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Cattle Drive for a newbie in Java?

 
Greenhorn
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Hola!

How skilled with Java do you need to be in order to join the Cattle Drive? I'm really asking because I would hate to join up and have everything way over my head. I understand conceptually most of the Java that I come across, but I seem to have some slight disconnection with my brain when it comes to actually implementing or creating the code myself. Most of the Java tutorials and online lessons that I have seen are usually written by technical people for technical people. Being a "not so technical person" who wants a career in this field, it makes things a bit difficult.

Cheers!
 
village idiot
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I think the Cattle Drive is an excellent way to learn to code in Java, because that's how I did it.
I'm not in IT, I was just considering making a career jump (right before the big dot-com bubble burst) and was looking to enroll in a computer school as a programmer. When the school went belly-up the next day, (literally) I stumbled onto JavaRanch.
I had no programming experience, or training other than what I had read in books borrowed from the public library.
I signed up for the drive, and actually completed it.
While I wouldn't suggest that I am a cracker-jack programmer, I was able to gain an understanding of Java that I would never have from reading the how-to books alone.
I recommend the Cattle Drive without reservation. If you have difficulty with a concept, there's a bunch of folks who are ready, willing, and able to help you out until you understand.
I just code for fun, but most of the folks here are hard-core industry pros, and they know their cowpies!
 
Sheriff
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I started the cattle drive when I was very, very fresh. I'm am eternally grateful for having done so, as it drove home points that have made my life much simpler and programming much more pleasurable.
 
Sheriff
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Hey Tony,

I'll chime in to say this is just the right place for you. But then, you know we've all tasted the lemonade.

Here's what some others have had to say:
https://coderanch.com/t/4093/Cattle-Drive/satisfaction-learning

C'mon down!
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