I don't think I've been in a facility (Venice, CA) that is more deliberately designed to be TOTALLY INACCESSIBLE to people with mobility, vision, and audio disabilities. I can assure you none of the pleasant 5-star reviewers are people with disabilities or thought for a moment about people with disabilities while writing their review. Facility ingress/egress, floor to floor, room to room, fixtures, and furniture either inaccessible or un-adaptable to people with disabilities. Really shocking and shameful! read more

Codesmith is the type of program where every student leaves as a transformed version of the person he/she came in as. The most obvious transformation is one's exponentially expanded software engineering knowledge and experience, but students also leave with a radically broader grasp on empathy, the kind of empathy you gain from intense pair programming sessions and grinding through 12+ hour days with your Cohort-mates. The curriculum is always evolving and is updated as a result of student feedback and/or the ever continuous momentum of the industry. Over my 12 weeks (13 including a prep/gap week between cohorts) Codesmith presented daily opportunities for 'aggressive expansion' of my engineering and problem solving skills (for anyone thinking of the scene from The Dark Knight, there is never any battling , though Ping Pong games can get intense). You go deep in JavaScript, by the end you can truly develop a web application that includes a database, RESTful API based server, and powerful front-end (using Vanilla JS, React, Angular, or whatever you desire because you have to mental tools to learn anything new). You learn about more than just JavaScript at Codesmith though. Daily, you will experience the exciting challenge of a new algorithm problem, you learn data structures, engineering best practices, and possibly most important of all you will grow tremendously in your technical communication. Anyone who has tried to solve a highly technical problem in a team setting will relate to how important technical communication is for the project's success. At every point throughout the program you will either be asked to communicate to your pair-programming partner when you are not actively typing, or with the Engineering Fellows during code review, and ultimately all of these experiences result in a deeper understanding of the material and an ability to explain your code that is highly valuable to teammates and employers. Attending a coding bootcamp is a major life decision, and I have not once regretted choosing Codesmith over any of the other options in LA or elsewhere. You receive full devotion during and after graduation and I wholeheartedly believe there is nowhere better to begin the next chapter of one's life. read more

I completed the 8-week Summer academy at Codesmith this past summer and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. At the time I had just finished my MBA at USC Marshall and was looking to continue learning and challenging myself in the available months I had before I began my new role. I was familiar with Codesmith from their weekly Javascript - The Hard Parts sessions, http://www.meetup.com/build-with-code, and it was immediately apparent this was a well-designed program with serious promise. It was an intellectually challenging experience. My previous programming experience was limited, so the initial learning curve was steep. The full 12-week program is designed around a 30% - 40% working familiarity with Javascript starting day 1, so I had some ground to make up, but I did. Within a few weeks I was working on teams building full-stack applications, browsers games, and a hilarious web scraper that kept you alert of everything Donald Trump was tweeting. The progress I made in a matter of a few weeks was pretty remarkable. Learning by building is the approach at Codesmith, and it's effective. The first weeks of the program cover computer science fundamentals like algorithms, data structures, APIs, and databases, but they are taught via coding challenges and mini projects that merge theory with real world application. Some topics come more easily than others, and some days require an inhumane volume of coffee to finally debug an application, but the rate of concentrated learning is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. The remainder of the program is dedicated to working in teams on group projects. The Codesmith engineers kick off each day with hack hours as well which help you continually hone your coding chops. The building is spacious and crackling with a palpable feeling of enthusiasm and hard work. Everyone is there to help, and you can feel it. I highly recommend the Codesmith program. read more

