算法訓練營重編碼

Before you spend thousands of dollars and several months of your life on a coding bootcamp, spend 30 minutes reading this handbook.

在花費數千美元和一生中的幾個月時間參加編碼訓練營之前，請花30分鐘閱讀本手冊。

這本手冊適用于誰？ (Who is this handbook for?)

Anyone considering attending a bootcamp
任何考慮參加訓練營的人
Any developer considering founding a bootcamp or teaching at one
任何考慮建立新兵訓練營或一起教書的開發人員
Any journalist writing about bootcamps
任何有關訓練營的記者

對于認為自己太忙以致無法閱讀本手冊的人... (For the people who think they're too busy to read this handbook...)

My advice to you boils down to this: Do your research.

我對您的建議可以歸結為： 做您的研究 。

Apply for lots of developer jobs first. Go through some job interviews. You may be able to get a developer job without needing to attend a bootcamp.

首先申請許多開發人員職位。 通過一些工作面試。您可能無需參加訓練營就能獲得開發人員的工作。

Don't blindly trust bootcamps' testimonials or employment statistics. Use LinkedIn to reach out to their alumni directly.

不要盲目相信訓練營的推薦或就業統計。 使用LinkedIn可以直接與他們的校友聯系。

Prepare yourself. Make sure you have enough money. If you're ready to enroll, make sure you have enough cash to pay tuition. And make sure you have enough cash to survive during the bootcamp, and for 6 months after while you apply for jobs.

做好準備。 確保您有足夠的錢。如果您準備注冊，請確保您有足夠的現金支付學費。并確保您有足夠的現金在新兵訓練營期間以及求職后的6個月內能夠生存。

Bootcamps aren't magic. Bootcamps can only help prepare you. You have to learn everything. You have to go through the developer job interview process. You have to put in the work.

訓練營不是魔術。 訓練營只能幫助您做好準備。你必須學習一切。您必須完成開發人員面試過程。您必須投入工作。

關于客觀性的注釋 (A note on objectivity)

I've designed this handbook to be as objective as possible. To this end, I do not mention any bootcamps or their founders by name. I do not link to any of their websites.

我已將此手冊設計為盡可能客觀。為此， 我沒有提及任何訓練營或其創建者的名字。 我沒有鏈接到他們的任何網站。

I didn't write this handbook to help bootcamps. I wrote this handbook to help you.

我沒有寫這本手冊來幫助訓練營。我寫了這本手冊來幫助您。

As the teacher who founded freeCodeCamp, I am in a unique position to write about bootcamps for three reasons:

作為創建freeCodeCamp的老師，我在以下方面有獨特的位置來撰寫有關訓練營的信息：

A lot of ?bootcamps use freeCodeCamp for their curriculum and course prepwork. I've helped coach a lot of bootcamp founders on how to prepare people for developer careers.
許多訓練營都使用freeCodeCamp進行課程和課程準備。我已經幫助了許多訓練營的創始人，指導如何為開發人員的職業做好準備。
I learned to code in San Francisco in the early 2010's, when bootcamps first came onto the scene. I didn't attend a bootcamp, but I hung out with many bootcamp founders and attended student "demo days."
我在2010年初的訓練營首次出現在舊金山時，就學會了編碼。我沒有參加訓練營，但是我和許多訓練營的創建者閑逛，還參加了學生的“演示日”。
Over the past 3 years, I've conducted significant primary research. I've published several datasets containing responses from thousands of bootcamp alumni.
在過去的三年中，我進行了重要的基礎研究。我已經發布了幾個數據集，其中包含來自數千個訓練營校友的響應。

freeCodeCamp's mission is to help as many people learn to code as possible. Bootcamps help a lot of people accomplish this. So they are helping freeCodeCamp in our mission.

freeCodeCamp的任務是幫助盡可能多的人學習編碼。訓練營可以幫助很多人實現這一目標。因此，他們正在幫助freeCodeCamp執行我們的任務。

This said, freeCodeCamp has never received any compensation from bootcamps. Several of the big bootcamp chains have approached us about sponsorship. We have always refused.

也就是說，freeCodeCamp從未從訓練營獲得任何補償。幾家大型訓練營連鎖企業已就贊助事宜與我們聯系。我們一直拒絕。

我為什么要寫這本手冊？ (Why did I write this handbook?)

When you Google "coding bootcamp" or "coding bootcamps in [city name]", you find a lot of bootcamp review websites. But there are fundamental problems with these review sites.

當您使用Google“對訓練營進行編碼”或“在[城市名稱]中對訓練營進行編碼”時，您會發現許多關于訓練營的網站。但是這些評論網站存在一些根本性的問題。

First, these review sites are sponsored by the bootcamps themselves. Bootcamps pay for advertisements. They pay to rank higher in the search results. They pay for "paid placement" blog articles, op-eds, and other publicity.

首先，這些評論網站是由訓練營本身贊助的。訓練營為廣告付費。他們付費以在搜索結果中排名更高。他們為“付費展示位置”博客文章，評論和其他宣傳付費。

This is a conflict of interest.

這是利益沖突。

Second, many of the reviews on these sites were coerced. I've heard stories from graduates of several bootcamps who were pressured to leave positive reviews. In some cases, bootcamps made students write reviews as a mandatory in-class activity.

其次，這些網站上的許多評論都被強制了。我從幾個訓練營的畢業生那里聽到了一些故事，他們被迫留下正面評價。在某些情況下，訓練營使學生寫評論作為一項強制性的課堂活動。

There are also a lot of fake reviews written by marketing departments.

市場部門也撰寫了許多虛假評論。

It's impossible to know which bootcamps are playing by the rules and which are cheating. So all that these review sites accomplish is to help cheaters drown out the more ethical bootcamps.

不可能知道哪些訓練營正在遵守規則，哪些正在欺騙。因此，這些評論網站所做的全部工作就是幫助作弊者淹沒更符合道德的訓練營。

Instead of relying on websites full of dubious reviews, you should think for yourself. There are no shortcuts to making a decision this important.

而不是依賴充滿可疑評論的網站，您應該自己考慮。沒有任何捷徑可以使這項決定如此重要。

"The #1 marker of quality of a bootcamp is how hard it is to get in. Online reviews are completely and 100% gamed. Job placement statistics are also ruthlessly gamed. The only thing that's ungameable by a bootcamp is how hard it is to get in." - one of the former bootcamp managers I talked to while researching this handbook

“新兵訓練營質量的＃1標志是進入的難易程度。完全完成了在線評論，并且進行了100％的比賽。工作安置統計數據也被殘酷地對待。新兵訓練營唯一無法克服的事情是進來。” -在研究本手冊時曾與之交談的前訓練營經理之一

This handbook will give you a framework you can use to understand how bootcamps work. It will help you research your options and plan the path to your first developer job.

本手冊將為您提供一個框架，您可以使用該框架來了解新手訓練營的工作方式。它將幫助您研究您的選擇并計劃您的第一個開發人員工作的路徑。

訓練營到底是什么？ (What exactly is a bootcamp?)

Bootcamps are schools where you learn to code full-time - usually in person.

訓練營是您學習全職編碼的學校-通常是親自授課。

Most bootcamps are around 12 weeks long, though some are as long as a year.

大多數訓練營大約需要12周，盡管有些訓練營長達一年。

Most bootcamps cost between US $10,000 and $20,000.

大多數訓練營的費用在10,000至20,000美元之間。

Some bootcamps offer loans - either directly or through a financing company.

一些訓練營直接或通過融資公司提供貸款。

Some bootcamps offer "Income Share Agreements" where instead of paying up front, you pay a percentage of your pre-tax income (usually 17%) for several years (usually 2 years). This is not "free money" - and I'll explain it in detail below.

