I’m trying to figure out how much time and dedication it typically takes to become a software engineer, from learning the basics to landing a job. I’d like to know about different learning paths and timelines—whether it’s through self-teaching, bootcamps, or formal education. Any advice or experiences with this process would be really helpful!
Honestly, it depends on your learning path, dedication, and starting knowledge. If you want to follow a traditional route, a computer science degree is 4 years, but you’ll spend plenty of time on unrelated subjects. If you go the self-taught route or attend a coding bootcamp, it could take anywhere from 3 months (intense) to a year or two. Bootcamps typically promise you can get job-ready in 12-16 weeks, but don’t believe the hype entirely—it takes effort after to actually refine skills and stand out in job applications.
For me, I did a 9-month bootcamp, but it still took 6 more months of building projects, learning frameworks, and applying to jobs like a madman, sending out 100+ applications before landing my first offer. Others might land quicker if they network like crazy. Self-taught can take even longer if you don’t have a clear curriculum or structure, but it’s totally cheaper, and some people thrive that way. By the way, learning doesn’t stop when you get a job—your first few months as a junior dev will feel like drinking from a firehose.
If you’re wondering about dedication, prepare to have no social life for a while. Evenings and weekends will revolve around debugging or staring at Stack Overflow. That said, everyone’s pace is different. Someone with no experience could take 1-2 years, while someone already a bit tech-savvy might get it in under a year. TL;DR: how long? Anywhere from 3 months to 4 years+ depending on the route and your vibe for suffering.
Honestly, becoming a software engineer is less about the timeline and more about the grind. Sure, @codecrafter covered some solid paths, but I’d argue it’s not as clear-cut as they made it sound. A 4-year degree? Great for theory and maybe networking, but not mandatory if you just want to get hands-on and start building things. Bootcamps? Yeah, they promise the moon in 12-16 weeks, but unless you’ve got laser focus and zero distractions, most people will need extra time either way. The thing is, the tech world doesn’t care how you learn—just that you do.
Here’s the kicker: it depends on your goals. Wanna work for Big Tech? Sure, get the degree—it’ll open those doors faster. But if you’re cool with startups or freelancing, you could very well go self-taught. Some people land jobs in 6 months (rare), others spend 3+ years trying to stand out, writing more cover letters than lines of code. Dedication is key, but so is strategy. Tailor your portfolio to the jobs you want, and network like there’s no tomorrow.
Also, let’s not ignore privilege here. Not everyone has endless nights and weekends to burn on debugging spaghetti code. Life gets in the way—work, family, bills. If you’re juggling a lot, expect it to take longer and don’t beat yourself up about it. Set realistic goals. Even after landing a gig, you’ll be learning forever. There’s no finish line in tech; there’s just, “Oh, cool, a new framework to master. Again.”
So, sum it up? Rough estimate: 6 months to infinity and beyond, depending on learning speed, personal responsibilities, and how much rejection you can stomach. Prepare for the “fun” moments of imposter syndrome along the way—those are free.
3 months? 4 years? Sorry, but I think this whole timeline debate misses a key factor: it varies wildly based on the individual! Let me just lay it out like this:
What You’re Up Against
- Time Commitment: Bootcamps advertise fast courses (12-16 weeks), and honestly, they’re great for structure. But they’re intense, and the learning doesn’t stop when the course ends. If you’re self-taught, that timeline is elastic—it could stretch depending on how much time you dedicate weekly.
- Cost: College delivers theory, networking, and a shiny diploma, but it’s expensive and time-consuming. Bootcamps? A solid mid-ground, but still kinda pricey. Self-taught routes are affordable, but they can feel like trying to architect a skyscraper with IKEA instructions.
- Job Market Shenanigans: Honestly, just learning isn’t enough. You’ll need to “interview prep grind,” network like your rent depends on it, and have a killer portfolio no matter which path you choose.
Why Skills Beat Timelines
Instead of obsessing over how long, focus on what you learn. Strong problem-solving > being able to regurgitate theory from a degree. Whether it’s 6 months or 3 years, prioritize personal projects, open-source contributions, and mastering in-demand tools/frameworks. (React, anyone?)
A Quick Framework for Your Path
- Define Your Goals: Big Tech? Go degree. Startups or freelancing? Self-taught works fine. You want to code all day? Choose wisely.
- Immerse Yourself: Tutorials are the gospel, but don’t forget hands-on practice. Build messy projects, fix them, and learn from your own spaghetti code.
- Job-Prep Marathon: Be real—landing a job isn’t instant, no matter the timeline your learning path promises.
Pros & Cons Snapshot
Bootcamp
- Pros: Time-efficient, structured, peer support
- Cons: High cost, intense pace, not always “job-ready” after
Self-Taught
- Pros: Cheap, flexible, you control the curriculum
- Cons: Tough to stay disciplined, unclear path, takes longer for most
College Degree
- Pros: Depth of knowledge, networking
- Cons: Time-heavy, costly, curriculum rigidity
TL;DR
How long does “becoming a software engineer” take? As long as learning concepts, projects, and job-hunting do. It’s not about speed—it’s about grinding through each step.