I'm a husband, dad, and former Product Manager, making the move into Engineering. I actually started as a full-stack ASP developer (despite my complete lack of CS knowledge!) during the dot-com days, and then moved into Product Management. Over the last few years, I've realized I missed development, and wanted to move back; but my 15-year-old skillz weren't going to do it. My last job was as a Product Manager at a start-up, managing multiple technology systems. I found myself doing front- and back-end development about 1/3 of the time, and enjoying it much more than I enjoyed Product Management. One of the nice things about doing all of that development work was that I knew for sure that I'd have fun at it, and that I could do it every day, all day long. It was just a matter of operationalizing that desire. I had self-educated in ASP the first time around, and knew that I wanted to attend a bootcamp that would give me more -- and faster -- than I could just learn myself. I had a sound grasp of fundamentals such as datatypes and basic control flows, but didn't know about time complexity or combinatorics or anything like that, so I needed a program that would start me from that point, not from zero. I'd also been involved in hiring dozens of developers in my Product Management career, and I wanted to choose a program that would turn out a developer I'd have hired. Finally, I'd been frustrated coding in multiple languages across the stack during my former development career, so I wanted to learn full-stack Javascript. Codesmith delivered on all of this. Their program is academically-challenging, but also structured in a way to help you succed. I was exposed to the techologies and techniques I need to know not just to get a job now, but to stay ahead of the industry going forward. As someone who's worked with developers, I can say that their focus on pair programming and on teamwork, as well as overall source control and testing workflow, is real-world accurate in many settings. It's not just about code, either: Codesmith ensures that you're a good technical communicator, with presentation and whiteboarding practice throughout the program, as well as the pair programming focus. They definitely build the skills you need to succeed in any workplace, and even go above and beyond to challenge you to be conscious of, and remedy, your weaknesses. The community they build is amazing; I expect I'll be in touch with many of my classmates for years, and we will help each others' careers throughout that time. Speaking of careers, hiring day was amazing, with some of LA's top companies hiring for mid-level and senior jobs -- not a junior position there! I'm in negotiations now for the job of my dreams, at a salary higher than I could have reasonably expected. Codesmith is a bootcamp, in the best sense of that word: they take you in, and build you into someone new, and better, who is part of a community. I'm proud to have graduated from Codesmith! read more

If I had to choose a word to describe my experience at Codesmith it would be: transformative. I first heard about the program by reading the CTO, Will Sentance's answer to a question on Quora: https://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-programming-bootcamps-in-Los-Angeles-or-any-plans-to-start-one A friend of mine from high school was interning with Codesmith for the summer and posted about their weekly "Build with Code" sessions which they host in Codesmith HQ Thursdays. I had no plans that day and decided to go, if nothing else but to support a fellow Falcon. I was treated to a lecture by Will on the fundamentals of web development and walked through a tutorial on incorporating video-chat to a web app using Icecomm. At the start of the lecture, Will asked us a series of questions to gauge our level of experience. The only one I got was "Do you know what a variable is?" That was the extent of my programming knowledge when I started the 8-week academy at Codesmith in the summer of 2015. I am a political economy major at the University of Southern California and my only experience with programming had been a 2-unit Java course that I hastily withdrew from. By the end of Codesmith, however, I had developed a full-stack application that had been a dream of mine for years: an interactive tool for USC students to plan their curriculum over four years. See: http://class-map.herokuapp.com/ I also built a snake game, an integrated calendar-chat app, and an alarm-clock that posted messages to a Slack channel via web-hooks when you pressed Snooze. The difference between a college class and Codesmith is simple: at Codesmith you are surrounded by people who are all vested in your success. The Engineers in Residence that were recruited hailed from some of the top engineering schools in the country --UC Berkeley, Duke, UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania -- and were always eager to help and incredibly supportive. Through a combination of lectures, pair-programming challenges, and projects, the program helps you realize your goals as a web developer. The lectures were clear and informative, and the challenges were difficult enough to force growth as a learner. The "Hack Hour" problems at the beginning of each day solidify your understanding of JavaScript fundamentals and teach you creative ways to tackle standard interview questions. This immersive environment is critical for learning something as difficult as web development. In addition, Codesmith provides access to the industry through a series of guest lectures which are open to the public. I personally saw Tom Occhino, one of the lead React engineers at Facebook, speak and they recently hosted Netflix tech lead Jafar Husain. The team behind Codesmith is committed to helping every cohort achieve their career goals. If you are still undecided, I would recommend going to one their weekly meetups and meeting the people behind Codesmith who are all extremely talented and approachable. It's a decision you won't regret, I guarantee it. read more