一些訓練營提供“收入分享協議”，您無需支付前期費用，而是支付幾年(通常為2年)的稅前收入的一定比例(通常為17％)。這不是“免費的錢”-我將在下面詳細解釋。

The goal of a bootcamp is to take a classroom full of people who have never worked in tech before and help them get their first developer job.

訓練營的目標是讓一個教室里擠滿了以前從未從事過技術工作的人員，并幫助他們獲得了第一份開發人員的工作。

That's a tall order. And there's a lot of money on the line. Which leads us to the next question.

這是一個很高的要求。而且線上有很多錢。這就引出了下一個問題。

訓練營真的有效嗎？ (Do bootcamps actually work?)

In many cases, yes. Every year, thousands of bootcamp grads get their first developer jobs.

在很多情況下，是的。每年，成千上萬的訓練營畢業生都得到了他們的第一份開發工作。

"The best bootcamps take people with raw ability and turn them into (lightly) experienced programmers. Most of what they do in some ways is selection, and then put people into pressure cookers of learning." - a former bootcamp manager I talked to

“最好的訓練營將具有才干的人帶入，使他們成為(輕度)經驗豐富的程序員。他們在某些方面所做的大部分工作是選擇，然后使人們成為學習的壓力鍋。” -我與之交談的前訓練營經理

But there are also bootcamp grads who fail to get a developer job and end up going back to their past careers.

但是，也有一些訓練營的畢業生沒有找到開發人員的工作，最終回到了過去的職業生涯。

Success comes down to a few factors:

成功歸結為以下幾個因素：

How selective the bootcamp is
訓練營的選擇性
How capable the teachers are
老師的能力如何
And whether the people running the bootcamp care about their employment statistics or are just in it for short term financial gains.
以及參加訓練營的人們是否關心自己的就業統計數據，還是只是為了短期的經濟利益而在其中。

Most bootcamps don't publicly share their numbers. And the bootcamps who do may use non-standard metrics. This makes it difficult for you to make apples-to-apples comparisons.

大多數訓練營不會公開分享他們的人數。這樣做的訓練營可能會使用非標準指標。這使您很難進行蘋果之間的比較。

But there's a growing transparency movement within bootcamps. They are pressuring one another to be more accountable.

但是，新兵訓練營內部的透明度運動正在不斷發展。他們互相施加壓力，要求他們承擔更多責任。

Some bootcamps want to self-regulate the industry before the government is forced to step in and regulate it for them.

一些訓練營希望在政府被迫介入并對其進行監管之前對行業進行自我監管。

Bootcamps have only existed as a form of post-high school education for a few years. They aren't yet regulated like colleges and universities. That is, through accreditation.

訓練營僅作為一種高中教育形式存在了幾年。他們還沒有像大學和大學那樣受到監管。即通過認證。

訓練營是否得到認可？ (Are bootcamps accredited?)

The short answer is no, they aren't accredited.

簡短的答案是不，他們沒有被認可。

But first, what does it meant to ?be accredited? And why's that so important for colleges and universities?

但是首先，獲得認證意味著什么？為什么對大學如此重要？

In the US, most universities are regionally accredited. And some academic programs are nationally accredited, such as English preparation schools.

在美國，大多數大學都獲得地區認證。某些學術課程已獲得國家認可，例如英語預備學校。

There are two major reasons for this:

這樣做的主要原因有兩個：

accredited schools can help students get a US visa
認可的學校可以幫助學生獲得美國簽證
accredited schools can help students get federal grants or federal student loans
認可的學校可以幫助學生獲得聯邦贈款或聯邦學生貸款

In order to get accredited, schools have to undergo an audit by independent educators. These auditors dig through files and make sure the school is following all the laws. They also make sure students are getting jobs after they graduate.

為了獲得認證，學校必須接受獨立教育者的審核。這些審核員會仔細檢查文件，并確保學校遵守所有法律。他們還確保學生畢業后能找到工作。

If graduates from the school aren't able to get jobs in their field of study, that's a red flag. The school may lose its accreditation.

如果學校的畢業生無法在他們的研究領域找到工作，那是一個危險信號。學校可能會失去認證資格。

You may have heard the term "diploma mill". These are colleges and universities that have lost their accreditation (or never got accredited in the first place). They sell worthless courses and worthless diplomas.

您可能聽說過“文憑工廠”一詞。這些是失去認證(或從未獲得認證)的學院和大學。他們出售毫無價值的課程和毫無價值的文憑。

In the US, public universities are run by the government. These are accredited. And most private universities are run by nonprofits - often by religious organizations. These are usually accredited, too.

在美國，公立大學由政府管理。這些都是經過認可的。而且大多數私立大學都是由非營利組織經營的-通常由宗教組織經營。這些通常也被認可。

But there's a third category of university: private for-profit universities. And this is where things get a little sketchy. Some of these universities are accredited, but some of them aren't.

但是還有第三類大學：私立營利性大學。這就是事情有點粗略的地方。這些大學中有一些是經過認證的，但有些則沒有。

These private for-profit universities advertise heavily on late-night TV and buy lots of Facebook ads. They trick unsophisticated students into enrolling.

這些私立營利性大學在深夜電視上大量投放廣告，并購買了大量Facebook廣告。他們欺騙簡單的學生招生。

"A foole and his money is soone parted." - Dr. John Bridges, way back in 1587

“一個愚蠢的人和他的錢都分了。” -約翰·布里奇斯博士，可追溯到1587年

In some cases, these schools qualify for federal student loans, the GI Bill, and other forms of government assistance.

在某些情況下，這些學校有資格獲得聯邦學生貸款，《地理標志法案》和其他形式的政府援助。

Plainly put, most of these private for-profit universities are a scam. The US government is slowly shutting them down. But many people still fall for their marketing and end up thousands of dollars in debt with a worthless degree.

簡而言之，這些私立營利性大學大多數都是騙局。美國政府正在慢慢關閉它們。但是，許多人仍然因行銷而陷于困境，最終無計可得地負債數千美元。

Even so, word of these scams spreads slowly. And even when a school sounds too good to be true, people still want to believe.

即使這樣，這些騙局的消息仍在慢慢傳播。即使學校聽起來好得難以置信，人們仍然想相信。

This brings us back to coding bootcamps.

這使我們回到編碼訓練營。

Without some form of accreditation, a few bootcamps who are focused on short term financial gains - rather than the long-term health of the bootcamp model - can ride a wave of bootcamp popularity. They can get rich while serving up sub-par results for students.

如果沒有某種形式的認證，一些專注于短期財務收益(而不是訓練營模型的長期健康)的訓練營可以乘風破浪。他們可以在為學生提供低于標準的成績的同時致富。

A bootcamp accreditation system could help prevent this.

訓練營認證系統可以幫助防止這種情況。

As I mentioned, most bootcamps don't have the resources to get accredited. Or they haven't existed long enough to qualify. This is where self-regulation comes into play.

正如我所提到的，大多數訓練營都沒有獲得認證的資源。或者他們還沒有足夠長的時間來符合資格。這就是自我調節發揮作用的地方。

The Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) is a joint effort by bootcamps to publicly share the employment statistics of their graduates in a way everyone can understand.

結果報告誠信委員會(CIRR)是新兵訓練營的共同努力，以每個人都能理解的方式公開分享其畢業生的就業統計數據。

Many prominent bootcamps are a part of this initiative. But some prominent bootcamps aren't participating or have stopped sharing their data.

許多著名的訓練營都是該計劃的一部分。但是一些著名的訓練營沒有參加或已經停止共享其數據。

A bootcamp's membership in the CIRR isn't the same thing as getting accredited, but it's a good start.

在CIRR中，新手訓練營的成員資格與獲得認證并不相同，但這是一個好的開始。

訓練營畢業生獲得什么樣的薪水？ (What kind of salaries do bootcamp graduates get?)

