Coding Category Archives - General Assembly Blog

Computer Science vs. Data Science: What is the Difference?

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Trying to wrap your head around the difference between data science vs. computer science? 

Many of the luxuries that we have today — a favorite streaming service that recommends new movies, the ability to unlock our phones with facial recognition technology, or virtual home assistants that let us play our favorite music just by speaking — are made possible by computer science and made better by data science.

Today, these two fields complement each other to further applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and business forecasting. Read on to learn a definition of each, their histories and applications, and career paths in both computer science and data science. 

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How Tech Skills Can Land You a Creative Career

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Traditionally, “highly paid” and “creative career” doesn’t appear in the same sentence, but as technology transforms every part of the creative process, the demand for creative technologists is surging, creating opportunities for artistic-minded tech workers. 

The internet and social media have ushered in a digital creative renaissance, where artists are experimenting with new mediums like augmented reality and virtual reality, and emerging tools like generative AI. Art exhibits have transformed from static gallery shows to immersive experiences created by UX designers. Digital artists increasingly rely on technology as their studio, leveraging software tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Open AI’s DALL-E, and Procreate to create their next masterpiece. 

Similarly, the music industry is experiencing historic change. Software editing programs and virtual instruments have unlocked new possibilities for creative expression. Technology like streaming services have enabled artists to embrace new ways of marketing and distributing their music. Social media platforms make fan engagement possible in real-time. 

Even already tech-savvy industries like film, television, and video gaming are seeing new opportunities emerge thanks to innovations in 3D graphics, video streaming, and computer performance. The metaverse has unlocked an entirely new world for the entertainment industry to seize, emerging after the pandemic shuttered live events and forced entertainment companies to get creative with digital offerings. 

While technical innovation in creativity is exciting, it also poses legal and ethical concerns around things like an artist’s copyright and control over their work, meaning the field is ripe for innovation in the privacy, security, and compliance spaces. 

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What Are the Different Types of Software Engineers?

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Software engineering is one of the fastest growing fields in the world. Rightfully so, as code powers our favorite digital products and services, across all industries from consumer retail and healthcare to B2B tech and government. 

But did you know there are many different types of software engineers? As demand for the discipline grows, companies require even more nuanced skill sets to bring their digital visions to fruition. The good news? General Assembly’s bootcamps will provide a solid foundation for any software engineering career option. The choice is yours, depending on your interests. 

So let’s explore 5 types of software engineers that are hot on the coding job boards right now.

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Chart Your Course: Which General Assembly Class Is Right for You?

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Whether you’re making the leap into a career change, or leveling up your current skill set to land that next promotion, you might be wondering if an online coding bootcamp is right for you. The good news is that General Assembly offers a range of beginner-friendly class formats (from full-time immersives to flexible, part-time schedules), and we have a course that will fit your specific career path and interests. 

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5 Tips for Preparing for a Coding Bootcamp

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If you’re thinking about switching careers and becoming a software engineer, there’s no time like the present. Career transitions take a lot of courage, especially if you are going through it alone or have no clear path or guidance. You might be asking questions like, how and where do I even get started to prepare for a career transition into software engineering? 

Well, you’ve made it to the right place to learn how a coding bootcamp is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a seamless transition to software engineering. However, before enrolling in a coding bootcamp, it’s important to understand what joining a coding bootcamp entails, how to prepare for the admissions, and the course itself. 

Preparation is key to being successful at anything, especially a career change, so if you find yourself reading this blog post, you’ve come to the right place. General Assembly w has a track record of training 100,000 grads globally and preparing students for the before and after. 

Ready to dive in? Let’s start with the admissions process. 

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What Is Front-End Web Development?

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So, you’re interested in learning more about a career in frontend web development?

You’ve come to the right place. 

As the web development industry expands, so does the demand for web developers worldwide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for web developers is expected to grow 23% between now and 2031 in the U.S. alone. In Europe, more than half of companies that recruited or tried to recruit IT professionals had difficulties filling vacancies— meaning there are more jobs than people.

Undoubtedly, it’s an excellent time to enter a web development role. The real question remains: Is it the right fit for you? If so, how do you actually become a frontend web developer? Read on to learn more.

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The Top 5 Industries Hiring Software Engineers

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With news of layoffs and uncertainty in the tech industry, you may be wondering if you are making the wrong career choice by becoming a programmer. Are there any companies hiring software engineers still out there? 

Good news: Beyond the doom-and-gloom headlines, there are plenty of job opportunities for software engineers across all kinds of companies. 

Software developer was named the #1 best job in 2023 by U.S. News and World Report. It scored this honor due to its high demand, job growth, low unemployment and stress levels, and work-life balance. Demand for software engineers is expected to grow by 25% by 2031. 

In more good news, tech companies are far from the only industry hiring software engineers. Every type of company from banks to hospitals to defense contractors needs software engineers to build infrastructure and apps for their business.  

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5 Steps to Getting Your First Job in Software Engineering

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Software impacts nearly all aspects of our lives today. If you woke up to an alarm on your mobile phone, ordered lunch via an app, or used technology to get your work done today, you can thank software developers. If you’re interested in improving your problem-solving and analytical skills to help solve challenges (whether that’s how lunch gets ordered or something bigger, like climate change), software engineering could be the next career for you. 

If you are wondering how to land a software engineering job with no experience, you’ve come to the right place. At General Assembly, we help thousands of people change careers and get entry-level jobs in software engineering in months. No four-year computer science degree required. This quick start guide outlines five steps to take to launch your new career in software engineering, regardless of your background. 

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Top 5 Coding Languages to Learn in 2023

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The tech industry is booming, and the demand for programmers is increasing every year. There are 26.9 million software developers globally, according to a recent Global Developer Population and Demographic Study. This number is projected to increase to 27.7 million in 2023 and 28.7 million in 2024. 

The world is moving fast, and there are many job openings for coders in 2023. There are many reasons why coding powers the world. The main use cases of coding include software development, data analytics, data science, web development, mobile app development and big data.

If you want to get involved in this exciting field, it’s essential that you learn how to code. But with so many different programming languages out there, where should you start? This blog will look at the top five coding languages that are most widely used today and why they’re so important.

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