I am a graduate of the Codesmith 12-week immersive software engineering program as part of the winter 2015-2016 cohort. The mission of the program aimed to deliver empathetic and self-learning engineers that a flexible to understand any new technology that may be encountered by them. By nature, the emphasis of the program revolves around the JavaScript programming language for full stack software development, this is important in the sense that the proficiency of myself and other alumni allows us to become immediately prepared to work in the industry. I was beyond impressed by the attitude of the staff and their attention to detail regarding the program. The staff from the instructors to the supporting team meet regularly to discuss the progress of each student and their road map to success. The program itself revolves around improving fundamentals far beyond what a single individual can learn on their own time and accelerates them by providing tools, concepts, and other foundations that cement the ability of a 2-year work experience engineer. Moreover, there is additional emphasis regarding the acclimation of the students to preparing themselves to work in teams. Agile methods, product management, daily stand-ups, code reviews, and tech talks are all part of what is included and something that one could expect to encounter in the workplace. The students have the added benefit of understanding team dynamic, technical jargon, and the opportunity to network weekly as guest speakers are invited from leading technology businesses to share their experience and impart their wisdom with the students. Additionally, Codesmith contributes themselves to integrating themselves into the software development community as they are recurring hosts for the SoCal Node.js and JS.LA MeetUp groups providing a stage for seasoned veterans, students, professionals, recruiters, and others to come together. Codesmith has an amazing MeetUp that they themselves host as Build With Code. A series they provide for those interested in improving their skills in JavaScript or introducing themselves the programming language is "JavaScript The Hard Parts". While the name seems daunting for those without experience, I encourage you to attend anyway. This three part series introduces JavaScript concepts such as Callbacks, Object Oriented Programming, and Closures - necessary concepts for seasoned JavaScript developer. It's further improved with pair programming where two individuals work together to solve sets of programming problems that are given to attendees. The pair programming experience itself is invaluable as vocalizing your thoughts on how a problem is solved and comfort with the programming language is put to work - strengths are identified and weaknesses are discovered to be improved. Hiring support is well beyond measure as well in terms of preparation entering the career marketplace. All the way from resume building to establishing yourself as a leader in the community by contributing your technical wits with online publication or speaking on the technology circuit. They introduce all avenues and assist you in your area of interest to making you the best candidate out there. Choosing Codesmith as the jumping point for my career change has been the best decision of my entire life and I firmly believe that the attitude, discipline, and environment that they create is the model for which any software engineer should aspire to become. read more

If you're interested in Javascript, front-end, and fullstack development, I highly recommend attending the free seminars offered by Will Sentance and the Codesmith team. There are few people out there that can be interesting and charming while describing execution context, and Will is one of them. He effortlessly conveys complex topics in such a way, you can't help but be inspired. Go to the meetups, meet the people, have some fun. I think the codesmith program is a great opportunity to fast track into the industry, while learning the most relevant programming language of modern computing. I found this group at meetup.com/build-with-code, and was extremely impressed with the "how to get hired as a software engineer" meetup and "JS the hard parts" series. read more

Codesmith has transformed my life in such a short amount of time. I knew I wanted to be a web programmer and I was going to teach myself JavaScript over this past summer. On my own I probably would have still been trying to learn the fundamentals, not creating projects to reinforce my knowledge in different frameworks and libraries. Codesmith didn't teach me to program by giving me the syntax to a function, but they explained the process of a function and how its variable store works. Getting a deeper understanding of how a computer executes a callback function, for example, has gotten me further than solving a single problem on an online tutorial. I have learned how to be/think/act like a full stack engineer. I didn't come from a stereotypical tech background, I graduated with a B.A in American Studies a few months ago and now I have a good understanding on how servers, databases, and multi-threading work. It is such a great feeling to be able to understand the process of what your code is doing, but there is so much more I want to learn. Technology is constantly evolving and Codesmith has equipped me with a skill set to keep learning on my own. read more

I was part of Codesmith's 2nd cohort that went from late June to the end of September in 2015. During that time I've met, worked with, and befriended several intelligent, hardworking, awesome people. I can honestly say that, having gone here, I've changed my life for the better. I didn't have much of a coding background at all before coming here, but after my 3+ months at Codesmith I feel confident and happy in my abilities. Before applying, be aware that this is a VERY strenuous course; you will be here 60+ hours a week for 12 weeks learning exactly what you need to learn to build a strong foundation and break into the industry. That being said, the staff is extremely compassionate and dedicated to the success of the students. If you have the passion and work ethic to push through the challenge, Codesmith can be a very rewarding experience. The curriculum focuses on JavaScript, Node/Express, Angular, and React, but also covers jQuery, databases, and authentication. The final 6-8 weeks are devoted to building projects. If you aren't quite sure if Codesmith, or even becoming a software engineer is for you, then I highly recommend that you check out one of the many free Meetup events that Codesmith hosts: http://www.meetup.com/codesmith/ Beginners and experienced coders are welcome to come learn and meet with the teachers and students. In the Los Angeles area I really can't image that there is anywhere better to learn how to code. Codesmith is devoted to providing the best possible experience and supporting the growing community. read more

