Comment by dangus
Are you saying this plan is realistic or more like a pipe dream?
This is kind of like saying “Get your flight hours in on Microsoft Flight Simulator and then Delta Airlines will hire you.”
All unpaid and in your spare time between your two minimum wage jobs, of course.
Maybe software development will become more like a doctor or an engineer where you are expected to come fully trained on your own time and dime.
It's sad that the great opportunities have become more out of reach. But that seems almost expected for a job that's relatively easy, safe, and pays well.