Based on public data, bootcamp graduates earn the same starting salary as other entry-level developers. This includes computer science majors and other university graduates who learned to code on their own.

根據公開數據，訓練營畢業生的起薪與其他入門級開發人員相同。這包括計算機科學專業和其他自學編碼的大學畢業生。

The biggest factor in how much money you get paid as an entry-level developer is the cost of living of the city. A junior developer in San Francisco can make twice as much as a junior developer in the middle of America.

作為入門級開發商，您獲得多少錢的最大因素是城市的生活成本。舊金山的初級開發人員的收入是美國中部的初級開發人員的兩倍。

If a bootcamp says their graduates get higher starting salaries than the graduates of other bootcamps, that means most of their graduates get jobs in more expensive cities like San Francisco.

如果一個新兵訓練營說他們的畢業生的起薪高于其他新兵訓練營的畢業生，那意味著他們的大多數畢業生在像舊金山這樣的更昂貴的城市找到工作。

訓練營的畢業生需要多長時間才能找到工作？ (How long does it take bootcamp graduates to get a job?)

This depends on the bootcamp. Some bootcamps have extensive career coaching. Others have close ties to local industry and can help you line up job interviews. Both of these can significantly shorten the number of months you spend applying for jobs afterward.

這取決于新兵訓練營。一些訓練營有廣泛的職業指導。其他人則與當地行業有密切聯系，可以幫助您安排工作面試。兩者都可以大大縮短您以后申請工作的時間。

The post-bootcamp job search takes about 6 months on average.

訓練營后的工作搜索平均大約需要6個月。

訓練營的完成率是多少？ (What is the completion rate for bootcamps?)

A majority of people who start bootcamps go on to finish them.

大多數開始訓練營的人都會繼續完成訓練。

Most good bootcamps are selective. If they don't think you'll be able to get a developer job after the program, they won't accept you.

大多數好的訓練營都是選擇性的。如果他們認為您不能在計劃結束后獲得開發人員的工作，他們將不會接受您。

Bootcamps have a short-term incentive to accept you so they can get your tuition dollars. But they also have a long-term incentive not to accept you if they think you could hurt their employment statistics.

訓練營有一個短期的動機來接受您，這樣他們就可以獲得您的學費。但是，如果他們認為您可能會損害他們的就業數據，他們也會長期拒絕接受您。

This said, not all bootcamps care about their employment statistics. Some may focus on short term cash, due to financial desperation. (A lot of high-profile bootcamps have shut down in recent years.)

也就是說，并非所有訓練營都關心他們的就業統計數據。由于財務狀況不佳，一些人可能只關注短期現金。 (近年來，許多備受矚目的訓練營都關閉了。)

In some cases, bootcamps may kick out students half way through their program.

在某些情況下，訓練營可能會將學生踢出課程的一半。

If the bootcamp is a "cash up front" bootcamp, they've already reaped the short-term benefit of enrolling you. Even if you're under-performing, it may make sense to try to salvage you rather than give you a refund.

如果該訓練營是“現金預付”訓練營，那么他們已經收獲了注冊您的短期利益。即使您表現不佳，也可以嘗試挽救自己而不是退款。

These bootcamps do still want the long-term benefit of you boosting their employment statistics. But this benefit is more abstract than the cold hard cash you've handed them.

這些訓練營仍然希望您能從長期就業中受益，從而增加他們的就業統計數據。但是，這種好處比您交給他們的冷錢更為抽象。

On the other hand, wage-garnishing bootcamps (remember those Income Sharing Agreements) have a bigger incentive to kick you out if you're under-performing. This is because they only benefit over the longer term (17% of your salary over the next 2 years).

另一方面，如果您表現不佳，那么加薪的訓練營(記住那些收入分享協議)就會有更大的動機將您趕出去。這是因為他們只能從更長遠的時間受益(未來兩年您的工資的17％)。

Also, some bootcamp students decide to drop out for a variety of reasons. These may have nothing to do with the bootcamp itself, such as major life events.

另外，一些訓練營的學生出于各種原因決定退學。這些可能與訓練營本身無關，例如重大生活事件。

人們多久從訓練營畢業一次卻沒有過渡到技術領域？ (How often do people graduate from bootcamps but fail to transition into tech?)

Usually by the time people enroll in more selective bootcamps, they've already spent a lot of time coding, and are close to being able to get a developer job. So it's less common for these bootcamp graduates to fail to find a job.

通常，當人們報名參加更具選擇性的訓練營時，他們已經花了很多時間進行編碼，并且接近能夠獲得開發人員的工作。因此，這些訓練營畢業生找不到工作的情況較少。

But regardless of your skills, finding a developer job is inherently difficult. Bootcamps can aid you in this process, and many of them have career counselors to help.

但是，不管您的技能如何，找到開發人員的工作本質上都是困難的。訓練營可以在此過程中為您提供幫助，其中許多都有職業顧問的幫助。

It is not uncommon for graduates of even selective bootcamps to have to apply to hundreds of developer jobs (and interview at dozens of companies) before getting a satisfactory job offer.

即使是有選擇性的訓練營的畢業生，在獲得滿意的工作機會之前，也必須申請數百個開發人員的工作(并在數十家公司進行面試)，這種情況并不少見。

"Sometimes people put in all the work, and are talented, but just don’t get lucky for a long time. Other times, many people spam click job applications job boards. This rarely works.
“有時候人們會投入所有工作，而且才華橫溢，但是很長一段時間都沒運氣。有時，很多人會通過垃圾郵件點擊工作申請工作板。這很少起作用。

"Sometimes people put in all the work, and are talented, but just don’t get lucky for a long time. Other times, many people spam click job applications job boards. This rarely works.
“有時候人們會投入所有工作，而且才華橫溢，但是很長一段時間都沒運氣。有時，很多人會通過垃圾郵件點擊工作申請工作板。這很少起作用。

So in many cases, when people fail to transition into tech, it's not really the bootcamp's fault. Some people just underestimate how arduous the job search process can be and give up before they find success.

因此，在許多情況下，當人們無法過渡到技術時，這實際上不是訓練營的錯。有些人只是低估了求職過程的艱辛，在找到成功之前就放棄了。

有哪些類型的訓練營？ (What types of bootcamps are there?)

Some bootcamps focus on particular stacks, like Ruby on Rails, Python / Django, or Java / Android. Some even focus on specific technical careers, like User Experience Design.

一些訓練營專注于特定的堆棧，例如Ruby on Rails，Python / Django或Java / Android。有些甚至專注于特定的技術職業，例如用戶體驗設計。

But it's more helpful to think of bootcamps in terms of their ownership structure. What are their incentives?

但是從訓練營的所有權結構角度考慮更為有用。他們的誘因是什么？

私有的本地訓練營 (Privately-Owned Local Bootcamps)

These are often founded by one or more local developers. The founders may teach some of the classes themselves. (This is usually a good thing.)

這些通常是由一個或多個本地開發商創建的。創始人可以自己教一些課程。 (這通常是一件好事。)

Most bootcamps start out as locally-owned, single-campus schools like these.

大多數訓練營都是從像這樣的當地獨資單校開始的。

私有訓練營鏈 (Privately-Owned Bootcamp Chains)

As locally-owned bootcamps grow, their founders may open additional campuses in other cities.

隨著本地擁有的訓練營的增長，其創始人可能會在其他城市開設其他校園。

By operating more than one campus, owners get the advantages of economies of scale and economies of scope. They can spread the burden of fixed costs (like marketing and curriculum) across several schools.

通過經營多個校區，業主可以獲得規模經濟和范圍經濟的優勢。它們可以將固定成本(如市場營銷和課程)的負擔分散到幾所學校。

This said, it's hard to offer consistent quality across multiple schools.

這就是說，很難在多所學校之間提供一致的質量。

My advice to prospective students is to treat each city campus as its own school. Don't rely on the overall reputation of a bootcamp chain. Instead, do your research. Seek out alumni from that specific campus and interview them.