The Codesmith team is outstanding. By hosting their excellent (and free) workshops they are bringing together and elevating the Los Angeles area Javascript community. Attend a workshop, meet the Codesmith team, and the rest of the Javascript community. You are sure to benefit from the experience. See you there! read more

Have attended a few of their free events in Playa Vista (Javascript the hard parts and also Programming for non-programmers). Everyone there seems incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. The kind of people I'd want to be around if I decide to apply for their program (which I think I might). My JS skills aren't quite where I want them yet, so going to the next Javascript the hard parts session should help, and I'm doing some self-guided learning online to get ready for the application. It's supposed to be a really intense experience, but I've heard that Codesmith is unique in that it's all about mentors and guided learning, and to me, that sounds like the way to become an expert programmer. The offices in Playa Vista are extremely cool too, so if I'm gonna spend 12 hours a day learning to code, it seems like a great place to do it. Very impressed with Codesmith... read more

Codesmith - Vocational & Technical School Near Me - Venice, California

Severe lack of a network, did not receive the assistance I was expecting and the knowledge did not leave me prepared for where I wanted to be, but then again, no coding program will leave anyone fully prepared. There were some wasted days and unorganized moments that left us twiddling our thumbs. There were many times I raised concerns and asked for help but wasn't given the necessary aid. It may have improved since my time, but my personal experience wasn't memorable and I was left with a false sense of achievement. I am unhappy with where I'm at, what I know and what I can currently do. If I could do it again, I would definitely advise myself to save money and be self taught. read more

There aren't enough good things that I can say about this place... Especially since there is a character limit for Yelp reviews! With that being said I have created a review of my experience on Medium. You can view that here: https://medium.com/@jshuadvd/what-are-the-best-programming-boot-camps-in-los-angeles-a43c1b4a2bf9 And if you just want to watch the video version, you can see that here: https://youtu.be/hToEL-nNtyM This place is wonderful and I highly recommend it to everyone!!!! read more

I had just graduated from college with a B.S. in Computer Science when I heard about Codesmith. At this point, I had a few job offers in hand but had a distinct feeling that I could do better. It was a difficult decision, but I'm grateful that I turned down those offers to join Codesmith's 12-week program. As many Computer Science graduates would tell you, there are sizable gaps between industry expectations and what you learn in class and class projects. These are gaps that can only be filled with time and experience. For me, Codesmith provided just that opportunity. Coming into the program, I considered myself fairly proficient with C++ and Javascript. I'd never touched Javascript or web development. 12 weeks later, I have a deeper understanding and command of JavaScript than any of the other languages I've used for years. I've also seen myself progress significantly both as a web developer, and as a software engineer. It is by no accident that I've grown more than I had reasonably expected in 12 weeks. This is where I give due credit to the well developed values and philosophies at Codesmith, and to the people who embody and enforce them. Chief among these values is to never become complacent. Codesmith doesn't encourage letting idle curiosity die upon getting something to work. It's then that the fun begins as you're pushed to dive deep under the hood to understand exactly how and why that something works, and why it's relevant. The commitment to excellence here is infectious, and I found myself coming home after a long day of coding excited to code some more or listen to some programming podcasts. I can't give enough credit to the Codesmith community, which is full of incredibly talented, motivated, yet empathetic people. They will push you beyond your comfort zone and make sure you never settle for "good enough". It will require commitment on your part, but if you're ready for that, I highly recommend checking out Codesmith. read more

