Newbie is an online community for programmers and people learning to code. Its podcast features interviews with new coders, career changers, and experienced engineers providing useful perspective.
• Syntax.fm: Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski co-host a web development-focused show where they share tips, tricks, and insights into the world of front-end and full-stack development.
  Recent episodes include: 5 New CSS Features You Should Know and Lessons Learned and Bugs Fixed from Launching Syntax.fm

Best Software Engineering Books

• Grokking Algorithms: This book is described as a friendly take on this core computer science topic. In it, you’ll learn how to apply common algorithms to practical programming problems.
• Cracking the Coding Interview: Get a deep look at how to excel during your next coding interview. This book teaches you what you need to know and enables you to perform at your best.
• The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win: For a change of pace, these tech insights come in the form of a novel. Written by three leaders of the DevOps movement, the story provides readers with a way to improve their IT organizations.
• Eloquent JavaScript: JavaScript is still the most popular coding language. This is a book all about JavaScript and the wonders of programming.
• Game Programming Patterns: The writer found a collection of patterns in games that make code cleaner, easier to understand, and faster. It’s especially useful for anyone interested in making games.
• Clean Code: A Handbook for Agile Software Craftsmanship: Every year, countless hours and resources are lost because of poorly written code. This book can help prevent that.
• Other: Our instructors also recommend anything published by No Starch Press, the self-proclaimed “finest in geek entertainment,” with titles like JavaScript Crash Course, How AI Works, Python Playground, and many others.

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These and many other resources can help you get your software engineering career started, or help you build further skills and understanding. If you’re looking for an immersive, hands-on, project-based learning experience, our industry-experienced instructional team is ready to teach you in one of our coding bootcamps.

The post Best software engineering blogs, YouTube channels, and more appeared first on Galvanize.

Understanding how fast the tech industry changes and grows is what powers our Enterprise offerings. We work with companies to upskill and reskill their current teams so they’re able to transform from within, meeting the moment of the current tech landscape. We teach the most modern languages and tools, as well as focus on learning how to learn. We know every tech worker needs to continue learning throughout their careers. They’ll need to be open to changing their approaches, expanding their skill sets, and exploring new ideas.

“Galvanize’s emphasis on ‘learning how to learn’ has led to a culture of continuous improvement – a cultural shift we’ve been trying, but failing, to achieve prior to the training,” said one of our clients, a manager at a Fortune 500 company.

4 ways workforce upskilling will benefit your company

Our upskilling training works for everyone involved. Employees are given their desired opportunity to learn and grow within their roles (or expand into new roles). Companies, in turn, gain teams that are skilled, experienced, and ready to tackle new challenges, which leads to higher retention, and innovation, and helps boost their bottom line.

Our Enterprise team works with Fortune 500 companies and many other clients representing teams of all sizes. We’ve completed 100+ customized engagements, and have trained more than 3,500 employees. Here’s a look at some of the benefits we’ve seen associated with upskilling teams:

• Reduces Training & Recruitment Costs: Of course, upskilling is an investment in and of itself, but by training your existing teams, you’ll be saving on costs related to recruiting new talent. You’ll also reduce the time needed for new hire training, on-the-job learning curves, and onboarding.
• Drives Long-Term Solutions (Not Just Quick Fixes): Working in the tech sector means always thinking ahead. It’s important that your teams learn what they need in the present moment to fuel the company goals of the future. Upskilling training can do that, equipping your teams with modern skills to propel sustainable progress and innovation.
• Attracts New Talent: Though this type of training focuses on in-house teams, the time will come when you need to expand your team and hire outside talent for various roles. Being able to show that you invest in your teams will attract new talent who want to remain on the cutting edge and continue learning on the job.
• Boosts Team Morale: When you invest in your employees, they’ll feel it. They’ll know how much you value their contributions, ideas, potential, and career growth. Not to mention, team training can be a bonding experience that brings people together – and the more teams feel positive about their roles and work, the more that can lead to increased customer satisfaction, as well.

How Galvanize upskilling training works

Whether you’re looking to advance your team’s skills or pivot a team or individual into a less obsolete position, we’ve developed programs that will help you get there. The programs in our Enterprise Course Catalog cover topics like Python, Java/Spring Boot, C#/.NET, JavaScript, Angular, React, TypeScript, and more. These are built by a team of technical subject-matter experts, instructional designers, and adult education experts. These are customizable programs because we know that sometimes, unique company needs require unique approaches and curricula.

According to Jason Strand, Galvanize Director of Enterprise Engagement, 95% of the topics and skills clients are looking for are covered within our existing, standard curriculum library. The remaining 5% is a matter of adding to or tweaking existing content to fit the context of how certain tech and practices are used in their organization.

“Because we have so much content ready to go, the configuration process goes really fast and we usually start delivery of the first programs within 4 weeks of an organization reaching out,” he added.