我對準學生的建議是將每個城市校園都視為自己的學校。不要依賴訓練營鏈的整體聲譽。相反，請進行研究。從那個特定的校園中尋找校友并進行采訪。

基于大學的訓練營 (University-based bootcamps)

Most university-based bootcamps aren't run by the university itself. They are run by for-profit education companies.

大多數基于大學的訓練營都不是由大學本身運營的。它們由營利性教育公司運營。

Universities contract with these private companies to run the bootcamps. These bootcamps pay the university a hefty fee to use their classroom space and - more importantly - their prestigious name. It's a controversial practice.

大學與這些私營公司簽約以運營訓練營。這些訓練營向大學支付了沉重的費用，以使用他們的教室空間，更重要的是，使用他們的聲望很高的名字。這是一個有爭議的做法。

When you look at a university-based bootcamp, don't rely on the reputation of the university itself. Instead, do your own research.

當您查看基于大學的訓練營時，請不要依賴大學本身的聲譽。相反，請自己進行研究。

免費的非營利訓練營 (Free Nonprofit Bootcamps)

Nonprofit bootcamps are similar to their locally-run for-profit counterparts. The main difference is these have no profit incentive.

非營利訓練營類似于其在當地經營的營利性營地。主要區別在于這些沒有獲利動機。

With traditional 501(c)(3) nonprofits, there is no ownership. Nobody owns stock. Instead, they're owned by the public.

對于傳統的501(c)(3)非營利組織，沒有所有權。沒有人擁有股票。相反，它們歸公眾所有。

This is how The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and freeCodeCamp are all incorporated.

這就是紅十字會，無國界醫生組織和freeCodeCamp合并的方式。

And some bootcamps use this structure as well.

一些訓練營也使用這種結構。

Some nonprofit bootcamps are completely free. They are donor-supported, or supported through grants from the government.

一些非營利性的訓練營是完全免費的。它們是捐助者支持的，或者是通過政府的贈款支持的。

There are several of these programs aimed at retraining military veterans and refugees.

這些方案中有幾個旨在對退伍軍人和難民進行再培訓。

免費營利訓練營 (Free For-Profit Bootcamps)

Surprisingly, there are a few bootcamps that are for-profit but still free. And these programs don't use Income Sharing Agreements to garnish your wages, either.

令人驚訝的是，有一些營利性營地，但仍然免費。而且這些程序也不會使用收入分成協議來加薪。

These programs are selective. They may require applicants to have a Ph.D. or other advanced degree.

這些程序是選擇性的。他們可能會要求申請人擁有博士學位。或其他高級學位。

These programs make 100% of their money from employers. The program charges employers a recruitment fee when they place you at their company. These recruitment fees can be as high as 33% of your first year's salary.

這些計劃的收入100％來自雇主。該計劃在雇主將您安置到公司時向其收取招聘費。這些招聘費用可能高達您第一年薪水的33％。

But you as a student don't pay anything. Your future employer covers the expense of the bootcamp for you.

但是您作為學生不需要支付任何費用。您未來的雇主將為您支付新兵訓練營的費用。

在線訓練營 (Online bootcamps)

I mention these last because they are new and experimental.

我最后提到這些是因為它們是新的和實驗性的。

It's one thing to take a student who is new to coding and prepare them for their first job in a matter of months. It's another thing to do this completely online.

接受編碼方面的新手，并在幾個月內為他們的第一份工作做好準備，這是一回事。完全在線執行此操作是另一回事。

"Learn to code" style websites can teach you online because they are designed for long-term use. If you practice coding online several times each week for a year or two, your skills will steadily improve.

“學習編碼”風格的網站可以在線教您，因為它們是為長期使用而設計的。如果您在一兩年內每周幾次練習在線編碼，那么您的技能將穩步提高。

But online bootcamps expect you to do all this intensively, over a much shorter period of time.

但是在線訓練營希望您能在更短的時間內完成所有這些工作。

Much of the value of a bootcamp comes from sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with other learners. You help one another get past errors and failing tests. You build projects together. You form interpersonal relationships.

訓練營的大部分價值來自與其他學習者并肩坐著。您可以彼此幫助解決過去的錯誤和失敗的測試。您可以一起構建項目。您形成人際關系。

All this is much harder to accomplish online, and in such a short period of time.

在如此短的時間內，所有這些都很難在線完成。

The main reason companies offer online bootcamps is simple: they're dramatically more profitable.

公司提供在線訓練營的主要原因很簡單：它們的利潤要大得多。

The company doesn't need to rent office space to serve as a campus.
該公司不需要租用辦公空間即可用作校園。
They don't have to worry about housing.
他們不必擔心住房問題。
They can hire instructors from all around the world. This is much cheaper than hiring instructors in, say, San Francisco.
他們可以聘請來自世界各地的教練。這比在舊金山雇用教師便宜得多。
They can dump students into a big chat room together and let them figure things out with minimal supervision.
他們可以將學生一起丟進一個大聊天室，讓他們在最小的監督下弄清楚事情。

Voilà - a coding bootcamp for 1/10th the cost. And a lot of these online bootcamps still charge as much as in-person bootcamps.

Voilà-一個編碼訓練營，費用為1/10。而且，許多這些在線訓練營仍然要收取面對面訓練營的費用。

So before you enroll in an online bootcamp, you should do extra diligence. See whether there is a comparable in-person option in your city.

因此，在注冊在線訓練營之前，您應該做額外的努力。查看您所在的城市是否有類似的面對面選項。

一般什么樣的人去訓練營？ (What kind of people generally go to bootcamps?)

All kinds of people attend bootcamps.

各種各樣的人參加訓練營。

But the most common demographics are:

但是最常見的受眾特征是：

Recent university graduates who haven't entered the workforce yet and can afford to wait another 6 months to do so.
最近尚未畢業的大學畢業生，可以負擔再等六個月的工作。
Wealthy working professionals who want to switch industries and can afford to not work for the next 6 months.
富有的專業工作人員，他們希望轉換行業并且有能力在接下來的6個月內不再工作。

Less common, but still notable, are:

較不常見但仍值得注意的是：

Military veterans retraining for civilian careers
軍人退伍軍人職業培訓
People who are unemployed and using loans to finance the bootcamp (or are signing "Income Share Agreements")
失業者并使用貸款為訓練營籌集資金(或正在簽署“收入分成協議”)
High school and college students learning to code over summer break (and not planning to enter the workforce immediately afterward)
高中和大學生在暑假期間學習編碼(并且不打算在此之后立即加入工作隊伍)

The average age of a bootcamp student is 28, but it's common for people much older than that to enroll in bootcamps.

訓練營學生的平均年齡為28歲，但比年齡更大的人報名參加訓練營是很常見的。

Most of them have at least 1 parent who graduated from university.

他們中大多數人至少有1位父母畢業于大學。

Most of them had learned to code on their own for more than 6 months before starting the bootcamp.

他們中的大多數人在開始訓練營之前就已經學會了自己編寫代碼超過6個月。

Most bootcamp students already have a university degree - though not usually in computer science.

大多數訓練營的學生已經獲得了大學學位-盡管通常不是計算機科學專業。

訓練營適合我嗎？ (Is a bootcamp right for me?)

This comes down to several factors:

這歸結為幾個因素：

How much time you have
你有多少時間
How much money you have
你有多少錢
Whether you are currently working
是否正在工作
And how much experience you have with coding
以及您在編碼方面有多少經驗

Let's talk about all of these factors, starting with money.

讓我們從金錢開始談談所有這些因素。

我可以負擔一次訓練營嗎？ (Can I afford a bootcamp?)

Given infinite time and infinite money, my advice to 100% of people would be: yes - do a bootcamp.

