Codesmith

13-week immersive full-stack web development residency that focuses heavily on pair programming, technical communication and community. Cohort-sizes range from 12-16 and you really build a strong connection with everyone as you do a deep dive into Node.js, Express, React, Redux, Build tools, etc. After the first half, we built really high level projects involving server side rendering, kubernetes, graphQL, and  react component efficiency. Everyone gets at least one chance to do a deep dive into a high level topic by giving a 15 minute tech talk in front of your cohort-mates. The new space in NYC is beautiful and it is minutes from delicious chinatown food. In the final week, we are done coding and the job preparation lectures and workshops are solid in terms of perfecting your resume, online profiles and application strategies. I'm going to miss this place but I definitely plan to drop by once in a while in the future! 

My Journey with Codesmith started wiht "JavaScript, The Hard Parts" (as i presume with most). At the time i searched on Switchup and Codesmith was rated Numero Uno and flooded with loads of positive views. Naturally I was skeptical, any rational thinking human would be--- i mean life will teach you that when anything sounds too good to be true, thread lightly. But Codesmith was different the moment i walked into JSHP, the care and positivity moved from the very top, through the staff and to the random joe who just walked into the building. Im telling you, its an energy thing!

Now the curriculum is no joke!!!! DUH --- its an IMMERSIVE program... you have 12weeks to test your brain/mind capacity and speaking from my own personal experience... if you trust your mind, it won't dissapoint you. The common saying is "Trust the Process" . This is true, the only person in your way, is really you, and i know how cheesy that sounds but it is so true, the moment i learned to get out of my own way, the moment it started to click. And the faculty have classes designed to help you deal with each stage of the "Process" (there goes that word again). So they cover  all the bases from: tackling algorithms, pair programming, how to deal with imposter syndrome, how to tackle interviews (this i never thought of as a skill to master but it sooo is), they have fellows and technical mentors who are always Willing to help... think about that for a hot sec ... when was the last time you went to an entity/office/organization and the staff is invested in you learning. Like, they get genuine satisfaction from you improving... that is their reward.

I loved the curriculum, it was a challenge for me, but how do you grow if not through adversities and the tougher the road, the stronger you become and I am glad i went through it. My knowledge of programming after codesmith compared to before codesmith .... I honestly do not know what units to use to quantify.

You are always family and they checkin on your interview process after the programme to see where you may need help. Amazing!

Meka

I was extremely skeptical of most coding bootcamps: especially ones that provide seemingly lofty promises with regards to your career success. After some lengthy research and consideration, I decided to show up to a JavaScript hard parts lecture at Codesmith to see what they were all about. That single lecture changed my mind about what bootcamps can offer, and it cemented my idea to finally commit three months of my life to the Software Engineering Immersive program. I ended up going with Codesmith not only because of the excellent teachings of Will Sentance, but because they seemed to aim higher than other bootcamps. Most schools are satisfied with their graduates getting entry-level jobs, but Codesmith promises to go above and beyond to help students bolster their career with well-paying, mid or senior level positions. At this point, the real question is: have they pulled through? My answer is a resounding "yes". 

First of all, I have to compliment Codesmith's ability to choose the right people. All of the people that worked alongside me in my cohort were very friendly, eager to learn, and great to work with. Codesmith works hard to ensure that all of their students work together to help each other succeed. 

The rigor of the curriculum is definitely no joke. Even though the program lasts for only three months, Codesmith does a good job at concentrating your time on the things that matter. The subjects they teach evolve as quickly as the market does and you can be confident that everything you learn at Codesmith will be relevant and up to date. 

Now, as a full-time developer, I can confidently say that attending Codesmith was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I would highly recommend anyone looking to change careers or bolster existing knowledge to consider Codesmith as their school of choice. 

Before Codesmith, I attended another well known bootcamp in the city. I was fortunate enough to graduate and was hired as an assistant instructor a couple months later. Although I felt confident landing a junior dev job after my experience, I also felt like I was missing some very core JS and CS knowledge. I stumbled upon Codesmith randomly when one of my students posted a meetup in slack on closures. I figured that this would not only benefit my knowledge but my ability to teach the language well enough to my students. A few minutes in, I realized I was sitting in on what seemed like another bootcamp but something about Will's rhetoric made me see otherwise. 

