I know just enough about real servers to know I should leave most of it to the professionals! (I wouldn’t run screaming, but I might back away slowly.)
I had one class in MIPS based assembly. I actually enjoyed it, apparently that was something of a rarity, mostly because it was so different from the other programming I’ve done. That doesn’t mean I want to do it for a living, but I do enjoy getting a different view on things and I was appreciative of that. (If I couldn’t learn something new taking these classes, why would I be doing this to myself at my age?)
And since it pays better, demands more out of you, such that you’ve now replaced a boring job with a high-pressure boring job. And since you were able to land said boring job with a $29 online course, you find yourself highly replaceable and thus work yourself to the bone to hold the job. Only to be tossed out for the next 22 year old fresh grad with a “passion” for it who will undercut you by 15k/yr.
Hi kids, I’m posting this from my boring programming job. How boring you ask? Well the last week’s been full of work that nobody needs & I’m taking a mid afternoon break to read boingboing.
“One of the biggest mistakes budding coders make is learning outdated languages.”
Considering this changes about every 6 months or so, I’d say the biggest mistake is focusing on a language, rather than the principles that can be used with any language.
National parks service? The pay is mediocre, the jobs are hard to get, and you spend half of your time emptying bins and cleaning toilets.
As a general rule for outdoor work: hot, cold, soaked, thirsty, leeches, ticks and hills. High risk, low pay, minimal job security and work that is often akin to trying to bail out a torpedoed battleship with a teaspoon.
Still beats office work, though. Cubicles are tombs.
