Things you need to know when getting started to learn how to code

I quit the school of engineering in 2018 and decided to learn how to code.

It was pretty scary because I got out of my comfort zone to learn something I didn't know about and was unfamiliar with.

I felt overwhelmed and intimidated but below are some things I learned in the process that can help you in your coding journey.

1. Know what you want

It is important to know what you want to do or achieve with your coding skills when learning how to code.

There are three things you can choose to do with your coding skills:

1. Get a job.
2. Freelance.
3. Work on your projects.

Knowing what you want from the start will make your coding journey easy, and it will direct you to things you need to learn.

2. Focus on learning one thing first

In web development, there are a lot of programming languages, frameworks, and tools that you can choose to learn or master.

Trying to learn everything at the same time is not a good idea.

Don't be a victim of shiny object syndrome where you want to learn any technology that looks amazing and has many opportunities.

When getting started to learn how to code, I advise you to start with HTML and CSS. Then learn Javascript.

After that, you can choose to learn any other language or technology as long as it provides you with the skills to get what you want.

3. Build projects

It is easy to get stuck in the tutorial hell when getting started with learning how to code.

Tutorial hell is where you continuously watch tutorials one after another without building something on your own.

After learning the basics, start building your projects with the knowledge that you have.

My advice would be that you don't watch a tutorial unless you want to learn something that you want to apply to a project or something you are working on.

4. Join a community

Being a part of a community when learning how to code is very important to your coding journey.

Developer communities serve as a knowledge base because they give you access to resources, tools, coding tips, and more.

These communities give you a chance to make meaningful connections with people who have different backgrounds and expertise.

This can help you to expand your level of knowledge and experience.

5. Build a personal brand

Building a personal brand as a developer will lead you to opportunities you didn't even know existed.

You can build your brand by joining a social media platform like Twitter and start documenting your journey.

Share things you are learning and show the world what you can do by sharing your work.

This will lead you to get discovered by employers, potential clients, or collaboration partners.