#034 - Python for Engineers | Flocode Beta Program
Flocode's Beta Program invites civil and structural engineers to shape a cutting-edge Python learning platform tailored to their professional needs.
It’s finally time to share some information.
Firstly, thank you for subscribing to the Flocode newsletter. I’m grateful for the positive feedback and the encouragement. I am so grateful that so many people around the world share a similar interest. It’s very cool. I really appreciate the time you take to read these articles.
As some of you know, I have been grinding for the last 12 months, writing, testing and building in a vacuum. Now, it’s time to reach out to you, the community, to get some of your nuanced engineering perspectives.
The Flocode Beta Program begins today. To apply, please complete the Flocode Beta Program Application (5 minutes).
Your feedback will keep engineers and their needs in sharp focus. It will also contribute to a larger long-term research initiative I'm conducting, aimed at understanding global engineers' preferences, workflows and pain points. More details on this as things take shape.
Early access to the Flocode Community will start rolling out over the next few weeks; spaces are limited for now as we shape the systems. There are already a number of candidates on the waitlist who will be given preference for this initial phase but please go ahead and sign up if you’re interested.
Flocode Beta Testers Package
Those who register for the Beta Program will receive the following resources for free.
Intro to Python Course: Designed for beginners and experienced engineers, this course explores Python's significance, its transformative impact on engineering, and real-world applications that demonstrate its value. Find out more here.
Python for Civil and Structural Engineers: A Beginner's Guide to the Core Concepts: This guide introduces the fundamental concepts of Python programming within the context of civil and structural engineering, making it ideal for beginners in the field. Find out more here.
Flocode’s Recommended Reading List: A curated collection of essential readings that provide foundational knowledge and advanced insights into Python programming and its applications in engineering. This includes some outstanding books that profoundly shaped my own perspectives on both engineering, management and coding. And a few extras that I really like.
Python Libraries for Civil/Structural Engineers: An curated database of the most useful Python libraries specifically tailored for civil and structural engineering tasks, aiding in everything from automation, visualizations, structural design to complex simulations.
For a limited number of applicants, you will receive:
Flocode Community Access: Built on Zulip, an open-source collaboration tool, specifically designed for productive teamwork on technical projects. It combines features of Slack, Discord, and other popular platforms while providing a structured environment for conversations and topics. Members can follow discussions easily, directly contact other community members, and benefit from advanced features like video calls, syntax highlighting, custom feeds, file uploads/downloads, and GitHub integration. It’s pretty cool and just what we need. I am very excited about the potential for this.
The Flocode Road Map
Here’s a look at the Flocode Road Map. I will talk more about the courses in a future post.
Community
Building a community for Flocode is the most important part of this Project. Some of you already know I am extremely passionate about open-source tools and community innovation in engineering.
I believe this is the future of our industry.
I want to share some of my plans for the Flocode community.
The Vision for the Flocode Community
Flocode will establish a global community for engineers to connect, collaborate, and grow together, uniting diverse perspectives and experiences.
Navigating the hurdles of learning Python, especially in the engineering field, becomes much smoother with community support. Obviously, Python is a big part of what we do, but there’s more to it.
We aim to foster a space that not only promotes learning, engagement, and progression but also adds an element of fun through user engagement, shared memes and lighthearted interactions.
For better or worse, it appears my generation has been conditioned to use memes to cope with just about everything, a bizarre sociological symptom of social media and the age of the internet.
That being said, the right meme at the right time is impactful. I will stand by that.
[ I tried but couldn’t find one to back up this big talk ]
This community will provide engineers with a space to connect, a place for engineers by engineers.
No ads, no nonsense, just pure, focused content and a community of like-minded professionals walking the same difficult path.
Learning Python can be tough, and we recognize the importance of individual effort in mastering new skills. However, the journey doesn't have to be solitary.
The community is about making the learning process enjoyable, relatable, making new connections, and opening up future opportunities. It will take shape as we progress.
AI tools are everywhere now. I use many of them on a daily basis in my work. I see their relevance continuing to increase rapidly over the coming years. However, there is no substitute for human connection. That will be the defining characteristic of the Flocode Community.
While AI tools have led to a huge surge in self-coaching, self-learning, and self-direction…. community-driven initiatives offer an additional level of accelerated growth that can’t be matched by a large language model. That being said, things are getting weird.
I will have more to share soon on the specifics and structure of the community. You can stay tuned here.
Closing
This is just the beginning, and your participation and feedback in the Beta Program will shape our direction.
You're not just learning Python; you're joining a movement to redefine the way engineers learn and connect.
Soon enough, our industry will adapt, and Python will be a baseline skill.
By then, you’ll be in pretty good shape.
Welcome to Flocode.
James 🌊