Just a quick note before my post here: computer science and computer programming aren’t the same thing. CS is more about theory — algorithms, computation, logic — while programming is a skill you can use with or without a formal CS background.

That said, I know someone who started learning programming around 43. They enrolled in a local government-sponsored technical program that partnered with companies to offer internships. They trained hard, took an internship, and worked their way in — even though it took them over 3 years before they saw any meaningful income.

Now, about five years later, they’re doing well: they’ve earned several certifications, built a strong cv, and landed work at a company with a big name. On paper, they look impressive — even compared to me, and I’ve been programming since I was 13 and working professionally since 17.

But here's the thing: that path takes grit. They didn’t save much during those early years and had to stick it out for a long time before things clicked. Unless you’ve got real motivation and curiosity driving you, it might be a frustrating ride. If you do have that passion, though — go for it. Just do it with eyes open, and don’t expect shortcuts. this guy was passionate about money and he was always crap on interviews but he went through the internship route and now he's doing fine. I started at 13 but I didn't start making six figures until I was 20.

Remember: Even Hodor could not clear an interview these days, despite being perfectly aligned to his job role, but he got hired long-term via practical execution. and well, spoiler alert- his fate is pretty much every programmer's fate. To be eaten alive by.... LLMs?