My finished project code: https://github.com/shaneajeffery/udacity-go-crm-backend
Completed course Nanodegree certificate: https://confirm.udacity.com/e/dbcc9022-e5ab-11ee-ac73-eb0086781fe7
Transitioning Into the Course
With over two decades of software development under my belt, my expertise predominantly lies in web-centric technologies. Throughout my journey, I've traversed through languages like C#, PHP, Node.js, with intermittent exposure to Go, albeit in a limited capacity. Despite having utilized Go in two previous roles, my engagement was primarily confined to minor edits, lacking a comprehensive understanding of its fundamentals.
Course Selection Rationale
In 2018, I embarked on the React nanodegree program offered by Udacity, an experience I found exceptionally enriching. Led by Tyler McGinnis, renowned in the JavaScript and React community, the course left a lasting impression. However, due to professional commitments and personal projects consuming my time, I abstained from pursuing further educational endeavors with Udacity until now.
Navigating Through the Curriculum
For individuals with a solid programming foundation, completing this course within 2-3 days is well within reach. However, the course content primarily scratches the surface and fails to delve into advanced Go concepts such as Goroutines, Channels, and Wait Groups, which are integral for a comprehensive grasp of the language.
While the course content is satisfactory on its own, the crux of the issue lies in the inadequate support provided by Udacity's mentors, contrasting starkly with my previous experience with the React course. Despite submitting my project multiple times, mentor interactions revealed significant shortcomings, ranging from technical deficiencies to an inability to follow basic setup instructions.
Issue #1 -- I highlighted the necessity of having Go 1.22 to resolve the encountered issue.
Issue #2 -- I pointed out the presence of setup instructions for the .env file in the README.
Issue #3 -- I emphasized the guidance in the README regarding seeding the Postgres DB and modifying the connection string in the .env file.
Issue #4 -- Upon being informed that mentor support for the Postgres extra credit step was unavailable, I had to revert the changes and implement a slice to manage the state of the Customer store. The edits made can be viewed here: https://github.com/shaneajeffery/udacity-go-crm-backend/commit/81baa46c9aed99fed8804f1f6c2f3987c9be491a
Reflections on Value Proposition
While the course content may suffice for beginners, particularly those seeking an introduction to backend development, the exorbitant cost of a monthly membership ($250) is not justified by the quality of mentorship provided. For individuals with a solid programming background, pursuing self-directed learning avenues supplemented by practical projects is recommended, offering superior value and flexibility.
In summary, while the course may hold merit for newcomers to Go, particularly in the absence of mentorship considerations, alternative learning platforms (Udemy, Educative.io, etc.) offer comparable educational resources at a fraction of the cost, warranting careful consideration before committing to Udacity's offerings.
