A solid way to learn about coding and get real industry experience. What sets Joy of Coding apart (not always a good fit for some) is that the pacing is a bit more flexible in comparison to most bootcamps and that after the basic learning modules there is real internship experience with real projects that go to production which is quite rare and is definitely a great interview booster.

Current student, through most of the curriculum. Pretty happy w it so far. Approach focuses on programming fundamentals and just enough CS to be able to do Hacker Rank, Technical interviews etc. Complex challenging assignments full of different connections to content and skills. Fairly solid choice.

I love Joy of Coding! Dr. Emily takes a personal interest in each one of her students, and she believes in them even when they don’t believe in themselves!

My career in software development & consulting spans 40 years, includes wroking for eight Fortune 500 companies, workiing on everything from an Apple II to Cray mainframes. Six years ago I retired from a large insurance company with over 500 it workers. I had worked there for ten years and was earning a six figure salary and was a member of their elite develop team. In January, 2024, it was time to go back to work, but first retrain to get skills that are maketable now. I found an ad for a training company, Joy of Coding, that promised a quick, two to eight month, path to a six figure job and so I met Dr. Emily. I signed up for her five day Python Challenge course. I am a Microsoft Certified Software Developer, have a MEd, and have won awards for Computer Based Training courses I developed. So, I know about coding and teaching. I was totally blown away by the five lessons in the Dr. Emily's Challenge. They are clear and understandable with well thought out activities that jump right into real programming. She teaches best practice patterns for writing DRY 'Don't Repeat Yourself' code. Then has video-walk throughs of the solutions to the activities. She explains the how and the why of each step with warm encouraging enthusiasm. Skills are necessary but not enough to land the right job, or even get an interview and Joy of Coding understands that. Their programs include work on real world projects to gain the experience and confidence to not only get the interview but actually get the job.

I want to share my experience with Joy of Coding. Before starting, I had minimal experience with Python. However, I can now build various projects with Python, including my own locally running AI bot powered by Ollama2. I have the fundamentals of Java syntax and am currently expanding my practice with this language. When I started, I didn't understand how the Internet worked. Now, I can discuss the HTTP protocol and how it works with enough understanding to fill any knowledge gaps needed for any situation quickly. I have never used HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, but now I am working on my project, building a complete website. And it looks and works great! I can easily pick up different frameworks, expand my knowledge, and adapt as I go. Getting to this point has taken me a bit longer than six months—it has taken eight months, and that's okay. I am pursuing a lot of knowledge, seeking more than just working for someone else. I want to build cool stuff that I can use to generate my income, and I get help with the business side of launching a company, too. At Joy of Coding, I get the help I need. After learning the programming fundamentals, the sky is the limit. I can ask the community for help with anything I am working on. I get direction from Industry professionals to become a master problem solver and build the tools I have always wanted. Beyond that, the Joy of Coding is more than a boot camp. It's a supportive community dedicated to meeting the students where we are and helping us get wherever we want to go. I have seen many folks come into this program unsure of what they wanted to do except that they wanted to code. The more they learn, the more they find their niche and discover what excites them to learn more. I won't say that signing up for Joy of Coding will make YOU six figures, but I will say that YOU will have the opportunity to learn anything you need to know, to chase the dreams we have. All backed with top-notch support from industry leaders, coaches, live streams, experts in their field, and countless other resources along the way. We even have a mindset coach that can help us overcome mental blocks like the dreaded Imposter syndrome that cripples our potential and help to define our purpose and build our own roadmap. What I will say is that if your goal is to get a 6-figure career, you will likely need more drive than that one compass point to follow. You must access your passion and drive and take advantage of every learning opportunity. All the tools needed to grow into a career that earns top pay, top benefits, and leads innovation are within grasp. It comes down to the individual. We must chase our dreams and be determined to achieve them by pursuing our learning, being open to feedback, and getting out of our comfort zone. I firmly believe that anyone who is willing to work for it can achieve anything with the right support. And I found that here at the Joy of Coding Academy. Thank you, Dr. Emily!!! You have made it possible to bridge the gap between my goals and my skills. --Norstar Phoenix

Joy of Coding is a wonderful academy for those seriously seeking a career as a software engineer. Dr. Emily Hill's exceptional teaching style makes hard concepts, aka functions, easy to comprehend. This academy includes a wonderful staff of senior developers and a community with willingness to help you grow and achieve your dream coding job. They offer free masterclass, which I highly recommend to check out. 😊

It was lovely speaking with Emily. I had lots of questions, and she had so many great and encouraging responses. I'm very excited and feeling like I can really do this and succeed.