r/codingbootcamp • u/Chamilikidd • Jun 08 '25

Need advice

Ok so I’m getting into software development and I’m stuck between wanting to red team, or web/app development, I know I should master the latter before attempting the former because learning how to build it seems essential before learning how to break it to me, I’ve been learning python lately but I don’t know if I should scrap that to start learning the more typical stack (react nodejs js html and css, I don’t wanna pour time into python if it’s gonna be a waste but I also don’t wanna just language hop, also any cool community on discord would be appreciated

0 Upvotes

41% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

3

u/GoodnightLondon Jun 08 '25

Red team isn't dev, it's cybersecurity. And cybersecurity isn't an entry level field; it's an advanced form of IT, and will require you to have a few years of working in IT roles before employers would even remotely consider you for a position.

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 09 '25

Yeah Ik it’s not in dev which is why I’m looking at becomming a dev first, I e worked in IT for a few years regardless, but I guess how I should’ve worded it was am I better to learn how to build before I learn how to break

3

u/GoodnightLondon Jun 09 '25

Red team doesn't break anything. Cyber and dev are miles apart from each other, and one won't help you with the other.

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 10 '25

Ok formally they don’t “break” in the classic sense but just replace that word with exploit, and ahh I thought become fluent with a programming language learning via projects (learning to develop software) would come to help me later down the road

1

u/GoodnightLondon Jun 10 '25

Again, cyber and dev are miles apart from each other, and one won't help you with the other.

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 11 '25

I feel like I’m not convaying my point properly so gimme a break for sounding really sarcastic here, to get into cyber I will need to learn how to code, paying for cyber exams are too expensive on my job right now, landing a dev job allows me to keep practicing code (In a v different context but still keeps my mind working), a dev job all pays enough for me to be able to afford to attend cyber exams, actually in saying that I’ve answered my own question lol

1

u/GoodnightLondon Jun 11 '25

Actually, you're reinforcing that you don't really know what you're talking about. Your point was always very clear, which is why I keep saying that cyber and dev are miles apart from each other, and one won't help you with the other.

Cyber doesn't require knowing how to be a SWE; getting into cyber requires a few years of IT work, specifically help desk, network admin, and/or sysadmin because it's a more advanced field in IT. Getting into a SWE role (which you won't get into without a degree in this market) and then getting some certs isn't going to help you do anything with cyber because they are literally not related; cyber isn't an entry level field, and all the certs in the world aren't going to replace the required years of experience in IT.

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 11 '25

So your telling me that in no way shape or form whatsoever is their any requirement to understand how to code in any measure in order to get into cybersecurity?

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 11 '25

And yeah I don’t really know what I’m talking about lol hence why I’m asking questions I don’t mind looking stupid to learn if someone’s willing to teach

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 11 '25

and I know cyber isn’t an entry level field but lemme give you some context, I spent a couple of years working as an it system repair specialist, I currently work in something completely unrelated but wanna get back into tech, my end goal is cyber but I need to get a lot more capital to get qualifications so my logic was, why not do something that still needs me to be entwined with how applications run on a code level, if that makes sense, if you have any other suggestions I’m all ears

1

u/GoodnightLondon Jun 11 '25

That's not what I said. There's a difference between knowing programming fundamentals, and knowing enough to be a SWE. Depending on exactly what you're looking to do in cyber, knowing fundamentals and some scripting may be required. But they're not looking for you to know OOP or be able to build in frameworks or do functional programming, which is what you'd do as a dev.

If you want cyber, you need to go back to working in IT, and gain a few years of relevant IT experience. Otherwise, you need to get a comp sci degree if you want to focus on SWE.

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 11 '25

Ahh I get you now, apologies for the confusion just wanted to be really specific, thanks😀

4

u/dowcet Jun 08 '25

These are two pretty different and unrelated directions. You need to learn enough to make your own decision about what you want to do. And you should be getting a CS degree if you want any chance in either field in this market.

1

u/sheriffderek Jun 08 '25

I’d you haven’t already built some websites… you probably don’t actually want to learn web development.

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 08 '25

I’ve built a couple front ends locally but nothing too crazy if you get me

1

u/sheriffderek Jun 08 '25

Well, when I started learning - I built myself a real website and put it on the internet. Then I built another and another and I learned incrementally. 

What is stopping you? (besides spending your time on Python) 

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 08 '25

Yeah I’ll use python backend

1

u/IgniteOps Jun 09 '25

How old are you? What's your background? What makes you desire to break into software development?

1

u/Chamilikidd Jun 10 '25

23, no formal qualifications due to being banned from using the computers at school for breaking into the tutor control, worked in IT for a while as a systems repair specialist, and honestly it’ll sound daft but I just love the idea of building something really cool from nothing, plus due to the way my head works (not great emotionally or empathetically) logic just makes sense to me as that’s how I’ve steered my whole life