給定無限的時間和無限的金錢，我對100％的人的建議是：是的-進行訓練營。

But since time and money are scarce, we should discuss this in more detail.

但是由于時間和金錢稀缺，我們應該更詳細地討論這一點。

訓練營學費是多少？ (How much is bootcamp tuition?)

As we discussed, some bootcamps are completely free, but these are not representative of the field.

正如我們所討論的，一些訓練營是完全免費的，但是這些并不代表該領域。

Most bootcamps cost between US $10,000 and $20,000. The longer the program is, the more it usually costs.

大多數訓練營的費用在10,000至20,000美元之間。程序時間越長，通常花費越多。

Some bootcamps don't require you to pay tuition up-front. Instead, they garnish your future wages through something called an "Income Sharing Agreement."

有些訓練營不需要您預先支付學費。取而代之的是，它們通過“收入分享協議”來增加您的未來工資。

Basically, you sign a contract with these bootcamps. These bootcamps then work closely with the US Internal Revenue Service. They figure out exactly how much money you make, then garnish a percentage of your pre-tax income (usually 17%) for a number of years (usually 2 years).

基本上，您與這些訓練營簽訂了合同。然后，這些訓練營將與美國國稅局緊密合作。他們會確切地計算出您賺了多少錢，然后在幾年(通常為2年)內增加一定比例的稅前收入(通常為17％)。

If your first job out of a bootcamp pays $50,000 per year, that means you would pay:

如果您在訓練營外的第一份工作每年支付50,000美元，這意味著您將支付：

($50,000 * 17% = $8,500) * 2 years = $17,000 total

If you get paid $80,000 per year:

如果您每年的收入為$ 80,000：

($80,000 * 17% = $13,600) * 2 years = $27,400 total

If you get paid $100,000 per year:

如果您的年薪是100,000美元：

($100,000 * 17% = $17,000) * 2 years = $34,000 total

Most of these ISAs won't kick in until you make at least US $50,000 per year. And if you earn less than $50,000 per year for five years, these ISAs will go away and you won't owe anything anymore. And some ISAs have a "cap" - a maximum amount you have to pay back.

在您每年至少賺取50,000美元之前，這些ISA中的大多數都不會生效。而且，如果您在5年內每年的收入不足50,000美元，這些ISA將消失，您將不再欠任何東西。某些ISA有“上限”-您必須償還的最高金額。

But the important thing to note with ISAs is they are a new form of debt. Unlike other forms of consumer debt - like student loans - ISAs exist in a legal gray area.

但是，ISA必須注意的重要一點是它們是一種新的債務形式。與其他形式的消費者債務(如學生貸款)不同，ISA在法律灰色地帶存在。

ISAs are a new form of "financial engineering". They seem to be legal, but none of this has been tested in a court of law.

ISA是“金融工程”的一種新形式。它們似乎是合法的，但是這些都沒有經過法院的檢驗。

It's also unclear what happens if you take out an ISA, and then the bootcamp goes bankrupt. (This happens often - even to big bootcamp chains). You would have no control over who gains ownership over your debt. It's unclear how aggressively they could pursue you to pay them back.

同樣不清楚的是，如果您提取了一個ISA，然后訓練營破產，那將會發生什么。 (這種情況經常發生-甚至在大型訓練營連鎖店也是如此)。您將無法控制誰獲得了您債務的所有權。尚不清楚他們可以多么積極地要求您償還。

So again, do your research.

因此，再次進行研究 。

訓練營期間的生活費是多少？ (How much are living expenses during a bootcamp?)

Your living expenses will depend on which city the bootcamp is in, and that city's cost of living.

您的生活費用將取決于訓練營所在的城市以及該城市的生活成本。

Living at home with your parents in the midwest? Your costs will be much lower than if you are moving to San Francisco and renting an apartment.

與您的父母一起在中西部居住？您的費用將比如果您前往舊金山和租一套公寓要低得多。

You should save enough money to last you through the bootcamp, plus 6 months. This way, you have enough time to find the right job and to cash your first paycheck.

您應該節省足夠的錢來維持自己的訓練營，再加上6個月的時間。這樣，您就有足夠的時間找到合適的工作并兌現您的第一筆薪水。

什么是“機會成本”？ (What is "opportunity cost"?)

Opportunity Cost is a concept from economics that roughly means "foregone earnings."

機會成本是經濟學中的一個概念，大致意味著“已故收入”。

To get the true cost of attending a coding bootcamp, you should factor in opportunity cost as well.

為了獲得參加編碼訓練營的真實成本，您還應該考慮機會成本。

Example: You currently earn $3,000 per month. You're moving to San Francisco, where it can cost $2,000 per month just to rent a bedroom. You'll attend a 12-week bootcamp that costs $15,000.

范例：您目前每月可賺取$ 3,000。您將搬到舊金山，在那里租一個臥室每月可能要花費2,000美元。您將參加為期12周的訓練營，費用為$ 15,000。

Here is your true cost, assuming an additional 6 months until you get a job and cash your first pay check:

這是您的真實費用，假設您再獲得工作還有6個月的時間并兌現了第一張工資支票：

Bootcamp Tuition: $15,000Cost of Living: (9 months * $2,000) = $18,000Opportunity Cost of Foregone Wages: (9 months * $3,000) = $27,000True Economic Cost: ($15,000 + $18,000 + $27,000) = $60,000

As you can see, in this case, the coding bootcamp tuition was only 1/4th of the true cost.

如您所見，在這種情況下，編碼訓練營的學費僅為實際成本的1/4。

So a $20,000 bootcamp that helps you get a job in 4 months can be cheaper than a $15,000 bootcamp that helps you get a job in 6 months. That is, once you factor in cost of living and opportunity costs.

因此，一個$ 20,000的訓練營可以幫助您在4個月內找到工作，它比$ 15,000的訓練營可以幫助您在6個月內找到工作便宜。也就是說，一旦您考慮了生活成本和機會成本。

The lesson is simple: don't get too hung up on the cost of coding bootcamp tuition itself. It is only part of the true cost.

上課很簡單：不要為編碼訓練營學費本身的成本太花錢。這只是真實成本的一部分。

我的編碼技能足以勝任新手訓練營嗎？ (Are my coding skills good enough for a bootcamp?)

A naive answer would be "just apply and see if you can get in."

一個簡單的答案是“只要申請，看看你是否可以進入。”

But instead, let's think in terms of the bootcamp's incentives.

但是，讓我們考慮一下訓練營的激勵機制。

There's a Goldilocks Zone for coding bootcamps: not too beginner, not too advanced - just right.

有一個Goldilocks專區，用于編寫訓練營：不是太初學者，也不是太高級-恰到好處。

方案1：您的技能太高級，無法從訓練營中學到很多東西 (Scenario 1: Your skills are too advanced for you to learn much from a bootcamp)

If you're a strong candidate, the bootcamp is confident you will get a job afterward. Their only rational decision is to accept you. Even if they don't think you'd learn much from their program.

如果您是一個很強的候選人，那么訓練營相信您以后會找到工作。他們唯一的理性決定是接受您。即使他們認為您不會從他們的程序中學到很多東西。

Why?

為什么？

The bootcamp will get your tuition money.
訓練營將獲得您的學費。
They won't have to teach you much.
他們不必教你太多。
And then when you get a job afterward, you'll boost their employment statistics.
然后，當您找到工作后，便可以提高他們的就業統計。

From their perspective, they should admit you.

從他們的角度來看，他們應該承認您。

方案2：您太陌生，無法編寫代碼來充分利用新手訓練營 (Scenario 2: You are too new to coding to get much out of the ?bootcamp)

If you're a weak candidate, then it comes down to the decision maker at the bootcamp. Are they focused on the long term or the short term? How much do they care about their employment statistics?

