Son 14 into coding - help

Imnoexpert_2

Apologies if this is the wrong place - do feel free to advise where else to post this.

Son has the coding bug. Seems to be good at Java and Python. Teaching himself C++ (but finding it tough) and Javascript. Getting into Linux and HTML. He also seems to have learnt more about databases in 6 months than me in 20 years!

He is now earning money writing Java plugins for some guy he applied to over the internet. Seems legit.... He's been paid $40 this week and is getting repeat work so maybe he's doing ok!

So to the teckies on here
Any pitfalls in what he's doing?
He's outstripped my knowledge how does he get mentored?
How do we support and encourage him?
What should he do next?

I should say school aren't very helpful and that he plans to do Maths and IT at GCSE and beyond and is quite hard working and motivated.

Thanks for any help

AndyPix

Well done him !!


Getting the coding bug whilst young is great and will set him up well for a good career in IT if he so desires ..


He seems to know what he is doing as he has chosen the best languages to learn
Yes CPP is tough, but encourage him to stick at it as if he wants to be a serious programmer when he starts to work then that is what he will likely be using.


All the major software packages and latest blockbusyer games are all coded in CPP ..


As he is already earning money from freelancing, give him a massive pat on the back and support him and encourage him just by supporting what he is alrady doing.


What he should do next is keep doing what he is doing, get some good solid GCSE's and then look for an entry level job in his preferred career.


I have worked in IT for 20 years and I see no advantage whatsoever in any A level or degree level qualifications in this subject
Getting practical experience is WORLDS better


Edit : If he is going to be interested in creating web sites/apps then PHP is also very useful to learn and quite easy to grasp


Edit Edit : Getting into coding whilst young, the temptation is always there to lean to the "dark side" - eg "with my skills, i wonder if i can force my way into this system etc"


Pay close attention if he ever starts talking about "Kali Linux"

And , does he know what he is actually creating for this internet guy ?
Java plugins can be precursers to viruses and other attacks - just so you are fully aware


GO HIM !!

angryparcel

if he is earning then he should be declaring it even at 14.
if that is what he is into then the next logical step would be The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification

http://www.ukmicrosoft.com/microsoft-courses/certification/mcse-server-infrastructure.html

[Deleted User]

Once he's learnt to code - he'll also want to learn to 'software engineer' - how to design and plan things, test them properly ect. That's the stuff people won't generally teach themselves, but it's important.

Self-teaching is the way ahead.

Maybe learn more from https://www.codecademy.com/ or Lynda.com

Career-wise - he could do with learning a 'stack' e.g. Apache/Java, Microsoft/C#

I'm gradually getting my 8 year old into it with Scratch

Lukoind

I have started at 14 by myself, didn't had any supportive parents in that field to help me out, when I got stuck. Now I'm 19 and very happy with my early startup . I would suggest for your son to start with Java and see, where it goes next . You can search up on youtube:

Java Programming Tutorial Thenewboston

Neil_Jones

School might be unhelpful because its not really the sort of thing they can do now, that was scrapped in 2015:
http://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-scrap-gcse-and-a-level-ict-qualifications/

Its direct equivalent schools wise appears to be GCSE Computer Science, but I dare say not all schools are able to offer it.

Being self-taught can be extremely efficient though, you can do it anywhere and it demonstrates self control, discipline and the ability to learn. Back in the day I taught myself Visual Basic through college but these days the languages are a bit more complicated if they're built on the .net framework, in my experience anyway.

glentoran99

angryparcel wrote: »

if he is earning then he should be declaring it even at 14.
if that is what he is into then the next logical step would be The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification

http://www.ukmicrosoft.com/microsoft-courses/certification/mcse-server-infrastructure.html

spot the fun sponge, I doubt he is earning over his personal allowance so doesn't need to declare anything

Imnoexpert_2

Thank you all for your kind words and advice.

