It's a good day!

Today is a good day!  I've been working on the problem set for the RubyMonk Primer.  Now this might not seem like such a big deal to you, but I have been working on refactoring my solution before I hit 'Run.'  After I get a working solution, I've found it helpful to see the author's solution for two reasons i) it's usually better than mine, and ii) it's usually done in less words.  Something happened just a minute ago that took me by surprise.  I had the exact same solution as the author!!  *happy girl*  Not only does that boost my confidence and exemplify my understanding of the methods available, it means I'm beginning to think like a professional programmer! That is something to celebrate!  Here is the problem/solution:

RubyMonk: More lessons in Ruby

Hello!  Good news!! I passed my code challenge!!  This was their response:

After reviewing your application, we think you might be a good fit. 

One thing we did notice from your coding test is that you may not have a lot of prior experience programming; many of the students we have accepted in the past did not. However, we would like you to complete some additional programming prepwork for us to review before we offer to accept you into the program.

That works for me!!  I'm working on the additional prep work now!  The RubyMonk primer is one thing on the list.  Its a great interactive website that I hadn't liked at first (hence the Codecademy track), but now really, really do!   I've reviewed lessons learned from Codecademy as well as learned some new things.  I am gaining confidence in my exercises.  That in and of it self has been a huge success.

I'm going to keep plugging away at the prep work.  My goal is to be done by Aug 15th. :) I'll keep ya posted! In the meantime, check out this snipet from RubyMonk:

NEW! Theme

I'm working on upgrading this theme :)  I'm making changes to an existing template so please bare with me as I figure this out.  It looks like all the previous photos will be skewed till I go back and edit them.  Until then, enjoy this nice {placekitten} image!  Mew!

Submitted.

Well, I've done it. I completed the Ruby track on Codecademy.  I've completed over 500 lessons and successfully submitted my code challenge to AppAcademy.  Today I'm starting a track titled, "How to use APIs with Ruby."  From there I'll swing over to the HTML track and then back to JavaScript.  My schedule has been ridiculously crazy working two jobs.  Its been hard to put any real time into these courses but I've been determined to 'code every day' till I get this career going.  I feel like at some point I should look into the Codecademy Projects track, but I'm taking it one day at a time till I sort this new life out.  Lists, calendars, and schedules - Keep on Track!

Things to do:

• Ruby & APIs
• HTML
• JavaScript
• Projects (including some CSS!!)

Out of Frustration...

This post is more about my normal life than coding.  Long story short, I have strep, suppose to work at 10, pharmacy doesn't open till 9, no number to reach work before "open", contagious for 24 hours.  I sent an electronic time off request to let them know.... not sure what else to do.

Cruising along!

Its been a few days since I've posted, but don't worry! I've been on track with my Ruby lessons!  I did miss one day (Friday) but otherwise I've been doing at least one exercise every day since the wedding!  I've really been plugging away at hashes and the methods associated with them.  Today is all about concise-ness. I'm learning how to utilize Ruby's options to get the same outcome with less code.  Ruby gives you the flexibility to get the same outcome multiple ways.  Its really nice!  Here's part of the latest "project" I had been working on.  Its a database to store your movies and their ratings!

Hash.ing it out

Hashing it out... get it? Hash?  Bad pun I know, but I *am* learning how to manipulate Hashes in Ruby! Oddly enough, or maybe not so much, the application of manipulating Hashes is creating a Histogram.  :D  Talk about trailing my old profession into my new!  It was a pleasant surprise and made it fun to learn!

 I really like the course for Ruby more than the course for JavaScript.  Ruby does a little less hand holding and a bit more iteration to really make sure you understand what you are doing.

Also, I've decided to keep a notebook too!  I've been in academia so long taking notes really does help me cement it into my brain.  My notes also make a great resource/reference for when I get stuck on something.  I'll apply this to JavaScript when I get back at it soon!

Working two jobs really does cut into my learning time, but I'm still determined to do at least one exercise every day.  I want to get this application done by the end of the week so.... wish me luck!!

Back to Coding!

Had a bit of a break from the blog and coding as we wrapped up the wedding planning.  My lovely fiance and I were married on Saturday at a beautiful park right on the river.  The weather was perfect, the food great, and the friends and family amazing!  We are so lucky!! Now, back to Ruby!! :D

The color Red

Saturday night I received my code challenge from App Academy!  It's not a JavaScript challenge and so I'll be setting aside JS for a couple days and learning a new language.  I'm not sure if I'm allow to say which language specifically ,  but let me just say the ts really weird to me! 
On a different note,  I'm still plugging away on my Codecademy lessons and really loving it!   I set a record for myself in number of points earned in one day.   The achievements bit of Codecadamey really keeps me going and I use it as incentive and motivation. The new job seems to be going well too! Which reminds me... Gotta run!

Coding, Wedding, Coding, App Academy!!

My day has been a bit crazy!  I did some coding this morning, worked on some wedding stuff, did a bit more coding... tried to read my book but got distracted by some adorable kittens (they are sleeping now), and then went back to some more coding! :D Today I'm practicing more on inheritance.  Things are looking better :D I can do use the proper syntax without peeking at a previous lesson.  yeay!! As another surprise - today I applied for App Academy!!  I have been thinking about it for a while but finally went ahead and submitted an application today.  It is an awesome program with a great curriculum!!  Go check it out!!

An Instanceof learning ...see what I did there??

Hello!  Well today was mostly filled with wedding planning stuff, but I *did* manage to squeeze in some time to read my book (thanks again WonderS!!) and do a bit more on Codecademy.  Today I learned the JavaScript operator 'Instanceof '  The syntax goes:

object instanceof constructor

Basically it is used as a test to see if the object you have created is truly an instance of a prior constructor.  For example, if you had just made a constructor Car, and now you wanted to make a constructor electricCar you could use the notation:

ElectricCar.prototype = new Car ();

then you could use instanceof to test if ElectricCar had inherited all the atributes of Car.  :D  Pretty awesome, huh? Well that's all for me today! 

Teachers and Tools

Over the weekend I was still really struggling with the Blackjack game.  I was soooo frustrated because 1) it was working and 2) I didn't know why.  What I *did* know was my lil variable "pleasework" was a necessity..

 and that without it my life was in ruins.

Enter a genius programmer, my friend Stu.  I emailed Stu Saturday morning with a plea for help.  Because he's basically Superman (only cool), he was at our house Saturday afternoon with all these mind-blowing TOOLS to help me work through my problem.  Let's just go ahead and say Stu = WonderS.  The first TOOL WonderS gave me was jsFiddle. Then, WonderS showed me how to use Chrome's debugger for JavaScript. THEN, WonderS checked to make sure I understood why everything that WAS working was good, and how to piece apart when things WERE NOT working.  We discovered a mishap in proof reading was the cause of all my misfortune:

After all the help, intro to a bit of theory, and buying me a book (he also lent me another), WonderS ate a bit of food and left to finish off his weekend.

Your's truly owes this man heaps in progressing/learning JavaScript.  This weekend I learned the value of a debugger.  Thank you, WonderS!