如果您是個虛弱的候選人，那么這將取決于訓練營的決策者。他們專注于長期還是短期？他們在乎自己的就業統計數字嗎？

If the bootcamp is focused on the long term, they should reject you. Or assign you additional pre-coursework, then ask you to come interview again in a few months.

如果訓練營是長期的，他們應該拒絕你。或分配其他課前作業，然后要求您在幾個月后再次面試。

But bootcamps who are struggling financially don't have the luxury of worrying about their employment statistics. They may not be around for the long term. Their rational decision might be to just accept you anyway - regardless of your preparedness.

但是，在經濟上苦苦掙扎的訓練營不必擔心自己的就業統計數據。他們可能不會長期存在。他們的理性決定可能是無論如何都要接受您-無論您是否準備就緒。

"In the long run we are all dead." - John Maynard Keynes in 1923

“從長遠來看，我們都死了。” 約翰·梅納德·凱恩斯(John Maynard Keynes)，1923年

Maybe you rise to the occasion and succeed against the odds. Maybe you don't. Either way, the bootcamp gets their tuition money and is able to stay solvent a few months longer.

也許您會抓住機會，克服困難。也許你不知道。無論哪種方式，新兵訓練營都能獲得學費，并且能夠保持幾個月的償付能力。

方案3：您“正確” (Scenario 3: You are "just right")

The bootcamp should accept you in this situation, and it will be a win for both parties.

在這種情況下，訓練營應該接受您，這對雙方都是勝利。

But again, you don't know which scenario this is. Is this Scenario #3 where you're "just right"? Or is the bootcamp just saying it is? Are you actually in Scenario #1 or Scenario #2?

但是同樣，您不知道這是哪種情況。這是方案3，在這里您“正確”嗎？還是新兵訓練營只是這么說？您實際上是在場景1還是場景2中？

So bootcamps have a strong incentive to accept you even when you're not good fit.

因此，即使您身體不好，訓練營也有強烈的動機接納您。

This is why I said the approach of "just apply and see if you can get in" is naive.

這就是為什么我說“只是申請并看看您是否可以加入”的方法是幼稚的。

Here's what I recommend you do instead.

建議您改用以下方法。

第1步：花幾個月的時間自己學習編碼。 (Step 1: Spend a few months learning to code on your own.)

Try earning the freeCodeCamp Responsive Web Design certification. Then earn the Algorithms and Data Structures certification.

嘗試獲得freeCodeCamp響應式Web設計認證。然后獲得算法和數據結構認證。

These will ensure you understand the fundamentals. And a lot of coding bootcamps require these as part of their pre-coursework anyway.

這些將確保您了解基本知識。無論如何，許多編碼訓練營都將這些作為其課前作業的一部分。

步驟2：申請開發人員職位。 (Step 2: Apply for developer jobs.)

How do you handle employers' resume screens and phone screens? Can you advance to their on-site coding interviews? If so, you may just want to keep applying for jobs. You may not need a coding bootcamp.

您如何處理雇主的簡歷屏幕和電話屏幕？您可以進行他們的現場編碼采訪嗎？如果是這樣，您可能只想繼續申請工作。您可能不需要編碼訓練營。

步驟3：申請編碼訓練營。 (Step 3: Apply for coding bootcamps.)

If you've made it to Step #3, you now know with confidence that you have some basic skills. And you know that you're not yet ready for a developer job.

如果您已進入第3步，那么現在您就會自信地知道自己具備一些基本技能。而且您知道您還沒有做好開發人員工作的準備。

You can now apply to coding bootcamps with confidence. You won't be too advanced. If they accept you, you can be confident that you're not too beginner, either.

現在，您可以放心地申請對訓練營進行編碼。您不會太先進。如果他們接受您，您也可以確信自己也不是初學者。

If they don't accept you, you can just continue your self study and apply to the bootcamp again later.

如果他們不接受您，您可以繼續自學并稍后再次申請訓練營。

我如何選擇訓練營？ (How do I choose a bootcamp?)

The first consideration should be: are there any coding bootcamps in your city? If so, I encourage you to visit them and learn as much as you can about them.

首先要考慮的是：您所在的城市是否有任何編碼訓練營？如果是這樣，我鼓勵您訪問它們并盡可能多地了解它們。

By staying in your current city, you can reduce your cost of living. You can also reduce your stress. You don't have to spend your time shopping for an apartment or learning a new neighborhood. You can spend that time coding.

通過留在當前城市，您可以減少生活費用。您也可以減輕壓力。您不必花時間購買公寓或學習新的社區。您可以花時間編碼。

我需要搬到舊金山參加我的訓練營嗎？ (Do I need to move to San Francisco for my bootcamp?)

You might think: "But shouldn't I move to San Francisco, where all the developers are?"

您可能會想：“但是我不應該搬到所有開發人員都在的舊金山嗎？”

It's true that the San Francisco Bay Area - which includes Silicon Valley - is the tech mecca of the western hemisphere.

的確，包括硅谷在內的舊金山灣區是西半球的技術圣地。

San Francisco is home to several excellent bootcamps. It also has tons of employers. And a huge ecosystem of evening tech events, hackathons, startup communities, and recruiters.

舊金山是幾個優秀的訓練營的所在地。它還有大量的雇主。以及龐大的夜間技術活動，黑客馬拉松，創業社區和招聘人員生態系統。

But San Francisco is an expensive, stressful place to live. I worked there as a developer for 4 years, and I don't plan on moving back any time soon.

但是舊金山是一個昂貴，壓力巨大的居住地。我在那里從事開發工作已經4年了，我不打算很快搬回去。

The important thing to remember is: software is still software - regardless of where you are in the world.

要記住的重要一點是： 軟件仍然是軟件-無論您身在何處。

You can learn a lot from most experienced developers who have worked in tech for 5 or 10 years. Almost as much as you could learn from an elite developer at a San Francisco tech company.

您可以從從事技術工作5到10年的經驗豐富的開發人員那里學到很多東西。向舊金山一家科技公司的精英開發人員學習的內容幾乎是無限的。

(And the most elite developers can earn millions of dollars a year. You probably won't find them teaching at bootcamps anyway.)

(而且最優秀的開發人員每年可以賺到數百萬美元。您可能根本找不到他們在新兵訓練營任教。)

訓練營應該教什么工具？ (What tools should bootcamps be teaching?)

This may sound counter-intuitive, but I'm going to come right out and say it. The tools don't matter.

這聽起來可能違反直覺，但是我要說出來。 這些工具無關緊要。

Some bootcamps teach Ruby and Rails or Sinatra. Despite their declining popularity, these are still good tools for new developers.

一些訓練營教Ruby和Rails或Sinatra。盡管它們的受歡迎程度下降了，但對于新開發人員來說，它們仍然是不錯的工具。

Some bootcamps teach Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js. This is the most widely used toolchain for new projects. But it may be a bit harder to learn.

一些訓練營使用Node.js教授Full Stack JavaScript。這是新項目中使用最廣泛的工具鏈。但是學習起來可能會有點困難。

Some bootcamps teach Python and Flask or Django. Some teach the .NET ecosystem. Some may go straight into mobile development with Android and Java or Kotlin. Some go close to the metal with C.

一些訓練營教Python和Flask或Django。有些人教授.NET生態系統。有些人可能會直接使用Android和Java或Kotlin進行移動開發。有些與C接近金屬。

Again, the tools don't matter. What matters is that you learn one set of tools really well.

同樣，這些工具無關緊要。重要的是您要真正學習一套工具。

Learn one set of tools and understand how everything fits together at a conceptual level. Then you can easily learn new sets of tools.

