The debate around what path to choose to learn coding may as well go down as a legend in the league of highly discussed topics in the tech space. Let’s give it another go, shall we?

Yes, there have been several points and counterpoints, for and against either of the paths but the dynamics have continually changed, same as the factors that have influenced the debate. A glaring one has been the global pandemic in 2020, and it keeps mutating.

Still, having navigated this crossroad and its many arms of indecisions, I hope I can help you make a more deliberate choice. One that you’re certainly sure meets your needs.

1. Discipline Streak

This might seem like an unlikely factor to consider upfront, and that’s understandable. However, to become good in coding; well, good enough to be given a shot to push lines of code into production requires discipline and patience. Both paths require you to stay disciplined if you’re serious with either. But while discipline will be induced in boot camps by external parties, the onus is solely dependent on you in being self-taught. So, be sincere with yourself, even it’s this once, and answer a few questions:

1. Do you get bored in a short period while studying?
2. Do you get easily distracted by the slightest chance?
3. Is your focus undivided for 2 hours on a stretch while studying?

It’s alright if your answers to these questions are no. It doesn't qualify you less, however could be a pointer that being self-taught might not favor you so much unless you have all the time in the world. If however you're a master of your discipline and can stay focused over a long haul of hours studying, being self-taught could just be the right path for you. Not so fast though, let’s check out other factors.

2. Price

Going the self-taught route is the cheapest of both paths. You’d only need to spend on a good laptop, data subscriptions, and online courses (if you decide to go beyond youtube videos and blog tutorials. And I recommend buying courses by professionals though). If you reside in countries with incessant power outages like Nigeria, where I reside, include the cost of getting an alternative power supply to your budget.

Bootcamp is more pricey. Very pricey. And depending on what country the Bootcamp is located in, it could cost you as much as $10k - $20k. In a country like Nigeria, it would cost you between $1500 - $6000. The difference in prices is a result of different factors including the services the Bootcamp would offer. For example, in Nigeria, some boot camps provide accommodation, laptops (for the period of the training), about $60 - $80 monthly stipend, and feeding. These would be more expensive to those that only provide the teaching resources and the instructors to guide you through the duration of intensive training.

Fortunately, some of these boot camps would allow you to pay in installments. However, if you’re certain you want to go the Bootcamp route, I'd advise you to research the institute, check ratings, alumni progress after the training and ask lots of questions before signing on.

3. Convenience

This is one very important factor to consider as I’ve had a couple of persons who have asked me how they could cope with switching careers into tech while still trying to make a living with their present jobs. This is where convenience comes into play.

Is it possible to switch into tech after 6-8 months of intensive training while still trying to work your regular job? Not impossible, but that'd be a hard nut to crack. How so? Well, some boot camps offer part-time or weekend classes for the working class. It’s going to be very tough if I’m to be honest. And if you have more responsibilities clamoring for your attention besides work on workdays, it’s going to be tougher. Still, it’s possible.

However, if you can, another choice would be to save up months ahead and focus solely on coding via the Bootcamp as juggling between work and learning coding in a fast-paced and demanding environment is tough. That’s what I did but here’s a caveat, please only take up this advice if you have planned a year and can afford to go months without a steady source of income. Because, although it worked out, I got into trouble with this strategy and that nearly drove broke me crazy. Depressive kind of crazy. Fortunately, I survived but I didn’t have to suffer that much.

On the other hand, if you’re disciplined, and can’t afford to squeeze out the cost to attend a Bootcamp, you might want to go the self-taught route. I’d advise though, that you have a schedule and stick to it. Also, try to find a mentor who would be an unofficial guide. Having more than one mentor would be a good idea because there are days bugs and some programming concepts would drive you into the wilderness and you could spend hours on the internet and still feel lost and drained. Let me not even mention you might shed a few tears a few times.

