My background and love for programming goes all the way back to 25 years ago. Back then when black and white rectangular screens were dominating us geeks and were prevailing in most corporate and educational environments. I still remember vividly when my parents walked into my room and I was aged at the time 11 years old and they said we have a new present for you it’s a computer.
At the time computers were so scarce that I starred at it like an alien device. For a minute I sat there and thought what a waste of a gift, little did I know that this moment was going to change my life for good. Yes, that was an Amstrad 1512 computer with 2 floppy drives 5 and a 1/4, haven’t seen one of those? Don’t worry I’m from a museum.
Immediately after my starring moment I went about my day and ignored the computer that was sitting infant of me. Over the days I got more and more curious about what it was and slowly I broke and turned it on. I might as well would have turned on pandoras box at that time because I had no clue what I was doing.
So you’d ask me why are you going to this extent of describing an early moment in your life when I’m here for a programming specific article. Well bear with me and sorry for the long intro but my first interaction with a computer was via DOS and the Basic programming environment. I had a massive book that came with the PC that basically had a few pre-made games that you could go there and implement.
As a copy cat I immediately started by copying one of the pieces of code it was a cheap version of what later ended up being Arkanoid. Offcourse it was a black and white monitor so it didn’t look all that great particularly at the low resolution the Amstrad had.
Summary
I want to give you a quick if you do not want to go through the details below on the eleven ways I think are useful to help you fall in love with programming. Most of us looking for those monolectic answers and I think in this case it suits it very well!
- Give coding some time to set in
- Identify what language you like
- Understand why you are getting into coding to begin with
- Do not push yourself from the beginning start easy
- Make mistakes! Practise until you feel confident
- Find a group of people you can interact with
- Start your own idea/project this will increase your passion
- Embrace it in your life, get those funny t-shirts about coding
- Look at the financial gains, programmers are generally well paid
- It can be your creative outlet just like painting
- Let programming empower you and give you comfort when you need it
I can probably go on and on in this list but before I bore you I want to explain those points in a bit more detail for you so if any of them interest you do not hesitate to dive in the list below.
How To Fall In Love With Coding
So let’s dive right into it shall we? I’m going to give you some of my reasoning of how to fall with programming. In my opinion the idea of falling in love with anything is something that’s intrinsic and registers from deep levels within you and builds up. So I’m going to start with this point first.
1. Give It Time
Basically like with everything in life you need to give it time. Programming is extremely complicated and can get out of hand very easily if you get frustrated and give up. The idea of giving it sometime is to allow it to build in you and to see the capabilities it has. Since it takes very long to get to understand the nature of programming you also have to give it time.
Additionally giving it time will allow you to explore and find your synergy with a language that you enjoy which takes me to the next point.
2. Find A Language You Like
Offcourse I am talking about a programming language. As a coder you have options, a lot of options! Finding which language works for you and your mindset is not an easy task. Especially with the rate of how new languages are popping out every day. Familiarizing with one alone takes a long time now imagine doing this in a span of a lot of them.
As you can understand basically giving it time and finding the right language for you is a combination that’s encompass how to make you fall in love with coding. I personally have rotated pretty much in every language that exists out there since I’ve coded for so long. I do have to admit that C has and will continue to be my favorite language as I just jazz well with it but lately I’ve come to love Python too. What I am trying to say here is that your preference may change over time and you may even find yourself going back to it.
3. Find Your Why
The first step in falling in love with coding is to understand why you want to learn it. Is it to build a career in tech? To develop your own website or app? Or just to challenge yourself and expand your skillset? Having a clear reason for learning to code will motivate you to continue your journey even when faced with challenges.
4. Start With Easy Stuff
Coding can be overwhelming at first, but it’s important to start with the basics. Get familiar with the syntax, variables, and data types in the programming language of your choice. It’s also a good idea to work through some tutorials and practice exercises to get comfortable with the basics. Which takes me straight to the next point.
5. Practise, Practise Practise
The best way to learn coding is by doing. Don’t just read about it or watch tutorials, actually try writing some code on your own. Start small and work your way up. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. They’re a natural part of the learning process. Do not be afraid to make mistakes here that’s what practicing is for. I learned most of my stuff by failing during practise periods.
Coding is a constantly evolving field, so it’s important to continuously learn and improve. Keep up with new technologies and best practices. Take online courses or attend workshops. Join coding challenges or hackathons. The more you learn, the more you’ll enjoy the process.
6. Join A Community
Coding can be a lonely journey, but it doesn’t have to be. Join a coding community, either online or in-person, to connect with others who are also learning to code. You’ll be able to ask questions, share your progress, and get feedback from others. Plus, it’s always more fun to learn with others.
My personal favorite lately is discord servers and reddit. In the past I used to use IRC which I think was fundamental to develop my love with programming and it played a crucial role on learning but also loving it.
7. Pick Up A Project
Once you have a good understanding of the basics, it’s time to start working on projects. This could be anything from building a simple website to developing a full-fledged app. Working on projects will help you apply what you’ve learned and solidify your understanding of the concepts. Plus, you’ll have something to show for all your hard work.
8. Embrace It
Learning to code can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Embrace the journey and enjoy the process. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and don’t give up. With persistence and dedication, you’ll be able to fall in love with coding and all its possibilities.
In conclusion, learning to code and falling in love with it takes time and effort, but it’s well worth it. With the right mindset and approach, anyone can learn to code and become a part of the tech revolution. So start today, embrace the journey, and see where it takes you.
Ok I’ll admit this sometimes I’ve gone as far as wearing coding t-shirts and basically boasting around that I’m a coder. You don’t need to reach to that extent but it definitely helps you with your mental and increasing your love for programming.
9. It’s a Valuable Skill To Have
Programming is a valuable skill that’s in high demand in the job market. Companies are constantly searching for talented programmers to help them build and maintain their websites and software applications. Having programming skills can open up a lot of doors for you, and give you a competitive edge in your career.
Furthermore with programming you can also help out a lot of your friends and family with day to day issues by using coding to solve their problems. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve done this in the past successfully with simple stuff such as creating an automation script to even coding a monitor for a fish tank!
10. Use it For Creativity
Programming is a creative outlet that allows you to bring your ideas to life. Whether you’re building a website, an app, or a software program, you have the power to create something that people can use and enjoy. You can also be creative in the way you write your code, and come up with unique solutions to problems.
The more you are associating in your mind creativity with coding the more you will fall in love with it! I personally find this is one of the most effective ways in the long run to stay in tune with your coding nature.
11. Use It For Empowering Yourself
Programming is empowering because it gives you the ability to solve complex problems and automate tedious tasks. Whether you’re working on a personal project, or developing a solution for a client, programming allows you to take control of your own life and make things happen.
I personally find comfort in it. When I’m down I like to sit back write some code and generally de-load from my day to day stress factors. This is a bonding activity and it actually helps me stay in love with coding as I get closer to it. I think the biggest thing I get is that it occupies all your brain cells when you fall in the mood which on it’s own a positive outcome.
Conclusion
Programming is a valuable, creative, and empowering skill that can open up a lot of doors for you. If you’re someone who’s been considering a career in programming, or just wants to try it out for fun, then now is the perfect time to get started. By choosing a programming language, taking an online course, practicing your skills, and getting involved in the programming community, you’ll be well on your way to falling in love with programming. So what are you waiting for? Start your coding journey today!