I have attended the "JavaScript: The Hard Parts" three-part Meetup series at Codesmith to better learn client-side JavaScript. I knew how to code the very basics in JavaScript when I attended, but Will's thorough and charismatic teaching style took my understanding to the next level. I actually attended the second installment first, but I was able to grasp the concepts because Will is very clear and concise in his teaching. He also constantly checks on the group's understanding, making sure no-one is left behind. Even though I completed a different coding school's program, Will was very welcoming and inclusive. This is important to point out because the JavaScript Meetups are attended by people from all types of programming backgrounds - some have decades of experience in strongly-typed languages, while others are just getting their first taste of coding. Will is a phenomenal instructor - he cares about each and every student there and he is really down-to-earth. As someone with social anxiety, I can say that Will somehow makes me feel very comfortable in what is typically a difficult situation for me. I don't feel cripplingly shy because he is such a caring, supportive instructor and individual, and I somehow don't feel like a stranger there. I would say go to these Meetups as often as you like! You will always be welcomed and you never know who you will get to meet. I have learned about so many other programming resources because I get paired with a new programming partner every time I attend (and this is coming from someone with social anxiety!). Trust me, you will benefit from the experience in ways in which you have probably never considered. I know I have and will continue to do so. One final note: if you want to learn server-side JavaScript, specifically node.js, Codesmith offers a Meetup for that as well. read more

Codesmith has transformed my career path in the course of 3 months. It is truly an immersive program, dedicated to teaching fullstack web development. The program is very challenging, in terms of pace and substance, which includes teaching fundamental computer science concepts, Angular and React frameworks, using Node to implement a backend, creating and managing a database, and much more. There is also quite a bit of support for graduates which consists of additional lectures on various topics and tons of job support. Codesmith has since become a second home for me, which can be accounted for by the special culture it engulfs you into. read more

There are a lot of choices for people to learn to code, and choosing the right one can be very difficult. It was only 3 months ago that I too was looking on how to improve my coding skills and spent hours doing due diligence. I cannot speak to the level of the other schools, but what I can say is that I was very happy with my decision to join Codesmith. When I first heard that Codesmith was not just another bootcamp, I just wrote it off, as I figured that is what each bootcamp said, but as I now have finished the program, I fully understand why Codesmith is much more than a bootcamp. The program is truly a fully immersive coding residency which accepts only the best and produces maximum results from those students. Coding however is only just the beginning of what Codesmith offers its students. The first half of the program focuses on rapidly expanding your knowledge of Javascript fundamentals as well as the introduction to numerous frameworks, libraries, and tools. The second half allows students to not only solidify what they have learned, but takes them far beyond with production products that have garnered notoriety worldwide. If this weren't enough, there are numerous workshops and lectures that prepare you for the real world and the job application process. Students from Codesmith are now in some of the top companies in the country, and this list is only growing. Although I am sure any readers of this review are thinking that it is possibly fake and just hype, I can assure you I am only a thankful graduate trying to give back to the program that helped give me an amazing skillset and gave me a network that seems more like family than anything else. Codesmith might not be for everyone, but it definitely was the right place for me. read more

