It’s been almost a year since I began UNC Chapel Hill’s Coding Bootcamp. I’ve previously written about my experience job hunting after coding bootcamp but I wanted to do another post that addresses a more general question: is coding bootcamp worth it?

This question is hotly debated in coding circles on and off the internet. Programmers who are fully self taught balk at the high price tags of coding bootcamps when there are so many free resources for learning to code available online. At the other end of the spectrum, those who spent four years in undergraduate computer science programs may look down at bootcamp grads who have only weeks or months of training. That said, I personally know a number of people who’ve had their careers and lives changed by coding bootcamp.

All three of the paths I mentioned (coding bootcamp, four year computer science program, teaching oneself) have their own pros and cons and which makes the most sense for you depends totally on your situation, your goals and your learning style.

Being Self Taught

They call this the information age for a reason. There are countless resources available via the internet to learn nearly any programming language you could want. Many are free and those that do cost money will still generally be way, way cheaper than true ‘coding bootcamps’ or 4 year degree programs.

I started out teaching myself to code using sites like Codecademy and Treehouse. I went through a full Ruby on Rails nanodegree program with Treehouse and l learned a lot. One of the great things about self guided programs is they’re highly flexible. You can do them at your own pace when you have time, and you can tailor the curriculum to your interests and the kind of projects you want to work on.

Being self taught however requires a good amount of discipline. Learning on one’s own is a skill in and of itself which gets easier as you improve at finding and parsing through the best resources. Being a self taught programmer also requires you to go a little more out of your way to learn best practices as well as ‘soft skills’ like working in a team and the conventions by which coding shops function.

Personally I found there to be many resources for people first learning to code and many resources for people that are already pros, but there’s an awkward valley in the middle that can be challenging if you’re on your own– part of why I ended up enrolling in a coding bootcamp after all.

If you go this route, I recommend having a very clear plan on what knowledge you want to obtain and how you’re going to get there. There’s so much to know about coding and computer science that, even with years of experience, you’re only ever going to scratch the surface. Self taught programmers are especially vulnerable to imposter complex syndrome, but at some point you’re going to have to put yourself out there and start applying for jobs (if that’s your goal). Figure out when that point is, as best you can.

I also recommend working on some real projects that interest you. This makes learning to code much more fun than just doing random exercises.

Coding Bootcamp

I initially balked at the five figure price tags of most coding bootcamps. It seemed crazy to spend that much money learning something I could teach myself, but ultimately I went for it. I can still see pros and cons each way, so it really depends on your situation, but the nice thing about coding bootcamp is it’s structured and you have real face-to-face contact with someone who actually knows what they’re doing.

When I was teaching myself, I’d sometimes get stuck on a simple issue for a week straight. That’s very unpleasant and not very productive. Once I enrolled in coding bootcamp, it became a lot easier to ask questions and get certain things clarified. (Note: learning to debug on your own is certainly a valuable skill, but even as a professional programer, you’ll typically have a network of people you can ask for help or a second set of eyes if you really get hung up.)

I also learned best practices and how the various facets of web development fit together. I didn’t just learn MySQL or MongDB, for example, I learned when to use which.

I also got experience working with teams under deadlines. It’s a common misconception that coding is a solitary profession. In most situations it’s actually highly collaborative, so getting used to working in teams is hugely beneficial both in getting hired and being effective after you are hired.

Four Year Computer Science Degrees

At the other end of the spectrum from being self taught is enrolling in a four year university. This is typically the most expensive option of the three and certainly takes the longest. The rub on computer science programs is that they tend to be very theoretical. You’ll learn all kinds of theories about how algorithms and how computers work but you won’t necessarily learn the latest languages and technologies that cutting edge startups are actually using.

There were a number of people in my coding bootcamp who already had computer science degrees from reputable universities but were going to coding bootcamp to learn what they actually needed to know to get a job. At the same time, there’s still a strong stigma against recent coding bootcamp grads. Attending both a coding bootcamp and a four year computer science degree program is great if you’re willing and able to put in the time and money.

While computer science degrees don’t necessarily get into the latest and greatest languages they do tend to do a much better job of covering the more abstract and high level aspects of programming like writing sophisticated algorithms. If you decide to go the coding bootcamp route, you should try seeking out as much of this material as you can on your own, either during or after the program.

Is Coding Bootcamp Worth It?

If you’re someone who likes structure and face-to-face contact, and you’ve got the money, coding bootcamp is for you. I suggest also checking out my post on finding a job after coding bootcamp, so you know what to expect. (Don’t always trust the bootcamp’s marketing material.)

There’s no one right way to learn to code, but it’s a great skill to have now a days, and fortunately there are a number of good options for adding it to your proverbial tool box.

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