Learning core JS topics such as the Event Loop, the prototype chain, and closures were things I didn't get a chance to deep deep into at my last bootcamp. Technical communication was something we did not prioritize in our curriculum but Codesmith looked at this as one of the most important aspects of a good engineer. The fact that Codesmith grads were landing mid-level positions after graduating also made me realize how different this in-fact was. I knew I could benefit two-fold from this experience, gaining valuable training in becoming an autonomous engineer, as well as preparing myself for a mid-level engineering role or better. All in all, everything about the curriculum was solid, far above the average bootcamp, but the real selling point was the Codesmith community. Having a chance to talk to the engineers in the residency and the staff, I got a sense of being in a place where people were truly invested in my success. The office was very warm and welcoming even as a guest. The commitment to peer programming and encouragement to mingle after JSHP got me excited for what could be, and I am here to say that it did not disappoint.

During my time at Codesmith, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with some of the most diverse individuals in the world. From a professor of Philosophy, to a junior architect, Codesmith's program goes to show that technical chops is not the most important aspect of a solid engineer (although you will definitely be challenged, even if you have a technical background). The long nights of talking code and breaking through blocks was something I hadn't experienced before, even as a college student. We built everyday, pushed ourselves at every moment, and I am grateful for the process. I was able to land a mid-level position a couple months after graduating due to the intense curriculum and amazing hiring program that will change the way you outreach for positions.I more than quadrupled my income, now earning a 6-figure salary with an outstanding startup company in Soho. And although this outcome has been life-changing, the real reward will be the skills I gained in becoming a framework agnostic engineer and the family I gained during my time. Codesmith truly is like no other.

Codesmith has to be one of the best decisions I have made for my career.

I have attended another bootcamp before and the depth they go into a stack does not come close to Codesmith. In other bootcamps, they will teach you how to build an app, but Codesmith will go beyond that. They will go in depth on how JavaScript is working under the hood, best practices, design patterns, advanced algorithms, etc.

Not only is the course rigorous, yet rewarding, it is the culture here that really stands out. Everyone, from the staff to the TA's to the students, all put in long hours, support each other and go deep into the technologies we use. Everyone stays late to explore new technologies and build amazing projects, most of which are tools for other developers! Many students and grads are contributing to the open source community and sharing knowledge to the public through speaking events.

What convinced me and made me pull the trigger to attend was going to their weekly JavaScript the Hard Parts. If you are on the fence or skeptical, attend one of Codesmith's weekly workshops and you will see why this place is different from all the other schools.

Bravo!! More value delivered than thought was possible. I came to Codesmith with a BSc. Computer Information Systems under my belt with past industry experience.  Codesmith is abosolutely phonomenal in what they provide. Most schools I investigated seemed concerned with just the core curriculum and was very dodgy when it came to discussing how they supported the student with job search once complete.  With Codesmith they provide many free ways for you to prepare before being admitted to a cohort.  They are not concerned with just having you complete, but really are committed to you becoming an exprienced Engineer that have been challenged, instructured and nurtured. An Engineer that not only can accomplish senior level challenges but can effectively communicate and function as part of a high performing team.

The Codesmith Team is amazing, their culture is exactly what you need when being pushed outside your comfort zone, giving you the necessary support to believe in yourself while stretching for excellence. Your last week is filled with hiring focused lectures, no false promises but lots of tools get out and become a productive and effective Mid to Senior Engineer.

If you are still in doubt, attend one of their JavaScript - The Hard Parts - Prep Session.  You will get a taste and will want more.

Cheers to making a wise choice and joining the Software Engineering revolution! 

Humbly & Sincerely,

Darryl

If you are still unsure about which school to attend, I would seriously recommend going to the meetup and seeing the level of engineering excellence that they can provide. The program itself is difficult and rigorous, but the level of knowledge and skill that you walk away with is amazing. They really encourage a good community among each cohort, and it was a real treat being able to meet like minded people who were also as passionate about learning as I was. The job support is awesome and very helpful. I would 100% recommend this program as it has really helped me achieve my goals.

Codesmith allowed me to expedite my path to becoming a software engineer far more than I could have on my own. The day-to-day agenda kept me busy at all times, but I enjoyed every bit of it. I feel that their curriculum not only targets the most relevant technologies desired on the job market, but also ensures that students learn from the bottom-up. Aside from the program, the culture that's fostered at Codesmith is both welcoming and engaging. They heavily emphasis pair-programming, and I feel that that's allowed me to better articulate myself and my approach in code. I would easily recommend this program to anyone interested in software engineering.

I personally had an amazing experience at Codesmith. I would recommend it to every aspiring engineer.

Acceptance:
Their acceptance process was more rigorous than other places which at first was extremely intimidating, but once I got in, I realized I already felt comfortable with fundamental things which weren't even required by other places.

