I've been trying to learn programming for about three years now, starting with a lot of enthusiasm. But I feel overwhelmed by all the resources and the complexity of the subject. I had to pause my coding journey because of A-Levels, and now I'm unemployed and looking to learn programming not just as a hobby, but to create something that helps my family financially. I've tried various resources like FreeCodeCamp tutorials, Harvard's CS50 Python course, FreeCodeCamp's full-stack web development course, and books on Python and C++. Despite my efforts, I still feel stuck and confused about how to start building something useful. I lack mentors or a community for support, which makes it harder. If anyone has advice or guidance from their own experiences, I would really appreciate it. I'm eager to turn my life around through programming!
3 Answers
Consider not mixing programming languages at first, as it can get confusing. Choose one tech stack to dive into deeply. Also, sites like roadmap.sh can help you see what skills to focus on based on job descriptions. If you’re interested in iOS apps, try playing around with Swift Playground—it's a fun way to learn the basics!
Have you thought about using AI tools to guide your learning? For instance, I’m using Cursor AI to help me build a game. It explains concepts and helps you understand the coding line by line. It’s not about the AI doing the work for you, but rather assisting you where you're stuck. It’s been super helpful!
First off, what do you want to build? If you know your end goal—like a website, mobile app, or a game—it'll help you stay focused. Instead of just learning languages, try making small projects. It can be daunting, but even recreating a simple website or building an imaginary business site can teach you a lot. It's okay to feel overwhelmed, but remember that learning comes from trying things out. Start small!
Totally agree! When I first got into programming, I found that focusing on what I wanted to create made a big difference for me, rather than just going through courses.
Great tip! I started with JavaScript for web dev, and it really helped me focus. Switching too much can slow down your progress.