4. Network

It’s a no-brainer that to grow your career in tech you’d need to leverage on your network, so the earlier you can build or connect into a wider network, the better. At least that’s helping me. That being said, what route would expose you to a network of developers you could leverage faster? The answer to that is Bootcamp.

From the network of fellow students, alumni you could connect to online and experienced instructors, Bootcamp early on presents you with this opportunity to connect with professionals and build on that going forward. Still, you have to be intentional about leveraging this network as you know what they say about network and net worth.

Hold on a second, does that mean if you go self-taught are you going to be less fortunate and isolated? Of course not. Truth is, you could even go to a Bootcamp and leave without taking advantage of the network you’ve been exposed to early on.

However, being self-taught, you need to be more deliberate and double down on expanding your network. Connecting with professionals on LinkedIn and Twitter. Joining dev groups on the various social media platforms and asking questions, or even applying to opportunities posted there. Or is it searching out for mentors online who already have a busy schedule and you’d have to be patient to work with their schedule? And lastly, search out dev meetups, conferences, and symposiums. It’s an effort you’d have to make on your own but you can and as your network grows, it becomes easier.

5. Opportunity

Now, this is a key factor, well, it also depends on your goal. If you’re just interested in learning coding as a pastime, then worry less and just go with being self-taught. Take the time to learn the nuances of what area in coding you want to explore. On the other hand, if you want to secure a job after your learning, then you might want to choose carefully.

Some boot camps would promise to help you find a job or connect you with one. Some, in bold letters, would inform you that their only responsibility is to train you through a structured program, lay a good foundation, and teach you the in-demand skills required in the industry.

My advice? Be careful with your expectations of being connected to a very good-paying job after your Bootcamp training. Setting your expectations so high might feel right considering the large price you are expected to pay. But the truth is you might be just setting yourself up to be disgruntled and feeling scammed. This could blind you to opportunities that would have helped you build your career.

So yes, a Bootcamp might present you with more opportunities immediately after your training as some have connections with companies, some of who are big players, but there’s no 100% guarantee you’d be linked with that $60k+ per annum job immediately. However, yes, you’d be prepared enough to take on interviews for entry-level positions. But the fact remains that, it’s your responsibility to upskill and be good enough to impress a recruiter.

How do you build a case for yourself as a self-taught developer?

Firstly, I'd say don’t get lost in the hundreds if not thousands of concepts out there. When you look through a plethora of job descriptions of the area in tech you want to pursue, you’d find a repeating pattern of skills you need to have. Add those to your need-to-know list and find courses that would equip you. The bigger players in the industry might require you to have some additional skills, add that to your nice-to-know list and train yourself towards acquiring them.

Build and leverage your network. Be deliberate about developing your soft skills. When you’ve grown a little more than a beginner, look out for open source projects and contribute to them. This prepares you in the area of working with a team and an online repository, which are important skills almost every employer is on the lookout for.

Nothing beats an opportunity to meet a self-taught dev who’s prepared and armed with the right skills. Oh, one more thing, build a commanding portfolio for yourself, even if you have to do pro bono for a few projects. The keyword is 'few', so be careful of being exploited. Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

So, again, Bootcamp or Self-Taught - which way? Either way or maybe even both ways. Interestingly, whether self-taught or forged in a Bootcamp, if you’re serious about your career you have to learn how to learn by yourself, upskill online, or remotely. Because even if you went to a Bootcamp, you won’t be taught everything. Yes, there’d be structure and the right foundation would be laid but tech is constantly changing. If you’re not conscious of keeping up through self and deliberate learning, you could have stunted growth. Don’t wait for another 2020-like global pandemic event to force you to figure out how to improve your skill remotely and online.

In final words, trust yourself to make the right decision. Whichever you choose, always ask questions, grow and leverage on your network, over-communicate with your colleagues, connect to dev communities online, listen and consciously learn. Again, trust yourself even when imposter syndrome comes knocking. It’s all part of the process. Take it a step at a time and you’d be fine.