學習一套工具，并了解所有概念如何融合在一起。然后，您可以輕松學習新的工具集。

You can sum up most of what you'll learn in a coding bootcamp as:

您可以將在代碼訓練營中將學到的大部分知識總結為：

Computer Science fundamentals
計算機科學基礎
Programming itself (lots of practice coding)
自己編程(大量實踐編碼)
Other skills you'll need as a developer. Like software development methodologies, debugging techniques, testing, reading documentation.
開發人員需要的其他技能。像軟件開發方法，調試技術，測試，閱讀文檔一樣。
Understanding the job application process itself.
了解工作申請流程本身。

So don't dismiss a bootcamp because "they teach Rails and I want to learn Node" or "I want to be a mobile developer" or "I don't want to learn front end development."

因此，不要因為“他們教Rails并且我想學習Node”或“我想成為移動開發人員”或“我不想學習前端開發”而解雇新手訓練營。

You'll learn the same basic things regardless of which tools the bootcamp teaches.

無論訓練營教什么工具，您都將學習相同的基本知識。

訓練營的記錄有多重要？ (How important is a bootcamp's track record?)

If a bootcamp that has been around for a few years, you should pay close attention to their track record.

如果一個訓練營已經存在了幾年，那么您應該密切注意他們的記錄。

較早的訓練營 (Older bootcamps)

First, find out whether the bootcamp is part of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting. If they aren't, ask them why not.

首先，找出訓練營是否屬于結果報告誠信委員會的一部分。如果不是，問他們為什么不這樣做。

You should ask for their employment statistics. If they're reluctant to show you these - or can't share numbers from the past year - that's a red flag.

您應該詢問他們的就業統計數據。如果他們不愿意向您顯示這些信息-或無法共享過去一年的數字-這是一個危險信號。

Either way, you should find their graduates on LinkedIn. Reach out to them to ask them about their experience there.

無論哪種方式，您都可以在LinkedIn上找到他們的畢業生。與他們聯系，向他們詢問那里的經歷。

新開的訓練營 (Newly-opened bootcamps)

If the coding bootcamp is new, there will be much less information available. You will have to rely much more on your intuition.

如果編碼訓練營是新的，那么可用的信息將少得多。您將不得不更多地依靠自己的直覺。

Ask for the names of the bootcamp's teachers. Pull them up on LinkedIn.

詢問訓練營老師的姓名。將他們放在LinkedIn上。

Do they have any past cohorts? Find their graduates on LinkedIn and ask them about their experience there.

他們過去有任何同齡人嗎？在LinkedIn上找到他們的畢業生，并詢問他們在那的經歷。

Being one of the first students at a coding bootcamp is an exercise in high risk / high reward.

成為編碼訓練營的第一批學生之一是一項高風險/高回報的鍛煉。

Like all kinds of small business, bootcamps may shut down quickly if they don't get traction. If this happens, you will find yourself explaining the school to future employers in the past tense. Awkward.

像各種小型企業一樣，新兵訓練營如果沒有牽引力，可能會Swift關閉。如果發生這種情況，您會發現自己以過去時態向未來的雇主解釋了學校。尷尬。

But at the same time, new coding bootcamps have something to prove. Their teachers and staff will work like crazy to ensure the school succeeds. They'll try their hardest to train you. They'll help you get a good job so they can get a win under their belt and onto their testimonials page.

但是同時，新的編碼訓練營也有待證明。他們的老師和工作人員會瘋狂地工作，以確保學校成功。他們將盡力訓練您。他們會幫助您找到一份好工作，這樣他們就可以贏得勝利并進入推薦頁面。

In the face of sparse data, you need to decide for yourself. Do the people running this bootcamp seem like they know what they're doing? Are they passionate about this?

面對稀疏數據，您需要自己做出決定。參加本次訓練營的人們看起來好像知道自己在做什么嗎？他們對此充滿熱情嗎？

我應該在注冊之前參觀校園嗎？ (Should I visit the campus before I enroll?)

Yes. You are about to make a decision that - when you factor in cost of living and opportunity cost - is tens of thousands of dollars and months of your time.

是。您將要做出一個決定-當您考慮生活成本和機會成本時-是數萬美元和數月的時間。

By all means, book a flight. Even if you're only flying in for a day trip. Talk to the teachers and the staff. Scope out the school. Observe the students.

一定要預訂一個航班。即使您只是乘搭一日游。與老師和員工交談。擴大學校范圍。觀察學生。

This is an important decision. And in the grand scheme of things, this trip is a small investment of your time and money.

這是一個重要的決定。而且從總體上看，這次旅行只花您的時間和金錢。

我應該聯系過去的校友嗎？ (Should I reach out to past alumni?)

The answer is always yes. Don't skip this step.

答案永遠是肯定的。不要跳過此步驟。

Find them on LinkedIn. If they don't respond to your LinkedIn message after a few days, find their email or message them on Twitter. See if you can get them on a phone call.

在LinkedIn上找到它們。如果幾天后他們仍未回復您的LinkedIn消息，請查找他們的電子郵件或在Twitter上給他們發送消息。查看您是否可以通過電話與他們聯系。

Ask them to be as candid as possible. Assure them that everything they share with you will be in confidence.

要求他們盡可能坦率。向他們保證，他們與您分享的一切都會充滿信心。

Tell them your circumstances. Tell them how important this decision is for you.

告訴他們你的情況。告訴他們這個決定對您有多重要。

I recommend reaching out to several alumni like this.

我建議像這樣的幾位校友。

This is the most difficult part of the bootcamp research process. You may be thinking "I'm an introvert." Or "I don't want to bother these busy people."

這是訓練營研究過程中最困難的部分。您可能會想“我是一個內向的人”。或“我不想打擾這些忙碌的人。”

But these people are where you will be a year from now. They are the best window into what you can expect from this bootcamp.

但是這些人將是您距現在一年后的位置。它們是了解本次訓練營的最佳窗口。

If you end up going to the bootcamp, these people will be your fellow alumni. This is an opportunity to also make them your mentors.

如果您最終去了訓練營，那么這些人將是您的校友。 This is an opportunity to also make them your mentors.

Are there free bootcamp alternatives? (Are there free bootcamp alternatives?)

There are a lot of ways you can learn to code without paying anything. Some of these have been around for decades, like the computer section of your local library.

Others free resources can help a motivated novice ramp up their skills and get hired as a developer.

Most developers consider themselves at least partially self-taught. They have used a variety of these learning resources.

What are learn-to-code websites? (What are learn-to-code websites?)

There are websites where you can learn to code right in your browser. Some of them - like freeCodeCamp - are completely free.

Some of these learn-to-code websites cost money. But you may be able to use them for free through your local library.

These websites cover many of the same concepts and tools as coding bootcamps.

Bootcamps are focused on high-touch in-person instruction. They operate a campus with classrooms and instructors.

By contrast, learn-to-code websites use instructional design to teach people inexpensively at scale.

These learn-to-code websites have forums and may even have local study groups.

Still, many people prefer the traditional classroom environment that bootcamps provide.

What are "Massive Open Online Courses"? (What are "Massive Open Online Courses"?)

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free courses usually taught by university professors. These tend to be lecture-based, and may have homework assignments or exams.

MOOCs gained popularity in 2012, and remain an excellent way to learn concepts. There are hundreds of MOOCs on programming and computer science - many of which are self-paced.

Some of these MOOCs also offer certifications, though you may have to pay for them.

The important thing to note here is that you can learn almost any topic - straight from world-class professors - at your convenience.

Always keep this fact in mind when you're considering paid learning resources. They have a high bar to clear to justify their cost.

Are there free coding textbooks? (Are there free coding textbooks?)

There are thousands of free programming and computer science textbooks. Many of these are Creative Commons licensed or even public domain.

Developers have also sold books that they've since decided to make freely available.

Also, some developers release digital versions of their books for free, and sell physical copies of them.

What are some paid bootcamp alternatives? (What are some paid bootcamp alternatives?)

Of course, if you have the money, you can put it to use. There are a wide range of career training options to consider.

Should I go back to university? (Should I go back to university?)

