Surviving A Coding Boot Camp Week 5

What a Journey So Far…

Hey everyone, it's William here! I wanted to share my experience with week five of the coding boot camp.

Last week, we focused on SQL and learning about databases. We covered a lot of ground, from reading and writing to creating and using subqueries. We even delved into aggregation, which allows us to perform mathematical operations within SQL. It was a lot to take in, and I have to admit, it was a struggle for me.

I found it difficult to follow along in class and apply what I learned to my homework. It was one of the most challenging weeks I've had since starting this boot camp. Left table and right table joins were particularly tricky for me to grasp, and it took some time for it to click.

Throughout the week, I felt frustrated and discouraged. I questioned my decision to join the boot camp and wondered if I made the right choice. However, despite the difficulties, I managed to maintain a three-point-zero grade, which I'm proud of.

Looking back, I wish I had spent more time familiarizing myself with SQL before the boot camp. SQL was one of the main reasons I chose to attend this program. I struggled with it during my Udemy course, and I realized I needed more guidance for backend development.

Fortunately, the boot camp has provided the support I needed. While it's been challenging, I know that learning these concepts takes time. It's important to accept that we won't become experts overnight.

What's Next: Data Access Object and More

Moving forward, we'll be diving into data access object (DAO) and exploring data security and networking. I have some prior experience with networking and security, so I'm hoping this won't be completely new territory for me.

However, I anticipate that this week will still present its own set of challenges. Learning DAO and testing in Java is something I don't feel entirely confident about. It's a new concept for me, and I'm curious to see how it compares to what we've learned so far.

I hadn't heard of data access objects until now, but I'm ready to tackle it head-on. Although we have a shorter week due to a day off, I expect there will be a lot of information to absorb.

Despite the difficulties, I'm optimistic about grasping the material quickly. Java has been relatively easy for me to understand, and I believe that with persistence, I'll be able to overcome any challenges that come my way.

Preparing for the Future

As we delve into data access objects and delve deeper into security, I can't help but think about our upcoming capstone project. Every four weeks, we tackle a capstone project, and the final one is a significant undertaking.

I wish I had more time for additional practice outside of the boot camp. I've been working on Java katas and exploring data structures and algorithms on freeCodeCamp. It's important for me to keep honing my skills and staying engaged with coding every day.

While SQL may not be my primary focus moving forward, I understand the importance of its concepts. I may need to refer to SQL occasionally, and I'm prepared to do some research to refresh my memory.

During our last class, we created a diagram to visualize the connections and relationships in SQL. It helped me understand the concepts better, even though I still find them challenging. I know that with time and practice, it will become easier.

Wrapping Up Week Five

And that's a wrap for week five! Despite the difficulties, I'm still happy with my decision to join this coding boot camp. I'll have to wait for the results to see how well I did, but for now, I'm content with my progress.

Thank you for following along on my coding journey. Stay tuned for more updates as I tackle data access objects and delve into the world of security. Until next time!

Questions and Answers

1. Q: What were some of the topics covered in week five of the coding boot camp?

A: SQL, databases, subqueries, aggregation, and joins.

2. Q: How did William feel about week five of the boot camp?

A: They found it challenging and struggled to follow along in class and apply the concepts to their homework.

3. Q: Despite the challenges, did William maintain a high grade?

A: Yes, they managed to maintain a high grade of 3.0, around 95%.

4. Q: Did William express satisfaction with their progress in the boot camp?

A: Yes, they expressed satisfaction with their current progress.

5. Q: What did William wish they had done before starting the boot camp?

A: They wished they had spent more time learning SQL beforehand.

6. Q: What topics will be covered in the upcoming week of the boot camp?

A: Data access object testing, data security, networking, and HTTP.

7. Q: Did William anticipate the upcoming topics to be challenging?

A: Yes, they mentioned that they have some prior knowledge but anticipate the material to be challenging.

8. Q: Did William express confidence in their ability to grasp Java and SQL concepts?

A: Yes, they were confident in their ability to grasp the concepts with practice.

9. Q: What did William express uncertainty about in the upcoming week?

A: They expressed uncertainty about how testing will be approached in Java.

10. Q: Did William feel confident in their understanding of SQL?

A: Yes, they mentioned their understanding of SQL and their intention to use it sparingly.

11. Q: Did William mention any upcoming projects?

A: Yes, they mentioned an upcoming capstone project.

12. Q: What did William express a desire for more time to practice with?

A: Java katas and data structures.

13. Q: Did William mention their efforts to practice coding in Java and JavaScript?

A: Yes, they mentioned practicing data structures and algorithms in Java and JavaScript.

14. Q: Did William mention relying on any external resources for assistance?

A: Yes, they mentioned relying on Google for assistance.

15. Q: Did William express confidence in eventually grasping the concepts?

A: Yes, they expressed confidence in eventually grasping the concepts.

16. Q: Did William express satisfaction with their decision to participate in the boot camp?

A: Yes, they concluded by expressing satisfaction with their decision to pursue this path.

17. Q: What did William look forward to?

A: They looked forward to seeing the results of their progress.

18. Q: Did William mention any specific challenges they faced in week five?

A: Yes, they mentioned struggling with left and right table joins.

19. Q: Did William mention any specific topics they found difficult in week five?

A: Yes, they mentioned struggling with databases and feeling the need for more guidance.

20. Q: Did William acknowledge the challenges of the boot camp?

A: Yes, they acknowledged that the program is challenging but expected it to be so.