THE STARTING POINT
Programming foundations
Turn curiosity into confidence. Learn to think through problems and write code you can explain.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. HUMAN POTENTIAL.
Build beyond
the prompt.
AI is changing how we write software.
Your understanding is what makes it work.
Learn the fundamentals. Build things that matter.
Become the developer behind the decisions.
Real understanding.
Ready for what comes next.
Ready for what comes next.
YOUR
CURIOSITY. YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
developer-mindset.js
// The most important part? You.
const developer = {
curiosity: true,
tools: ['code',
'AI'],
judgement:
'human'
};
Tools
evolve. Understanding stays.
Built on experience.
Grounded in the real world.
Your mentor has built
software at
BlackRockHMRCskyNews UK
Meet Josiah
01 / FIND YOUR DIRECTION
A strong foundation.
A world of possibilities.
Start where you are. Build towards the developer you want to become.
Learning paths in developmentCONNECT THE PIECES
Build for the web
Go from an empty page to a working application. Understand what happens on both sides of the browser.
MAKE THE TOOLS WORK FOR YOU
Develop with AI
Use AI as a capable collaborator. Learn to give it context, challenge its output, and verify what you ship.
02 / THE VIRGO APPROACH
The tools will change.
Your ability to think
is the advantage.
Generating code is becoming easier. Knowing whether it solves the right problem still takes a developer.
At Virgo, we start with understanding, put it into practice, and bring AI into the process with intention.
See the thinking in actionUnderstand the why.
Build a mental model, not a collection of snippets. Know what your code does and why it works.
Learn by making.
Work through real problems. Make decisions, encounter mistakes, and discover how to move forward.
Keep your judgement.
Ask AI better questions. Read the changes. Test the assumptions. Take responsibility for the result.
03 / A LITTLE LESS MAGIC. A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING.
Don't just accept the answer.
Know how to question it.
A small example of the thinking we want to teach. What would you check before shipping this code?
THE REVIEW
DESKJavaScript / 01
// AI suggests a way to total a basket
function basketTotal(items) {
return items.reduce((sum, item) => {
return sum + item.price * item.quantity;
});
}
Looks plausible. Is it ready?
PUT YOUR DEVELOPER HAT ON
What happens with
an empty basket?
A good review starts with questions. Click below to unpack the problem and a possible improvement.
The starting value is missing.
Without an initial value, reduce() throws for an
empty array. With basket objects, it also uses the first object
as the accumulator instead of a number.
items.reduce((sum, item) =>
sum + item.price * item.quantity, 0);Now test empty and multiple-item baskets. For production, validate inputs and represent money in integer minor units or use an appropriate decimal library.
From the fundamentals
to the systems behind them.
to the systems behind them.
Workplace photography · Mikhail Nilov / Pexels
04 / MEET YOUR MENTOR
Real-world experience.
A builder's perspective.
Josiah Ebhomenye
Software developer. Technical lead. Curious by nature.
From financial systems at BlackRock and payment platforms at HMRC to streaming applications at Sky and web experiences at News UK, Josiah brings experience building software across finance, government, and media.
His public projects explore C++, Vulkan, graphics, and physics. That same curiosity shapes Virgo Academy: start with the fundamentals, investigate how things work, and learn by building.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Curious?
Good place to start.
Do I need to know how to code?
The foundations path is being designed for people starting from scratch. If you've already written some code, the web and AI paths offer another starting point.
Will I learn to code, or just use AI?
Both, with understanding at the centre. You'll learn to reason about software yourself, then use AI to explore ideas, review work, and support development. You should be able to explain the code you build.
What will we build with?
Our web path starts with HTML, CSS, and plain JavaScript in the browser, with Node.js and Express on the server. We want the moving parts to be understandable before adding more tools.
When can I start?
Virgo Academy is taking shape. Learning paths, dates, and delivery details are still being developed. You can explore the proposed paths now and contact Josiah to discuss your interests.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH CURIOSITY.
The future needs
people who can build it.
You don't need all the answers. Just a place to start.