The courses are specifically tailored to each client by incorporating their tech stack, CI/CD pipeline, proprietary tools, and datasets directly into the case studies and real-world projects worked on in the classroom. For client Charles Thibault, an executive technology leader at IDT Corporation, the training opened possibilities for long-term experimentation and growth.

“We not only learned how to program in Python but now can access a library of ready-made, production-quality code to run machine learning models,” he said. “We actually practiced new techniques that we had never been exposed to before. We learned about best practices in modeling and software engineering.”

Ready to upskill your team?

To get started, fill out this simple form. Our team will get back to you to discuss your goals and begin figuring out how we can accomplish them together.

The post Future-proofing your team: Workforce upskilling appeared first on Galvanize.

The primary focus of Telegraph programming is to create a technical network for underrepresented engineers, allowing a supportive transition into this career path. Students have access to networking events, career panels, workshops, a rich professional network, and 1:1 mentorship with professional software engineers. In this post, we’re focusing primarily on the mentorship aspect of Telegraph Track, which pairs students at the point of graduation with professional software engineers and managers who help them navigate the tech industry and support their post-bootcamp career-related interests and goals.

To learn how mentorship works and explore its impact, we interviewed Sofie Graham. Sofie is a Hack Reactor graduate who participated in Telegraph Track as a student and decided to become a mentor now that she’s working as a Team Lead Backend Engineer at the gaming company VWG. Read about her experience below.

Interview with mentor Sofie Graham

How was your experience with Telegraph Track during your time as a bootcamp student? 

When I first started at Hack Reactor, I immediately felt a sense of belonging. It’s something that you notice as a minority in tech, that there’s a big difference between just saying, “We don’t discriminate” and saying, “We have done the work to make sure everyone feels welcome and included here.” Hack Reactor most certainly does the work.

As a student, Telegraph Track gave me access to industry experts, apprenticeship opportunities, and a mentor who gave me insights on what being an engineer in the “real world” would look like. Since then, I’ve progressed so much as an engineer, and my appreciation for the work that Telegraph Track does has grown more and more as I’ve come to realize just how rare programs like this are.

Why did you want to join on as a mentor?

I chose to become a mentor because I, too, want to do the work to make others feel welcome in the wonderful world of engineering.

How long have you been a mentor? And how has the experience been so far?

I’ve been a mentor with Telegraph Track for almost a year now, and the experience has been very fulfilling. Each mentee has a different story and is facing their own unique challenges in their engineering journey. There’s no “script” you can follow to be a good mentor; you have to figure out what each person needs and then work together to make progress. The great thing about Hack Reactor mentees is that you know they have already put in the work to become solid engineers, so any other hurdles they are facing will be surmountable – whether it’s mock interviews, resume reviews, or dealing with imposter syndrome. I help keep them accountable with their portfolio projects, and I’m there to encourage them to keep going when things get tough.

Why do you think mentorship (particularly in this context, for underrepresented groups) in software engineering is important?

Improving the ratio of underrepresented groups in tech is not about achieving “better diversity numbers.” It’s about introducing entirely new perspectives to the practice of engineering. Even now, after spending years in the industry, I can’t count how many times I have been in a room full of engineers and I’ve been the only female. I mentor underrepresented folks because the field of engineering will progress further and faster when we are able to take advantage of the multitude of worldviews that currently don’t even have a seat at the table.

What would you say to someone who’s considering becoming a Telegraph Track mentor? Any encouragement and/or advice for them?

I was hesitant to sign up to be a mentor because I didn’t feel qualified, which is ironic because I manage a team of engineers at work, so a huge part of my profession is literally mentoring engineers. But that’s how strong imposter syndrome can be, and that’s a big part of why I wanted to become a Telegraph Track mentor, to help people overcome that. One piece of advice I give all my mentees is, “If the thought of doing something scares you, then it’s probably a great opportunity for growth.”

So, if the thought of becoming a mentor makes you uncomfortable, do it. You’ll find you have a lot more to offer than you realize.

Join us as a Telegraph Track mentor!

With Sofie’s excellent insight and advice in mind, we invite you to consider joining us as a mentor. All working software engineers and managers are welcome; there’s no need to be a Hack Reactor graduate.

The time commitment for mentorship is 4 hours over the course of 1-2 months. Learn more about Telegragh Track mentorship, and if you’re interested in joining, please fill out this mentor-matching form.

Or, if you’re not a software engineer yet but you’d like to become one, learn about our Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamps. No matter which bootcamp you choose, you’ll graduate as a job-ready, full-stack software engineer — and you’ll have our team’s support along the way.
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*Those underrepresented in tech include women and nonbinary people, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, Veterans, military spouses, and students over age 40. We use historical participant data and reference reputable nonprofit and government bodies of research about underrepresented groups in tech to inform our process. With that said, our definition is flexible. If a student believes they’re underrepresented in a different way, we encourage them to apply to Telegraph Track.

The post The impact of Hack Reactor’s Telegraph Track mentorship  appeared first on Galvanize.