Andypix
Love your enthusiasm - it matches my son's. I will pass the advice about PHP. He is more a programmer than designer at present so although he has knocked up a website it's the server side rather than the website angle that appeals to him. The plug-ins seem legit. and as far as you can we have checked things out. Of course it's not like when I had a paper round as a kid. The customer is in Italy.

You are dead right about the temptation to hack. He has been tempted and found wanting! The school Admin system having the password "Admin" didn't make things hard for him! He also lacks the common sense to cover his tracks. He has now been told!

As to not going to university I hear where you are coming from but the pressure from society, education, family, and the kids themselves is all about higher education. Vocational training in the country is a definite Cinderella.

Angryparcel
Noted. I'm better with money than IT so have all this sussed.

Ringo, Lukoind
He uses code academy and is clearly good enough with Java to make money at it.And yes youtube is something he uses a lot too. The software engineering side is a point well made, and my concern. He needs to do things right and learn best practice.

Neil
Luckily the school do computer science GCSE but it is quite 'low level' His teachers are suggesting looking at the A level syllabus. I agree about the value of being able to manage your own learning.

Anyway his next job is a $60 one so watch this space.... and thanks again.

forgotmyname

My college weakpoint into their system was the password "teacher".

Simple buffer overflow and the password. Oh dear...

Your "buyer" could be reselling your sons work. Create a unique email address and use it for nothing else, then sneak a copy of that email into the source.

The problem with protecting stuff these days is it can often take you longer to try and protect it than it takes someone to crack it.

Like certain websites that leave access to certain PHP files that lists usernames of people online. Not exactly a security threat, but even users who select not visible online are on the list.

If they make that mistake, what other mistakes have they made?

It maybe i think differently when it comes to computers. Try stuff that a lot of others wouldnt think about. Using off the shelf forum software allows others access to the source or a list of files. Then you work through what does this file do, where is it stored and can i create this file a links a different URL to it?

50Twuncle

Imnoexpert wrote: »

Apologies if this is the wrong place - do feel free to advise where else to post this.

Son has the coding bug. Seems to be good at Java and Python. Teaching himself C++ (but finding it tough) and Javascript. Getting into Linux and HTML. He also seems to have learnt more about databases in 6 months than me in 20 years!

He is now earning money writing Java plugins for some guy he applied to over the internet. Seems legit.... He's been paid $40 this week and is getting repeat work so maybe he's doing ok!

So to the teckies on here
Any pitfalls in what he's doing?
He's outstripped my knowledge how does he get mentored?
How do we support and encourage him?
What should he do next?

I should say school aren't very helpful and that he plans to do Maths and IT at GCSE and beyond and is quite hard working and motivated.

Thanks for any help

What country are you in ?
You mention GCSE's and $'s
I assume the UK and USA ?
How does being paid by a foreign company work with UK Taxes ?

AndyPix

Imnoexpert wrote: »

I will pass the advice about PHP. He is more a programmer than designer at present so although he has knocked up a website it's the server side rather than the website angle that appeals to him.

Same as me exactly, thats why I advise PHP .
PHP is what does all the "nuts and bolts" stuff on a website when someone clicks something etc
It has nothing (much) to do with design, and everything to do with the workings of the site


PHP controls what happens on the server, BEFORE the web page is served to the browser

Imnoexpert wrote: »

As to not going to university I hear where you are coming from but the pressure from society, education, family, and the kids themselves is all about higher education. Vocational training in the country is a definite Cinderella.
.

Higher education is totally pointless for a career in IT.
After many years programming and consulting, I am now the IT manager for a big global enterprise.
I wouldnt look twice at a CV that has 3 years of university on it compared to 3 years actually doing the job at an entry level position.


Im not talking about vocational qualifications either, i am talking about real world experience in an entry level position.
Learning the job whilst on the job if that makes sense.


Experience in this game counts for everything

He will follow his own path and you are doing great by supporting him, Im just telling you my take on things as it will be someone like myself that he sits infront of when he applies for that job