CodeNewbie

Mary takes us through her nearly 40 years of working with computers, which includes punch cards, using a terminal for the first time, and the ever-changing tools of programming.

Shubheksha shares her experience contributing to open source, why it took her two years to contribute in a meaningful way, and how working on open source has boosted her confidence and sharpened her skills.

Laura was a lot of stuff, like a music blogger, DJ, and maid. Now, she helps introduce others to tech through initiatives like Rails Girls Summer of Code. She tells us about the program, the value of working on open source, and how she became a developer.

Bill Sourour was twenty-one when he built a website for promoting a drug that he later found may have contributed to a young woman's suicide. We talk to Bill about this incident and the ethical responsibility of coders.

Tess Posner talks about the realities of finding a job in tech at the salary you want, what technology’s increasing demand for talent means for job seekers, and what every codenewbie can do to maximize their chances of launching their tech career.

Alexander talks about creating #100DaysofCode, the hashtag challenge that’s helped him, and hundreds of others, incorporate coding into his daily routine.

Ish Shabazz recently released Stamp Pack, the iOS app that gave him his biggest launch yet. He talks about the iterative process of building it, what it’s like to create a new app category, and why being an independent iOS developer is getting harder.

George Moore drove trucks for years. But he knew he wanted to do more with his life, so he slowly worked his way up to his current role, a master software engineer. He shares his incredible tech journey filled with uncertainties and perseverance.

In part II, Ashe Dryden talks about how the harassment she’s experienced has influenced her life decisions and created her new normal, how her work has changed her perception of the internet, and what we can all do to be advocates in the workplace.

Ashe Dryden helps us unpack the many questions, misconceptions, and realities of diversity in tech. In part I of our interview, she gives us a diversity primer, explains why this topic is so important, and tells us how she produces AlterConf.

Terri Burns not only graduated with a CS degree, but also ran the largest student tech organization in the country. If you’re curious about the elusive CS degree, take a listen to this awesome, behind-the-scene conversation and see what it’s all about.

Nick is an Innovation Accountant, a mix of data, coding, and experimentation. He talks about what it’s like to build the lisetning app, NPR One, what he’s learned about the way people listen to podcasts, and what technical skills he uses on the job.

Leslie Hitchcock produces the largest hackathons and tech events in the world for TechCrunch. She shares tips on how new coders can make the most out of hackathons, what types of coding projects people work on, and how to make hackathons more inclusive.

We talk to Baratunde Thurston about how he brought together product development and comedy in his recent role at the Daily Show, how he uses coding and technology as tools, and how we should balance our responsibility as coders with having fun.

Baratunde Thurston’s made a career of blending tech, comedy, and politics. He shares why he started in computer science but ended with a philosophy degree, how satirical apps are tech’s art-form, and how Comedy Hack Day creates unique coding experiences.