From Impostor to Programmer, Epic Supporters Release

Zed here, this is a quick email to tell you that a first rough draft of From Impostor to Programmer is available in your Epic Supporter account. This course is effectively Learn C the Hard Way 2.0, with some material removed, lots of clean up, reformatting, and new material added in a 4th module.

The biggest tonal change is a refocusing on taking people who feel like impostors and showing them how to build confidence by building skill. I'm hoping it helps people who have a desire to learn programming start to feel like they can actually do it. If you're the kind of person who's unsure where you stand, are constantly in tutorial hell, or feel like there's something you're missing, then this is the course.

It'll also function as an introduction to the following topics:

1. Basics of C programming.
2. Debugging and quality.
3. Algorithms and Data Structures.
4. Making your own software on your own.

If you did the Go course then you'll recognize the 4th module as the same project exercises translated to C, but I'm thinking about adding one more that's unique to this course. Not sure but I'm toying with either:

1. A small programming language, since that makes you ultra skilled.
2. Some graphics programming, since that's actually fun.
3. Some network programming, since that's where you really learn to protect your code.

I obviously can't do all of those so I'm going to send out a survey soon that will ask what everyone is interested in and then I'll do one more module with that topic.

Calling Volunteers

I'm really not an impostor, and I don't know what impostors need if I'm being honest. I'm basing a lot of what I wrote on observation having lived with and worked with many impostors. I think I need to run a few small in-person classes with some volunteers and find out what you actually do in the course.

I've got one volunteer already, and I need maybe 3-4 more. I'm thinking will be a 1-2 hour session run on Saturday or Sunday only for about an hour. The idea will be to have you do a portion of the course, take notes on your experience and any problems you have, then come to the class and tell me about them so I can help you get through the course.

This helps me make the course better, tells me more about what people need, and helps you get through the course. If it works I may start doing this on a regular basis to test my courses.

So, if this sounds interesting to you then please reply and let me know if you want to join. I'll keep a list and randomly select once I know the format and idea.

Here's some more details:

1. I'm thinking just I'd just use google chat's video conference call thing.
2. I'm thinking 3pm EST every Saturday or Sunday or both if everyone's into it.
3. These won't be lectures, but me getting feedback from you, and then reviewing your code so far so you get feedback from me.
4. We'll also set goals for the week like, the next 4-5 exercises or finally finishing one particular exercise that's giving everyone trouble.

Immediate Feedback

As I said, I'm mostly guessing at what someone with Impostor Syndrome needs to do to stop feeling line a fraud. Read what I have to say, and send me your honest feedback. If you want to start attempting the course then go ahead and let me know how it goes.

More emails we've sent.