7 Things to Know Before Learning to Code

 Learning to code has become one of the most valuable skills for anybody to acquire in today's world where almost everything is run by technology. It is important to know certain things before you start to spare you disappointment and put your expectation in check. It is easy to be overwhelmed when you don't know anything about coding. Questions like where you should start and wondering whether you are on the right path will overwhelm you. You may even feel like giving up at some point in your journey. Many beginners start with enthusiasm but give up halfway through not because coding is impossible to learn but because they weren’t prepared for the realities of learning it. Knowing what to expect beforehand can save you frustration, keep you motivated, and make the journey much smoother. 

In this post, I will be covering 8 things to know before learning to code along with some practical things you can do to make your journey less frustrating.

1.Set a realistic goal

The world of tech is a huge world where you can easily get lost chasing new insignificant tools or easily feel overwhelmed. One of the biggest mistakes you can ever make when you start learning to code is to start without a clear and definite destination. It is important to know your goal because it is one of the things that will determine what language to start with, the projects to build and how much time to invest. Your goals give your learning journey direction.

2.Coding is mostly boring

Whenever people think of coding, the image in their head that pops always seems to be movie scenes where a character is furiously typing with green letters running through their screens and complex problems solved within no time at all. This is not the reality of what happens. Coding can be tedious, repetitive, and for the most part boring. If you are imagining yourself building Facebook or Instagram, I am sorry to burst your bubble but a lot of your time will be spent fixing typos, tweaking small details, and trying to figure out why a certain feature isn't working the way it should be. The beauty about all of this however is the satisfaction and fulfillment that come with handling all these things successfully and seeing the end result. To keep from giving up because of boredom, I would advise that you have a source of motivation that will keep you going. This could be anything from knowing your efforts will pay off or looking for a community of other programmers to keep you in check. You will be a lot on your own, so it is important to know your source of motivation.

3.Learn the basics first

This step is simple but powerful. Coding is a huge ocean with no clear direction. There are dozens of programming languages out there and trying to jump straight in the thick of things is like trying to run before you can walk. Mastering basic fundamentals of coding is important because it forms the foundation of a lot of other things you will end up trying to learn in the future. Sometimes when certain complex topics are hard to understand, it usually tends to be a product of failing to grasp fundamental concepts of coding. No matter which programming language you choose, there are universal basics that will always show up.

4.Build meaningful projects

If your goal is to be a programmer, one thing you should always know is that you will build complex projects sooner or later despite starting off with small and simple ones. Your projects should always be inspired by your future role, whether it is a software engineer or a developer. It will also make for a great portfolio for your future employers. Real growth is measured by how well you can apply the skill and one of the best ways to test it is by building real projects.

5.Start now

One of the biggest hurdles for beginners is simply starting. Many aspiring coders spend a lot of time preparing, trying to research the best language to start with, and reading about programming. While preparation is important, you can't always fully prepare otherwise you risk getting stuck there and suffering from analysis paralysis. If coding is something you really want just start. Don't worry about all the noise around you about coding, just go for it and give it your all. Every day you delay is another day you could have been practicing, making mistakes, and getting better. The more you put it off, the more you will find doubts about starting to creep into your mind.

6.Build resilience

One thing that always sets apart successful coders from the rest is one's ability to be resilient. Coding isn't easy and a huge chunk of it is about solving problems. Sometimes you can encounter a problem you don't understand and get stuck at it for hours. Your ability to overcome these types of hurdles will be based on how resilient you are. Errors are inevitable, but whether you give up or stay on track depends on how you respond.

7.Have realistic expectations

Go into coding knowing that it is not a get-rich-quick scheme or a path to instant success, it will take time. While stories of people learning to code for three months and landing a 6-figure job are not always false, they are far from the norm. For a lot of people learning to code is a journey filled with a lot of hurdles with a slow but steady progress. Having realistic expectations will help you stay motivated and avoid disappointment when things don’t go as smoothly as you had planned.

Learning programming is a lot like learning any other skill out there. It needs a lot of practice and determination and often times it will be difficult when you are starting off but become easier the more you get acquainted with the skill. You will have ups and downs, but every line of code you write will bring you closer to your goal and the end result will be highly rewarding.