The document discusses the projected shortage of over 1 million software developers in the US by 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While demand is growing due to increased use of technology, the number of computer science graduates and bootcamp graduates is not keeping pace to meet this demand. As a result, the US may be forced to outsource coding jobs overseas. The document promotes learning to code through free online resources, bootcamps, or online courses as alternatives to a computer science degree in order to help meet this growing need.

1. One million
software developers
needed by
2020
Joey Rigor
Kontak Mobile Apps February 5, 2016

2. This post talks about
how anyone can become a
software developer.
Yup, including you.
http://www.scientificalhamster.com/photo/old-computers/

3. Based on projections
from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, more than one million
software developers will be
employed by US companies
by 2020.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/
software-developers.htm
http://www.scientificalhamster.com/photo/old-computers/

4. There is big demand.
The surge in information technology.
Mobile, big data and now IoT
(Internet of Things).
There were 1,114,600 software
developers employed in 2014.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/
software-developers.htm

5. But supply cannot
cope up.
There were only 48,700
undergraduate computer science
graduates from accredited US
universities in 2014.
https://www.coursereport.com/resources/course-report-2015-
bootcamp-market-size-study
http://www2.southeastern.edu/external/gallery/albums/history/
graduation_in_old_union.jpg

6. Bootcamp coding schools
contributed 16,056 graduates
in 2015.
https://www.coursereport.com/resources/course-report-2015-
bootcamp-market-size-study

7. This means millions use apps
in their smartphones but
relatively few know what apps
really are and how it runs.

8. Organizations are advocating
that more should be done to
teach young people about
computer programming and
coding.

9. The White House
announced an initiative, TechHire,
to coordinate the efforts of the
federal government, cities,
corporations and schools to train
workers for the thousands of
current job openings in the tech
sector.

10. Launched in 2013, Code.org®
is a non-profit dedicated to expanding
access to computer science.
Their vision is that every student in
every school should have the
opportunity to learn computer
science.

11. Even Facebook is
contributing to this by
launching TechPrep, a new online
computer science and programming
resource, to address what it sees as a
“lack of exposure to computer science
and careers in technology”.

12. Inspite of these efforts
projected growth cannot meet
the big demand.

13. This means that U.S.
companies
would be forced to outsource
valuable coding jobs to other
countries with growing IT sectors.

14. To seize this opportunity
we should start learning
how to code.

15. Nope. You don’t have to go
back to school
to get a Computer Science (CS)
degree.

16. There are other options.
That are shorter and way
cheaper.

17. Start with the
freebies.
Begin your learning journey
by teaching yourself using all
the free resources online.
http://learntocodewith.me/posts/code-for-free/
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250323

18. This way, you can check out what
you like before investing time and
money into the serious stuff.
When you’re ready, then you can
level up to the paid courses.

19. One is going to
boot camps

20. One is going to
boot camps
that teach how to code.
Sometimes much better than
getting a CS degree.

21. Unlike a CS degree
boot camps focus on real-world
practice, and less on theory,
given the time constraints for
their programs.

22. A focused program
is definitely faster and more cost-
effective than getting an
undergrad or master’s degree in
CS.

23. In only 11 weeks*
you can learn a specialty on
what’s in-demand in the coding
job market.
But you have to be there full-
time.
*Average duration of a full course
https://www.coursereport.com/resources/course-report-2015-
bootcamp-market-size-study

24. For US$ 11,000*
you can enroll on a full program
that gets you ready for an
immediate coding job.
*Average cost of a full course
https://www.coursereport.com/resources/course-report-2015-
bootcamp-market-size-study

25. There are also
online courses

26. There are also
online courses
that provide the same
program at a lesser cost.
And you do it on your own
time.

27. But without
hands-on training and guidance of
professional coders.
Meaning you’re on your own.

28. It’s much cheaper though.
From US$ 300 to US$ 5,000.
Depending on the program.
http://learntocodewith.me/posts/online-coding-bootcamps/

29. So there you are.
Changing careers is not that
difficult.
Just put your heart into it.

30. And your time and money,
of course.
http://www.letterology.com/2010/12/to-bring-back-clocks-of-time.html

31. http://www.kontakios.com
Now what?
This is part of a series of posts trying to
convince you to be a coder.
Hope you are ready,
grasshopper.
To know more about our company and
other blogs, just click the link below.