I am a graduate of Codesmith's 3rd cohort that ran from Oct 2015 - Jan 2016. I also worked as an engineering fellow after graduation until April 2016. As of May 2016, I'll be employed with an e-commerce startup in Marina del Rey as a UI Engineer. Going to a bootcamp was a huge decision for me and one that I spent a lot of time agonizing over. I knew that I wanted an advanced level program like Hack Reactor, but the catch was that I needed to stay in Los Angeles for financial and personal reasons. When I attended my first JS The Hard Parts meetup at Codesmith, I was blown away. I had already made up my mind to attend another awesome full-time bootcamp in LA and was prepping for their interview in a couple weeks - Codesmith put a huge wrench in those plans. For one, Will Sentance, the CTO, is an incredible teacher that makes complicated concepts accessible for people that are new to programming. Secondly, every student and person on staff that I spoke to was so down-to-earth and friendly that I immediately felt comfortable in this new environment. WHY DID I CHOOSE CODESMITH? I was accepted into Codesmith and the other bootcamp in LA that I interviewed with. I received a partial scholarship to attend Codesmith, but I had already made up my mind either way. Here were the deciding factors: 1) Rigorous curriculum and excellent instructors that would put me in the best possible position to get hired after graduation. I liked their emphasis on learning computer science fundamental and algorithms that not all the other programs were offering, and I knew that Will Sentance would be teaching a lot of these fundamental classes. Andy (aka the Code Whisperer) conducted a great admission interview - he challenged me to optimize my code and when I got stuck, he nudged me in the right direction. The interview itself revealed how challenging the coursework would be (a stark contrast to the other interview that I had). 2) Community and support - I felt like Codesmith saw potential in me that I couldn't even see for myself at times. The staff was incredibly supportive, which revealed what I didn't realize that I needed in a bootcamp - I wanted to learn in a caring, supportive environment. I could not imagine another bootcamp that could do this as well. DID CODESMITH MEET MY EXPECTATIONS? Absolutely. I wanted a program that had a rigorous curriculum and I got it - more than what I could process at times (which was a good thing - though it was frustrating in the moment). The community and support that I received was amazing. I don't know if I could've pushed through all the challenging times without it. When I needed someone to talk to, I could always find someone to empathize with my situation and help me move through it. WHAT CAN THEY IMPROVE ON? Communication and Organization - last minute schedule changes were frustrating at times. They did let us know that it was because they were constantly iterating on the program to improve our experience. From a student perspective though, it sometimes led to confusion - i.e. anticipating a lecture, but having it moved to the afternoon. WHAT EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS? 1) How much they were paying attention to pair programming dynamics - i.e. people steamrolling or students shutting down. Unless you've been doing pair programming for more than 3 hours with someone, can you fully understand how important this is. When students consistently had a bad experience with someone during pair programming, they made sure to rectify the situation and help everyone grow and learn in the process. We all came out better communicators and team players because of this. 2) How Codesmith taught us how to learn new topics in general and how to solve any problem, not just the ones we were given. Yes, it's awesome that we learn Javascript, React and Angular, but as a lot of graduates experienced, a lot of companies were looking for other languages and frameworks. Codesmith prepared us to deal with uncertainty, rapidly pick up new material and have confidence that no matter what challenge we may encounter, we'd be able to push through and solve it. 3) Hiring day was spectacular. I would've been perfectly happy with about 10 hiring partners given that our class size was on the smaller side, however, I was blown away when we had 25 companies in attendance: Whisper, Disney, Tool of NA, Black Tux... We all got in-person interviews after hiring day, which ultimately led to the full-time position that I'll be starting soon. Overall, it was an amazing experience. I could not have been as successful in my career transition without Codesmith. For a little taste of the culture and community, see my goodbye/thank you video to Codesmith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy74rtmI64Q read more

I first heard about Codesmith as my big brother picked up an interest in becoming a software engineer. My brother decided that he wanted to jump straight into JavaScript and we learned about Codesmith while looking for local meetups. Now although Codesmith is a 12 week software engineering program, they do hold weekly "Build with Code" sessions so that new developers can come in, learn some JavaScript, and get a feel for the education that one may get when applying to Codesmith. I've been coming to Codesmith with my big brother for their weekly "JS the Hard Parts" series and it has been amazing. Will Sentance who is CTO and one of the main instructors at Codesmith teaches the sessions and makes an effort to involve everyone in the learning process, as well as make sure everyone is understanding the material before moving on. Our first day at a session was really fun and motivating as well. It really makes you excited to learn and it's what keeps us coming back. I've talked to a lot of people that have been to other places for coding sessions and they often say that the other ones they go to are really boring and they feel more like a study group instead of a session where you actually go to learn something. I really encourage everyone to check out Codesmith. Whether you are looking for a program to learn software engineering or you are new and want to meet people who are just starting like yourself. Check it out, it's a great environment, and it is extremely friendly and welcoming. read more

I am a recent graduate and current fellow at Codesmith. Deciding to attend Codesmith was one of the best, if not the best, decisions of my life! I went from knowing minimal jQuery programming to truly being able to build anything I can think of (seriously). Even though they focus on Node, React, Angular, Databases, JS Fundamentals etc., what they are really teaching you are the tools needed to go and learn any technology in an extremely efficient manner. For example, my group's final production project required Three.js and WebGL, technologies not specifically taught here. Thanks to the fundamentals, tools and ideas we gained in the first 7 weeks we were able to quickly get up to speed with those technologies and create an amazing project before our cohort ended. Also, the culture at Codesmith is second to none. Everyone is focused on helping each other and growing together, part of the reason you can learn so much here in such a short amount of time. The hours are long, the concepts aren't easy and your going to challenge yourself like you never have before. However, if you stick with it you'll be awesomely rewarded with these skills. Getting through to the project period and seeing what you can actually build is an extremely rewarding experience. If you get accepted to Codesmith, I highly recommend attending. You won't regret it! read more