Your gSchool class starts up in just a few weeks. Here’s what we’d like you to do to get prepared:

Typing

It might surprise you that typing is one of the most important skills during your first weeks of programming. If you need to look at your hands or type with just a few fingers, you’re going to make so many small mistakes that it’ll derail your progress.

We ask that from now through the start of the program, you spend 20-30 minutes per day practicing your typing. Even if you’re a good typist now, this practice can really help you out. If you think you’re good, check out Gary Bernhardt’s "Destroy All Software" (even the 1 minute sample video) to be put in your place.

Please create an account and do your practice on Typing.io, and work with the Ruby and JavaScript exercises they have. Go ahead and signup for the $5/month plan and we’ll cut you the $5 in the first week of class. If you choose to use it beyond this month, the fee is up to you.

Reading

We don’t expect you to learn programming from books. If that were effective, you wouldn’t be coming to the program. Instead, we use pre-reading to help you better understand the culture of development.

Please complete each of the following books by the start of class:

• Passionate Programmer by Chad Fowler – ideas about how to have a great career in software
• How to Count by Steven Frank – the underpinning theories of computing
• Drive by Daniel Pink – how motivation does and doesn’t work

While we won’t have structured discussions or deliverables, you’re encouraged to post your thoughts/ideas/feedback to the class mailing list.

Optional

If that’s not enough, here are a few additional ideas:

• Unix for OS X – an introduction to Unix fundamentals
• The Non-Designer’s Design Book – the basic principles of visual design
• The Talent Code – a scientific exploration of how learning and practice create skill

Coding

If you’d like to start into some programming, here are easy places to start:

• Codecademy – web-based exercises, you could try either Ruby or JavaScript tracks
• RubyWarrior – web-based Ruby challenge
• RubyMonk – browser-based Ruby tutorials
• Flatiron School’s Prework – lists a ton of exercises and videos you might check out