Why Is Programming Difficult?

Programming is not easy. It takes massive amounts of effort, focus, concentration, stress and sacrifice to become proficient enough to become a software developer. In this video I break down why exactly programming is so hard and how to use it to your advantage.

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[AndySterkowitz]

How challenging has programming been for you? How difficult is it compared to other things you've tried to do in your life (get in better shape, change careers, learn a skill, etc.)?

[isosnitsky]

My attitude towards programming is:
"I don't know how to do this, i'm scared to do this, but i'll do it"

[WebDevSimplified]

To me the hardest part about learning programming was the switch in mindset and thinking that programming takes. You need to switch your mindset to think like a computer, because you are writing code for a computer. Once I switched my mind to think in a purely logical state it became much easier to learn programming.

[miljanmiljanovic]

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...
- Keep in mind :)

[joebender]

Multiple 10-minute blocks of meditation spaced out evenly through the day is what has helped me the most in learning to program.

[xerxes]

One thing that I’ve learnt after long time of coding and overall in my life; is That Anything That Worth it, Is Hard.

[zachgarber]

If you're struggling you're making progress. Also think like a computer it helps

[RowlandOConnor]

23 years programming and still feel the same😁

[guitarman]

Whenever learning programming (or a new skill for that matter), you need to be persistent and resilient. I am a firm believer that failure is a huge part of success. Therefore you must go through the pain and agony of failure in order to achieve the desired result.


Focus on progress, not perfection.


Since I have personally been programming, I have developed a stronger mindset when undertaking software development as well as other general life tasks. Because I haven't quit at software development when times get hard, I haven't quit at other things too. I hope to continue to make the good progress that I have done over the last few months.


A very good and useful video once again Andy. Keep these coming!

[korbykun]

Your videos are key to get me through the tough times and to continue following my lifelong dream of becoming a software dev. Thank you.

[luiscadena]

Being afraid of programming on your first days because you don't know something is like a doctor being afraid of doing open heart surgery on a patient after only a week of college. (The good thing is you can't hurt the computer so you can start practicing open heart surgery on you first day. :)

[FirstLast-gklg]

I started an 8am-5pm Mon-Fri online coding course 3 months ago. I have never put so much effort into something to learn so little, most days it feels like catching smoke with your bare hands. This course is 9 months long, so excited to get through it and have the knowledge and enter the industry. I want to learn everything!

[AboveDaGrim]

Wow man! You sound like a true friend with real advice. You're appreciated! Much Thanks.

[oatscurry]

The amount of abstraction necessary to grasp certain concepts is mind boggling for me, and was even when I was at university. You're right Andy—it doesn't go away. I've quit and come back more than once. But the projects that I'm most passionate about continued to demand software development. There's no other way. Truly, certainly, sitting down and learning how to free-climb this mountain is the only way around it. Meditation over the past year has been truly helpful. Keto, somehow, has been pretty darn helpful too, since I'm not always thinking about food. I've removed every complication in my life just to be able to dedicate the entirety of my day to the task of climbing this mountain. I even have the gear. Thanks for taking a few minutes to remind me that I'm not the only one feeling this is insurmountable. If I persevere, I can get there. Discipline, not necessarily self-motivation, is what keeps us on the path.

[codyoncken]

Honestly programming itself isn't hard at all. What I mean by that is that yes, at first it is hard to grasp the concept since it is new but once you get it down, it is not hard at all. What is hard is the logic that is implemented through coding.

[leeyad]

this hit me square in the chest Andy! Saving this to listen to while on my coding journey. I needed to hear this!

[Joel-ynkz]

I’m a student and this man just made me believe myself no one would. Thank you very much ❤️

[ZdenoMucina]

so true..:) I've been studying just for a few months but I can already see how much it has improved my way of thinking about a lot of things.... I think it's definitely a great thing to learn if you work in any field..

[patryk]

Thank you Andy, this video is that missing small piece of puzzle that I needed to return to learning programming, you can't imagine how much valuable it is for me in this difficult moment of my life when I almost returned to my bad habits, wasting time on games, parties and again feeling like I don't know what I live for. Thanks to you I want to be better version of my self and I believe that I can do it :)

[EH]

YouTube recommended this video just at the right time!
“Focus on the moment, not the monsters that may or may not be up ahead.”
― Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way
Love that, thanks for the book tips, definitely going to read them :)
(even if I wonder when, since I'm always programming (read: trying to) in my spare time lately) !