What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started out?

Question

Newbie developer here starting the long road to becoming a web developer. I currently work as a teacher but have always been fascinated by coding. So I have decided to stop dreaming and start doing by dedicating an hour a day to coding. I have a reasonable knowledge of html and CSS so am now teaching myself Javascript. As the title suggests is there anything you wish someone had told you when you started?

Answer 1

I wish I knew to start sooner!
But you already did that.
I dunno, I'm kinda a beginner too.
But keep in mind HTML isn't technically a programming language, it's a markup language, and it's friends CSS+JavaScript help flesh it out.

Learning to make websites is completely valid and can sustain a career by itself, but consider learning another programming language just so you can build the backend of a website. I heard Java can do it, and I know Python can with Django.

I wish you luck!

Answer 2

an hour a day to coding, wish i had done that then i will be far better than i am now. Show Dedication towards your Dream to Do something great for yourself.
I am not a person to tell you how to make apps & websites cause i haven't done that but what i can tell you is Never Stop No Matter What's The Case.

Answer 3

Just 1 wish actually...!
I wish someone told me to use Notepad++ instead of using just Notepad. I suffered with it for months.... Now I'm about to finish building a website for a non-profit organization.
^^~^^

Answer 4

I just wish I knew a platform like Sololearn long before now. One's approach to learning is very important, and for me if it doesn't promise to be a fun filled experience, my progress will be amazingly slow.
I learned python last year, but God knows I can't even do a simple app with it. The learning process was grueling, frustrating, and I nearly gave up many times. But thank God I found Sololearn! When I'm done with web development I'm going back to it, and I'm oh so full of anticipation!

Equally very important; You learn coding much faster and easily when you do it with friends, and people that are ahead of you. That way you have people to answer questions, and.......its just really fun that way.

Solearn knows that, that's why there are friends EVERYWHERE to answer our questions and gist with!

Answer 5

@Will it's important to have a project in mind or stuffs you want to do with programming. This gives you direction. For a web developer, first 3 things to focus on -- HTML, CSS & JavaScript. These three will help you as a Front end Web Developer (for Back-end you'll need PHP, Ruby ) So don't dabble into learning just anything. And all of these require diligence. Welcome on board.

Answer 6

I started programming 4 years ago. Then, I did that only for course completion (engineering). I started actual learning of programming only 4 months back. I wish I realized the enjoyment I get from programming back then. Anyways, good luck to you and I hope you get lots of enjoyment from programming.

Answer 7

hello, world. now I know, that I will never walk alone, if I don't stop. I'm 38 and getting started. Pavel

Answer 8

I wish a never gave up, started vb.net in 2011 but gave up because I felt it was complex, but I just started again this year, I won't be discourage this time cos I've got you guys, putting more effort now in java.... wouldve been bad ass if Ave been coding since then..but no biggie, better late than never

Answer 9

I wished someone told me coding was really not that complicated and easy to learn. Oh and also, I wouldn't necessarily count working in HTML and CSS as "coding". You should learn more than just Javascript.

Answer 10

mmh!
I wish I chanced upon this app sooner!

Answer 11

I wish I focused more on Web Development rather than Software Development -_-

here in the Philippines, Web Development is more in demand compared to Software Development.

That's just too unfortunate for me because I spent years in programming Softwares but I ended up being at a Web Development position rather than what I used to practice more -_-"

Only if I knew from the beginning that it will turn out this way, I should have just focused more on studying web-dev-related-PLs -_-"

Answer 12

I really wished i had known immediately i had the passion for programming that i don't need to be a genius to code.

Answer 13

The best thing I've picked up when it comes to development in html/JS is to really really understand the console (usually f12 on most browsers) the debug information and network tabs really show you a lot about what's happening when instead of getting to a really confusing end result that looks like its working.
Also in my case I love to code from scratch a lot. But there are many frameworks such as jQuery that really help you to get coding faster. I wish my stubbornness went away sooner.

Answer 14

You state you have knowledge for HTML, CSS & you're learning JS which is great. To compliment your intelligence, please consider learning a SERVER SIDE language - PHP, Python, SQL etc - as this will broaden your intuition to create complex, yet simple applications. In other terms, you think more in depth when devising a task, and when facing obstacles you'll find it alot easier to conquer what impedes you.

Answer 15

I wish I had known how easy it is to ask for help. there are countless sources of information that you will be able to find your way even with minimal background. Don't be shy! Nobody does this without a little bit of help.

Answer 16

I wish that I had not waste so much type on which language to learn ... In their own way they all are useful.. Pick one ... then change the world

Answer 17

Firstly, you should start with HTML && CSS;
Secondly, move on to Java, python or similar..like C# -that gives help for C++;
Lastly, C++ or AI or anything that is most difficult.
This all is in my opinion.

Answer 18

simple games

Answer 19

I starded programming 2 years ago as a hobby with C++. Honestly, it was the best decision i ever made because i kept practicing every day and wanted to solve every problem that i encountered. Now i started on the front end and i have to say, that previous knowledge sure helps me out. A lot! . The thing is that you really need to feel what you are doing or else you re gonna get stuck, with yourself, not your code.

Answer 20

Join this developers whatsapp group to meet with other great programmers and developers !

https://chat.whatsapp.com/IZkoXQmfyfu4537pBnhewc