Twenty years ago at UCSD I dropped an Economics course because I had trouble solving the problems after the second week of class. I declared a major in Liberal Arts, thinking that math and science courses would be too hard.
During a statistics course in my MBA program, I had the same amount of trouble solving problems as I did during the Econ course. However, I had a great professor who helped me through a learning curve, and ended up getting an A in the class. But my track in Liberal Arts was already in motion, so my opportunity to focus on a ‘real’ math, science or engineering background never materialized.
When Sprint was hiring for a “Network Engineering Program”, they wanted to diversify their class with a female MBA-type. Although my technical background was pathetic, I rounded out their quota, and jumped into a training program in Reston Virginia before starting my first corporate job in telecommunications. Through their program I learned about networking technologies such as Internet Protocol, Frame Relay, and ATM.
But when I was in the field, it was obvious I wasn’t an engineer. My network troubleshooting paled in comparison to managing projects and motivating teams. So for the remainder of my working roles, I organized technical folks, but never became one myself.
Fast forward to Moms With Apps. Sure, back when this group started, I had my own apps in the store. But I didn’t do the coding, just the slave driving. It was a fellow neighborhood Dad who coded my apps. This past June, Moms With Apps reached over 1300 registered developers on the forum. There I go managing technical people again, but not being technical myself.
I’d like to rewind twenty years, and reverse the label I stuck on myself, prematurely. I’d like to join the club I never thought I could join. I’d like to write for the computer, not just read on the computer. I’d like to program, compile, and debug. I’d like to participate in the first true international language of the modern world: CODE.
To Do List:
- Stop managing, and start relating, to technical colleagues
- Buy a new MacBook instead of an iPad 3
- Order a bunch of how-to books from Amazon
- Get a contraption to fix my posture, since my computer time will only get worse
- Get my Apple Developers License, in my own name this time
- Set an example for my kids, not to label themselves too much
It might take me five years to figure out how to launch my own app, on my own terms, with my own developer license. And for sure, it will be a super crappy app. But I have a feeling I won’t mind, too much.
Lorraine Akemann | Editor and Mogrammer, Mothercoder, or Moder (not sure which term works best yet) | Moms With Apps
Awesome! Was wondering what was coming next . Little did I expect this. Welcome to the crazy, exhilarating world of coding moms!
Rock on Lorraine! This is very exciting. I wish you much success (however you choose to measure it) in your new direction!
Good for you! I am a mom of one (will be of two in about a month) and am trying to get my first app out before I deliver my next kid. It’s certainly a learning experience but super fun at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend watching the courses on lynda.com – I am a visual person and learned much more from those about coding than all the books I read. Good luck in your journey and just remember coding is an iterative experience – learn something basic, use it, and then build upon it. Don’t try to go for the whole shebang at once.
What an awesome project! Good luck, Coder Mom.
I’m sure it will take you no time at all to learn what you need for coding: coding is sooooo much easier than managing people. I wish I had a bit more managing skills instead of just being the techie mom I am…
Wish you lots of success for your new plans!
Love it!!!
… wow …
My degree is in restaurant management and I run a bouquet shop. I can not code. Our apps aren’t gangbusters – they are not animated – they are not always the first ones are children go to. Some of our friend developers sell 1000’s while we sell 2 or 3.
Still I am so proud to that my husband took the time to help me make these simple apps and I am more proud that the people that use our simple little education apps send us emails telling us how they help us. My husband says you do not know what business you are in until you are in it. We put bright colors in the app to make the app special. Teachers told us the colors were distracting so we almost took them out. Parents of autistic children told us the colors drew their children in so we left them. Maybe we lose a market. Maybe I can not code. I am still a Mom with some Apps!
Great ! And soon your daughters will help you 😉 Coding is fun if you see it as a game -and it is especially fun doing apps – Good Luck!
Awesome, Lorraine. I know you will do great!
Oh my god, that’s a nice coming out, “Lorraine the coding-mom”, it really sounds great!
Go, Lorraine!
Coding can be great fun, very empowering!
I look fwd to see a demo of your app in the next kids apps meetup.
And yeah, involve your daughters too, like Pierre said. You never know they will come up with some unheard of ideas! Kids are very creative!
