I‘m here to help you through the hardest parts of your coding journey

Learning to code is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It‘s an incredible feeling to be able to build software that solves problems and improves people‘s lives. Coding is a superpower that allows you to understand how technology works and create things that didn‘t exist before.

But learning to code is also really hard. If you‘re a new programmer, you‘ve probably had moments where you felt overwhelmed, inadequate, or just plain stuck. I know I certainly did. I‘m here to tell you that struggle is completely normal and you‘re not alone. Every developer went through the same challenges when they were starting out. With the right mentality, resources and support, you can push through the frustration and come out the other side as a proficient coder.

I want to help you get unstuck. I want to reassure you that your doubts and struggles are normal. Most importantly, I want to share advice and resources to help you keep making progress toward your goal of becoming a developer. I‘m starting a series where I‘ll answer the most common questions and concerns I hear from aspiring programmers. My mission is to help you get over the hurdles and become the developer you‘re meant to be.

Why is learning to code so hard?

One of the biggest challenges of learning to code is the sheer volume of information and technologies out there. It‘s normal to feel overwhelmed and get decision fatigue when you‘re bombarded with terms like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, machine learning, data science, web development, app development, and on and on. It‘s hard to know where to start or what path to focus on.

Even once you choose a language or field, you‘ll run into plenty of frustrating bugs and confusing concepts. Computers are very literal and unforgiving, so even a tiny mistake like a missing semicolon can completely break your code. Debugging faulty programs requires a whole new way of analytical thinking. It can be maddening when things aren‘t working and you don‘t know why.

On top of the technical difficulties, many new coders are held back by self-doubt and imposter syndrome. When you‘re learning something complex that doesn‘t come naturally, it‘s common to feel inadequate and Question whether you‘re cut out for coding. Seeing more experienced developers write effortless-looking code can make you feel like you‘ll never measure up.

Here‘s the thing: all those doubts and insecurities are totally normal. Every developer has been there. Yes, even your coding heroes and the folks behind your favorite websites and apps. What separates successful coders from the ones who give up is the determination to keep going even when it gets really hard.

My coding journey

My own path into coding was a windy one. I didn‘t study computer science in college or have any technical background. I worked in a completely different field before I discovered my passion for programming.

It all started when I decided I wanted to build an iPhone app. I had an idea for an app but I had no clue how to actually make it. So I started googling and came across Objective-C, the main programming language for iOS development at the time. I found some online tutorials and started hacking away at my app idea.

It was a slow and often frustrating process. I‘d spend hours trying to troubleshoot a bug or wrap my head around a confusing concept like delegation or memory management. Many times I‘d fall asleep at my laptop after a late-night coding session, only to wake up and find my program still wasn‘t working.

But I loved the challenge and creativity of bringing my ideas to life. When I finally got my first app working and submitted it to the App Store, it was one of the most satisfying and thrilling moments. I was hooked and I knew I wanted to make programming my career.

I ended up leaving my non-technical job to focus on learning to code. I treated it like a full-time job, spending 8+ hours a day doing online courses, building small projects, and reading technical books and blogs.

The biggest boost in my learning came when I started connecting with other developers, both online and in-person at local meetups. Having a community to ask questions, get feedback on my code, and vent to when things got tough made a huge difference. Eventually I met a more senior developer who became an incredible mentor and opened doors to my first programming job.

You‘re not alone

If you take away one thing from my story, let it be this: you‘re not alone. Every developer, no matter how experienced or impressive, started off as a beginner. They all struggled with nasty bugs, confusing errors, and feeling like they didn‘t belong.

When you‘re in the thick of the struggle, it‘s easy to think you‘re the only one who feels lost and inadequate. But I promise you it‘s not just you. In fact, having the grit to persevere through those challenges is what will make you a great developer.

One of the most important things you can do is find a supportive community of other coders. Look for local meetups, workshops, or hackathons where you can meet people learning and working in the field. Join online forums and communities like freeCodeCamp, Stack Overflow, and DEV Community. You‘ll realize that even veteran programmers get stuck sometimes and there‘s no shame in asking for help.

When you‘re questioning your abilities, remember that coding is a skill that can be learned with practice and patience. Talent helps, but it‘s not the deciding factor in whether you‘ll succeed. Dedication and perseverance matter much more. If you can push through the tough times, keep practicing and learning, and lean on your community, you can become a great developer.

Advice for the hardest parts of the journey

I‘ve thought a lot about what helps new programmers get over the biggest hurdles and stay motivated in the face of constant challenges. Here are my tips for some of the toughest parts of learning to code:

Choosing what to learn

Start with fundamentals like HTML, CSS, and a versatile language like Python or JavaScript. Don‘t worry about picking the "perfect" first language – you can always learn more later. Freeform exploration is great, but I recommend following a structured curriculum or course to avoid gaps in your knowledge. Look for learning resources with hands-on coding assignments so you can put concepts into practice. Find small projects you can build to test your skills and add to a portfolio.

Getting unstuck

Being stuck on a nasty bug or cryptic error message is incredibly frustrating. When you‘re really stuck, don‘t keep banging your head against the problem. Take a break, go for a walk, and come back with fresh eyes. Try explaining your issue out loud to a rubber duck (it really works!). Read your code line by line or start over from scratch. Search for your error message or problem on Google and Stack Overflow. Ask a friend, classmate, or online community for help. Remember that getting stuck is part of the process and every minute spent debugging is making you a better developer.

Landing the first job

Focus on building an impressive portfolio of projects to show employers. Contribute to open source projects to gain experience working with a team and a real codebase. Practice your coding skills with sites like HackerRank, LeetCode, and Exercism. Network as much as possible by going to meetups, conferences, and hackathons. Reach out to developers whose work you admire. Polish your online presence with a strong GitHub profile and personal website showcasing your projects. Apply to jobs even if you don‘t feel 100% qualified – men are much more likely to do this than women. You have valuable skills to offer and any rejections are just part of the process.

Overcoming imposter syndrome

Self-doubt can be crippling as a new developer. You may feel like you don‘t belong or aren‘t a "real" coder. Remember that everyone feels that way sometimes – it‘s not just you. Try to reframe your self-talk from "I‘m not good enough" to "I‘m continuously learning and improving." Celebrate your progress and small wins. Keep a brag document of your accomplishments, kind words from others, and proud moments. Focus on your own journey instead of comparing yourself to others. Be kind to yourself and remember how far you‘ve already come.

Learning to code is challenging but incredibly rewarding. Having coding skills unlocks so many opportunities and gives you the power to build solutions and express your ideas through software. There‘s nothing like the rush of getting your code to work after struggling for hours or days on a stubborn bug.

I truly believe that anyone can learn to code if they‘re willing to put in the hard work and push through the struggles. You‘ll have moments where you doubt yourself and want to quit. But on the other side of those moments is the joy of and pride having valuable, empowering skills. If you‘re feeling stuck, that‘s okay. Take a deep breath and remember that every frustrating moment is making you a stronger developer.

I‘m here to help you through the hardest parts of your coding journey. I want to hear your questions, your struggles, your wins. This stuff is hard and you don‘t have to navigate it alone! Send me an email at [email protected] and tell me what‘s on your mind. I‘ll pick common questions and themes to answer in depth.

Remember, you‘ve got this. Keep showing up, keep pushing through the hard parts, keep celebrating your progress. I believe in you and I‘m rooting for you. Now close this tab and go write some code!