If you already have a university degree, you probably shouldn't go back to university.

Yes, there are Masters in Computer Science programs. But these are designed for already-working developers to further expand their skills.

I don't recommend enrolling in an undergraduate computer science program to do a second bachelor's degree. This would take years of extra study. And most undergraduate computer science programs focus more on math and conceptual knowledge than they do on hands-on coding.

Coding bootcamps are a much faster way to get coding practice. They can help you establish the conceptual baseline you need to work as a developer.

Can night school courses help me learn to code? (Can night school courses help me learn to code?)

You may be able to find a program in your community that helps adults learn computer skills at night.

Check your local community colleges, libraries, and adult education programs. See whether they teach software development courses.

Be aware that many of these programs focus on more rudimentary computer skills. You may not need a course on operating systems, spreadsheets, or touch typing.

Before you enroll in any courses, ask them about past alumni who are now working as developers. If they can't provide any, the program may be too basic for you.

Can I hire a tutor to help me? (Can I hire a tutor to help me?)

Some developers will tutor on the side. You can find them on online classified ad listings.

There are also websites that specialize in pairing students with online tutors.

This can be quite expensive. But if you're able to learn to code on your own, this may be a good option for you. You get the benefit of weekly tutoring session for the fraction of the cost of a bootcamp.

What is the future for bootcamps? (What is the future for bootcamps?)

The first coding bootcamps were founded less than a decade ago. This is still a young industry.

This said, the industry is consolidating. Several bootcamp chains have been acquired by traditional for-profit education companies. Textbook companies, for-profit university systems - and even a coworking space startup.

And some coding bootcamp chains have gone out of business.

But it's not like these failures represent a fundamental flaw in the coding bootcamp model. There are hundreds of bootcamps out there still going strong. And developers are opening new bootcamps all the time.

But there's less money in running bootcamps than there is in financing student debt. And that is where we're seeing the most innovation - in the area of "financial engineering."

"The study of money, above all other fields in economics, is one in which complexity is used to disguise truth or to evade truth, not to reveal it." - John Kenneth Galbraith, Harvard professor, in 1975

It's hard to predict what will happen with bootcamps. Here are a few possible directions - with some of them less positive for students than others.

Will going to a bootcamp become as common as going to a university? (Will going to a bootcamp become as common as going to a university?)

In their current form, bootcamps are not a substitute for a university education. They are a supplement to it.

Most bootcamp students have already graduated from university. They are mid-career and enrolling in a bootcamp to learn new skills.

Universities cover a lot of things outside the scope of bootcamps. Everything from English composition to history to mathematics.

Coding bootcamps cover - well - coding. They also touch on some computer science concepts and workplace soft skills.

If you see a bootcamp marketing itself as an alternative for college, that's a huge red flag.

We have centuries of data on universities. We know how effective they are at increasing your lifetime earnings. A bachelor's degree with the right major can double or triple your earning power.

Coding bootcamps are new. There isn't much data. And there's even less data about bootcamp graduates who didn't finish university.

Instead of looking at coding bootcamps as an alternative to university, look at them as an alternative to vocational college.

If you weren't going to go to college anyway, a bootcamp is better than nothing. And the skills you'll learn may be more relevant than traditional trade schools.

In the future, coding bootcamps may indeed become a place more people go to straight out of high school.

But we need a lot more efficacy data first. I wouldn't send my kids to a bootcamp instead of a university, and I urge similar caution to you.

By the way, if you're in high school and reading this, here's my advice to you: go to the best university you can afford without student loans.

Before you take out student loans, look into community colleges. There are also accredited ultra-low-cost university programs. You can do many of these online while working. As always, don't trust their marketing and do your own research.

Will bootcamps eventually qualify for federal student loans? (Will bootcamps eventually qualify for federal student loans?)

Bootcamps are expensive. There aren't many people who can afford to attend them.

Bootcamps may try to remedy this is the same way universities did. By lobbying the federal government.

Bootcamps may succeed in opening the government's coffers. This could be in the form of subsidized student loans. Bootcamps may also target the GI bill and other programs designed to help people graduate from college.

Americans hold $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. That's a million million dollars. That's $16,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. Student loan debt is the main reason young Americans can't afford to buy houses anymore.

Should we let bootcamps create even more of this student debt?

It would be a disaster for consumers.

But that doesn't mean it couldn't happen.

Look who's running the US Department of Education right now. Anything is possible, no matter how damaging it may be over the long term.

There's an alternative to financial complexity. Bootcamps can find new ways to make it more affordable to people paying cash.

Will bootcamps conglomerate into a few big chains? (Will bootcamps conglomerate into a few big chains?)

This has already happened to an extent.

Bootcamps can save money by spreading their fixed costs across multiple campuses. They get economies of scale and economies of scope.

But there are diminishing returns to these benefits. Some of these chains have gone out of business. Others - no longer able to operate on their own - got acquired by education conglomerates.

There is a right size to any operation. It's unclear what the right size for a coding bootcamp chain is.

Some of the best bootcamps only have one location. Others are able to keep quality high across multiple campuses. A lot of their success comes down to the quality of their leadership.

Will the bootcamp model spread into non-coding fields like law and accounting? (Will the bootcamp model spread into non-coding fields like law and accounting?)

Software development is a unique profession. It is unencumbered by regulatory bodies.

Other fields have bureaucracies in place to shut people out. For example, in the US:

To become a lawyer, you have to go through 4 years of college, 3 years of a law school, then get certified by the American Bar Association through your state's bar exam.
To become a lawyer, you have to go through 4 years of college, 3 years of a law school, then get certified by the American Bar Association through your state's bar exam.
To become an accountant, you have to go through 4 years of college, attend a bunch of graduate-level courses, get certified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants through a long series of exams, then work as a low-wage apprentice for a year.
To become an accountant, you have to go through 4 years of college, attend a bunch of graduate-level courses, get certified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants through a long series of exams, then work as a low-wage apprentice for a year.
To be a doctor, you have to go through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, then work as a low-wage "resident" for 3 to 7 years, then get certified by the American Medical Association by passing your state's board certification exam.
To be a doctor, you have to go through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, then work as a low-wage "resident" for 3 to 7 years, then get certified by the American Medical Association by passing your state's board certification exam.

Without major changes, bootcamps won't work for heavily regulated fields like these.

Will bootcamps merge with traditional university programs to create a new kind of school? (Will bootcamps merge with traditional university programs to create a new kind of school?)

There are already programs that take inspiration from both universities and bootcamps.

This said, most big-name universities are hundreds of years old. Shifting to a much shorter learning period will be difficult for them to do. Stranger things have happened, though.

Here's a more likely scenario: bootcamps (and their for-profit education conglomerate parent companies) buy accredited colleges and rebrand them. This way they can skip the long process of becoming accredited themselves.

For the record, I'm against the mixing of university programs with coding bootcamps. These are two different education modalities designed for two different sets of learners.

Instead, we need new types of educational institutions. Preferably low cost with a stronger emphasis on life-long education and on-the-job training.

Imagine a school with nonstop internships, where you work in your desired field. You have enough money to live on without needing to go into debt.

There are already programs like this in Europe. And over here in the US - well, we can dream, can't we?

What are your final words of advice? (What are your final words of advice?)

Your developer job search will come down to 3 things:

Your skills
Your skills
Your reputation
Your reputation
Your network
Your network

Don't make the mistake of focusing on only one or two of these. Think about ways you can build all three at the same time.

Going to a bootcamp can be the best decision you ever made. Or it can be an awkward financial setback.

Do your research. Save up your money. Learn coding fundamentals first.

做你的研究。 Save up your money. Learn coding fundamentals first.

Bootcamps aren't magic. They aren't going to do the work for you.

In the end, the experience is what you make of it. So make the most of it.

翻譯自: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/coding-bootcamp-handbook/