I'm looking to build a website for a hobby project, but I'm not sure where to start and how long it might take. My coding experience is pretty limited; I've only completed short courses in C and Python that focused on stats and physics. I want the site to allow user registrations and operate like a stock market simulator where users can trade fake stocks with fake money. I also want to be able to award dividends and post updates about the site. Ideally, I'd like to spend about 4 hours a week learning and coding. Is it possible to do this in under 5 years? Any specific advice on creating this type of site would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Since you already have some coding basics down, I'd suggest diving into Django. The official tutorial is really helpful, and the 'Two Scoops of Django' book is a great resource. The biggest hurdle will be keeping track of your learning with just 4 hours per week. Also, think about how you'll simulate stock prices; it's essential for your project's functionality. If you want something quicker, consider a simpler approach by using Google Docs or a more straightforward frontend tool.
Honestly, you can become comfortable enough to build a functional site in under a year, even if you don’t study every day. I'd say if you take it seriously, in about three months, you can reach a level where you feel confident learning whatever you need to. Just focus on gaining skills gradually!
With your background in C and Python, you could definitely learn to create your website in less than 5 years! If you pick up HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you can streamline your progress. The fundamentals you grasped from coding will help you pick up JavaScript quickly. With consistent effort, you might even get it all done in about 2 years, maybe even sooner if you learn fast.

That's encouraging! Can you share roughly how much time you spent learning each week to reach that point?