Lorraine , what a coincidence! I will recommend you two online courses called “Programming Methology” and “Programming Abstractions” , both entry levels courses from Stanford. You can find them on iTunes U. I am trying your idea also by myself. Good Luck!!
Good for you! I am in a similar boat, but going the other direction sort of. 🙂 I used to be a coder, and now just manage – but sometimes I do feel like I’m at a disadvantage, not really being able to dig in and get my hands dirty like I used to. Good luck ticking off your to-do list!
Thanks for sharing! Soooo inspirational!
Congrats Lorraine!! Definitely let me know if there are things we can help with? You probably know this already, but we like Corona SDK. And that may be a good (and easier) technology to start with!
Awesome. Lorraine!! There are several ways to make it easier to get started. I’m still a fan of the Corona SDK, and you can download it and use it for as long as you want without paying (until you want to publish an app or install it on your iPad). There are some really good intro books available. The learning curve is much lower than many other systems. Check out Brian Burton’s beginning Corona books… http://www.burtonsmediagroup.com/books/mobile-app-development-with-corona-getting-started/
Fantastic Lorraine!Thanks for sharing and good on you for going for something you want. Karen 🙂
Lorraine, you can do it! I came from a similar situation, college degree in Psychology and went on to be a self taught graphic designer. If you have the “you can do it” mindset, you can learn to code. 10 years ago, I spent my free time in Barnes & Noble reading lots of books on programming and was able to teach myself how to code. It is a great sense of freedom. Now, with Corona SDK , coding makes sense:) Here’s another Corona book recommendation: Corona SDK Mobile Game Development: Beginner’s Guide by Michelle Fernandez, a woman! http://www.amazon.com/Corona-SDK-Mobile-Game-Development/dp/1849691886/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340324139&sr=8-1&keywords=Corona+SDK
Wow – was not expecting this.
But I’m rooting for you and I’m glad you shared!
I’m sort in a different position – I used to be a game designer/animator and now I run the show.
I do miss losing myself in a single project…
Let me know if I/we can help in any way.
This is awesome Lorraine! Good luck 🙂
Great post Lorraine!!
I should probably follow your example… no doubt my app would be crappy too in the end but I can relate with the joy of accomplishment.
Yes we can:)
Go for codecademy’s javascript course – it’s a lot of fun, and you learn a lot very quickly!
Lorraine, this is inspiring. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.
You have been an amazing leader in the App industry and I hope that you continue to be so. It’s sometimes difficult to see in yourself what others see in you – and you are a leader.
That being said, it’s never too late to try something different and challenging. It takes courage to change direction and I wish you all the best. Let me know if I can help in any way.
Lorraine,
Congrats on the courage to hit “Publish.” Thanks for letting us in on your most intimate thoughts. Very touching. I assume you put it out there so we can be a support and accountability for you. I feel you’ll find not a better group for that than MWA developers. You go, Girl!
Lorraine!! This is so exciting!! Congrats and welcome to the club!!!
Lorraine, I’m already in awe of how much you seem to get done, and how important your work is to such a large community – this is one more brave and exciting step. Good luck!
I don’t think u need to rewind anything. U r perfect the way u r.
It amazes me how one can make a change and a difference in the world.
And u r one that makes it.
Wow, Lorraine! Congratulations! As one who once swore I’d never do art on the computer—and why did I want one for writing even, when the typewriter worked fine?—and has now published two digitally illustrated books, an app and an epub, I encourage and applaud anyone who chooses to take the plunge into new territory.
And just look at all the wonderful advice you’ve drawn from people making comments? I’ll be checking a lot of these resources out myself!
You do—and will—make magic. Thanks so much for your huge contribution to this community.
That is simply great news Lorraine! Its really empowering being a mom and coding at the same time. More than happy to help anytime.
Good luck!
If you are in this for the long haul, a word of advice from another coder: stay away from proprietary languages like ObjectiveC which lock you into the iOS platform and won’t allow you to develop for anything else (android, windows).
As iOS market share erodes, people who went down the ObjectiveC route will become frustrated they can’t get their app onto the emerging platforms.
Flash allows you to build for pc, web, ios, android, playbook and is relatively easy to learn.
Corona allows you to build for multiple platforms with lua script.
Marmalade allows you to program in C++ and deploy to the most number of platforms, including smart TV’s and Windows 8!