Learning:
The learning experience was definitely intense at times. We were spending 6 days a week, sometimes more than 10 hours a day. Each unit was only two days long and I felt like I was being rushed until we started building projects. Then it made sense. The reason why these units are so quick are because you will solidify the fundamentals during the projects phase when you are forced to implement all the technologies learned. The senior portion was definitely my favorite part as it was refreshing having to dive deep into a technology like GraphQL or another advanced portion of a modern tech stack. 

Environment:
Ultimately, this is what makes Codesmith. They have done such a well job recruiting students and staff that care about the program and foster a family culture. Every person there is purposeful and kind and is looking out for one another. I have found a second family here and it is so amazing knowing that every individual is pursuing the same goal.

I've never been surrounded by a group of more supportive and compassionate people in my entire life. This is what makes Codesmith such an amazing place. From the academic team to the felllows to your cohort mates, everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand to ensure your success in the program.

The curriculum is rigorous and gets more challenging as the program goes on, but it never feels overwhelming because of this supportive structure. You'll learn the basics in popular web technologies like React / Redux and Node / Express in a very short amount of time but you'll master these concepts in group projects.

The hiring support is extensive with Will Sentance and Erik Kirsten leading lectures about the interviewing process and salary negotiation towards the end of the program. Every bit of advice given in these lectures is invaluable to your job search.

Attending Codesmith has been one of the best decisions in my life. You'll not only gain a deep understanding of popular web technologies and engineering best practices but you'll learn how to overcome any obstacle as a software engineer. If you're looking for a program that will push you to your limits but supports you every step of the way, look no further than Codesmith.

I would like to start by saying as recent graduate who received a very decent job I am extremely grateful for what I gained at Codesmith.  Is the program flawless? Not really, but I’m sure it would be hard to find one that is.

In my experience good reviews give background and tend to layout the pros and cons, so I will do so accordingly here.

My background: I consider myself a career changer who came from a liberal arts background but have always been interested in tech and the idea of creating my own apps. Prior to entering Codesmith I did go back to school for an undergrad CS Degree. I felt like there were certain gaps in my knowledge I wanted to fill and so I decided to go through the program.  Despite all that I will say that almost everything I learned at Codesmith was new and I didn’t feel like I had any particular advantage over the cohort mates who did not have a CS background.  The more you can think like an engineer and problem solve, the more successful you will be.

Now that we got that out of the way let me lay down the pros and cons for you.

PROS:

Codesmith helps you get a good job.  I know there are some mixed opinions on the data offered up but from what I’ve seen almost everyone gets a good job within 4 months.  While I was skeptical at first, the salary numbers offered up by Codesmith are not a lie. Frankly speaking if I got nothing else from Codesmith, I learned what I was worth and what I could achieve. Could I have done this without Codesmith? Maybe, but it would have been extremely hard without the guidance and advice offered.

Codesmith teaches you the essentials of the latest ”hot” technologies.  I can’t tell you how many doors were open because I focused on studying the technologies in Codesmith’s curriculum. Even with the CS degree, without having gone through Codesmith, I don’t believe I would have been able to get the job I have now, nor most of my interviews where knowledge of the latest frameworks and tech is key.

The struggle at Codesmith really does prepare you for the job and the job search.  Point is, in this field you need to be able to learn on your own and solve problems without being hand held.  Codesmith helped prepare me for this.

You make lifelong friends. I know I know..  this may not be limited to Codesmith only, but I had to list it anyway as it’s true. You will make good friends as long as you are willing to.

CONS:

Not the best curriculum. Many lessons do leave you wanting more or still confused. Codesmith claims this is because they want to give you the bare minimum (skeleton ) so you can put the rest together on your own.  While this may have it’s advantages, I do honestly believe there is room for improvement.  The topics are right, but the content and instruction is lacking.  Don’t expect a step by step how to anywhere here, but as I said before this prepares you for the real world.

Not for everyone.   I think Codesmith does a pretty good job of accepting people who have the potential to succeed, but don’t expect Codesmith to make you a software engineer. You have to struggle to do that on your own and it could take longer for some than others.

IN ESSENCE:    I am grateful for what I gained from Codesmith and do not regret attending.  Its not the flawless program many people may sell it to be, but I still believe it offers something unique and continue to recommend it to those I think can succeed there.  Take advantage of the guidance offered by the program but don’t ever think that the struggle ends when you graduate.  Getting that job is hard and will require continued work and study after.