Programming Foundations: Your First Language
6-8 weeksSkills You'll Build
Python syntax and data typesControl flow and functionsBasic debugging skillsCommand line basicsGit version control
Self-Taught / Career Changer → AI Engineer
Self-Taught to AI Engineer Learning Path
The complete roadmap from zero programming experience to AI engineer. This path mirrors my own journey, self-taught developer to Senior AI Engineer at 24. No CS degree required, no bootcamp needed. Just focused implementation, consistent practice, and the right community support. Expect 6-12 months of dedicated learning, but the payoff is a career earning $100k-$200k+ doing work you actually enjoy.
6-12 months
Prerequisites
- Strong motivation and clear career goals
- 10-15 hours per week for dedicated learning
- Basic computer literacy
- Growth mindset and persistence
Your Learning Path
Python Mastery: Beyond Basics
4-6 weeksSkills You'll Build
Object-oriented programmingWorking with APIsFile handling and data formatsVirtual environmentsPackage management with pip
Computer Science Essentials (Practical Focus)
4-5 weeksSkills You'll Build
Data structures (lists, dicts, sets)Basic algorithmsTime complexity basicsProblem-solving patternsReading and understanding code
ML Concepts & LLM Fundamentals
4-5 weeksSkills You'll Build
Machine learning concepts (no math heavy theory)Understanding how LLMs workPrompt engineering basicsToken economics and context windowsAPI authentication and rate limits
LLM API Implementation
4-5 weeksSkills You'll Build
OpenAI API integrationClaude API implementationError handling and retriesStreaming responsesCost optimization
RAG Systems & Vector Databases
4-5 weeksSkills You'll Build
Text embeddingsVector database setupChunking strategiesRetrieval optimizationHybrid search patterns
Portfolio Projects & Job Preparation
6-8 weeksSkills You'll Build
Building complete AI applicationsGitHub portfolio setupResume optimization for AI rolesInterview preparationTechnical communication
Community Learning & Career Launch
OngoingSkills You'll Build
Peer learning and accountabilityNetworking with AI engineersContributing to open sourceBuilding in publicContinuous skill development