Coding was Hard until I Changed THIS (as a self-taught Developer)

Coding is not easy. At least not unless you are able to adopt the right mindset.

In this video I describe my journey from struggling with programming a lot in the beginning to making the process more and more effortless through figuring out and fixing dumb mistakes I used to make everyday when learning to code.

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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Are you Like Thomas?
1:35 Part 1: How I started enjoying challenge
3:33 Part 2: How I started mastering what I Learn
5:20 Part 3: Social connection (Sponsor: Showwcase)
7:00 Part 4: The Great Mindset Shift (make coding FUN)

WHO AM I?
On this channel, my aim is to give you the tools, strategies and methods to learn to code effectively - according to science! In addition, I document my life as a self-taught software engineer.

DISCLAIMER: some of the links in the description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service using the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. This is no extra charge to you! Thanks for supporting Internet Made Coder :)

Tags: how to learn programming, how to learn to code, learn to code, coding, programming, software engineer, software engineering, how to be more motivated, how to become disciplined, , software development, self taught programmer, tech, career in tech, techcareer, data science, how to become a software engineer, self-taught software developer, no cs degree, frontend developer, learn computer science, online, learn faster, no college, ossu, open-source computer science degree, programmer

[AstonJay]

This last point is so true! I'm learning how to code right now and the beginning by learning the basics is "painful" and "boring" because I know from experience that I want to write so many different programs that I have a list of ideas, but not the skills to match. Which is why I find the learning essential, even though it sucks in the beginning.

You have to adopt a different mindset and you have to force your brain to make those new connections and to retain the knowledge.
Every now and again I have this "light bulb" moment where knowledge of a previously learned topic suddenly clicks.
This usually happens when I learn a different coding concept seemingly unrelated to that specific topic, but then my brain makes the connection between these two pieces of coding concepts and how they fit together.
These are the moments that stick because that's when the knowledge becomes permanent and you never forget it after that.

Just keep going! It does take time. Those who have already have a technical-creative problem solving mindset will obviously find programming to be easier than others, but if that's not you, just keep going. I promise that you will get it sooner or later. Everyone is different and everyone learn at different speeds. Consistency and persistence will carry you through, not the feeling of motivation.

[ahnafalnafis]

> Having to look up StackOverflow and stuff is not cheating
Finally someone understood the necessity

[jakubgadzala]

"Back in '72 I had a chance to talk to Prof. Polya. I told him that I'd read his books (mostly), and it seemed to me that his advice boiled down to 2 things: When faced with a difficult problem 1) do PART of it & try again, or 2) do a SIMILAR problem & try again. As a really low level grad student, kinda challenging a world famous mathematician and teacher, I was expecting to get brusquely Blown Away. Instead, he smiled & replied, "Young man, I am 85 years old and I'm still learning how to do those 2 things." What a man. I've never forgotten, so I guess I really WAS Blown Away. "

[Eikon_FF]

I've been trying to learn to code for 3 years on and off and you made me realize why I kept going back to it because I enjoy the challenge and I don't feel my time wasted because I am doing myself a favor to improve and become better. Thank you so much and youtube algo to recommend you. Subscribed!

[gurpreetkapoor]

one more thing to add: dont ever copy paste the code, when u r learning instead write it word by word and u will get the time to think why r u writing that particular line, which task it performs.

Also dont forget to learn debugging the code early may be during or after learning loops as it helps to learn how the things actually works internally.
it helped me learning many concepts in programming. I use debugging when i find it difficult how a particular thing works

[ztipsamme]

I used to think that I hate school, homework and working, but once I started studying what I love and got a job with tasks that I enjoy I discovered that life can be quite enjoyable doing those things. I can do homework for hours just because it’s fun and I never EVER thought I would be able to say that.

[angelmarie]

Your channel got recommended to me (it was the Tinder automation video 😂) and I love it! I actually quit pursuing a career in web development because it was taking me way too long to get a job in the industry (4 years before I quit.) I wish this video existed when I made that decision. I am glad it does now because I needed it. I think I am going to try one more time.

[lorenzo]

I love the last point so much, sometimes I question myself on my curiosity and my explorative nature to learn… but it’s one of the most fun things in life-to constantly grow and expand your skillset

[GooseUPS]

This is so great. I have been a chemical salesman for the last 12 years. Jumped into coding (or learning to code) a couple weeks ago. I have more passion for computer programming than I ever thought possible. He makes a great point. This is hard but the key to passion is loving something through the difficulty to transform yourself. I don't know if I will make a career change. This could just be a "honeymoon" phase, but I can't wait to find out. I already feel like this is a skill that everyone should at least have a basic knowledge of. Programming is in everything. Great video!!

[bohemicus]

This is how I learned coding: I got my first 8-bit computer in the early nineties... and the thing was just amazing, so many things it could do! And so I wanted to be able to create those things myself... and started coding in BASIC, all those simple examples from the book I got with my computer. And I was amazed by the results. So I started joining them, writing more complex things... and little by little I came to the moment when I was able to write pretty complex things, like a disc file manager in the Z80 assembler. So it did not feel like learning at all, it was fun all the way along. The same thing happened when I switched to PC and started learning C++ .... I was sooo amazed by the language, how easy to write code in this language compared to the Z80 asm! He, he, I laugh very much today when I see all those people saying that learning C++ as a first language is too hard.
And so it makes mu puzzled to hear that people have difficulties learning to code today.... to me, it's all about the goal - I want to write this and that application, I want it to do this and that, and the language is just a secondary problem, I will learn it along the way.

[SodiqOlaniyi]

These points sounds simple but alot of people don't realize them. I simply do these when following a coding course: 1.understand, 2.follow along, 3.implement in a project based learning

[dosdeviant]

Love your comment about not wasting time watching Netflix. For me to get a work life balance I sacked a lot of television and instead used this time on hobbies and learning other skills. Sometimes it's more code related, other times it can be music, fishing or just getting re-energised!

[LoiteringReaper]

Great video with personal insights! “Working hard” is learning the hard and new concepts in your own words (translate into the language you can understand). If you don’t personalize your learning, you won’t retain the concepts.

[sonoftroy]

Think of programming like a state championship wrestling finals match. It’s a individual sport, and the challenge will be tough. But ultimately, you are responsible for your success and failures

[heavymetalmixer]

Just like you mentioned how coding makes you excited, similar to how it happens to videogames, the same goes for me.
Even if I'm not coding a game, I feel like those challenges (big or small) become a goal that make me satisfied once I beat them.
Now, I won't deny I'm very lazy but tbh it's been years since I've been excited to study ANYTHING, and for the first time in my life I'm putting way more effort into improving.

[imma]

Right now, I am learning to code because I am so done with working retail. I've already got 2 completely unrelated college degrees, both of which have ended up being dead end paths for me sadly. The biggest reason they both failed was because of a lack of self confidence in myself. I always had impostor syndrome stop me from pursuing those paths to their fullest extent, and I don't want to make that mistake coding.

[marcelstaiger]

Thanks for sharing. Really cool. And right on point. Seeing problems as challenges and challenges as chances is really important

[greycell]

Documenting my learning mattered. Start using markdown with Obsidian or Notion. Online documentation sucks. Do it yourself. Learn better. If you can teach yourself, you can teach others when necessary. It's part of owning the knowledge. Documentation in systems projects and public facing knowledge base is my biggest pet pieve. Bad teachers, bad docs, increased barrier to entry.

[HeavenestStCyr]

Your advice on mindshift on work is valuable.
Thank you for informing us about Showwcase

[amadujalloh]

I love how you summarize Carl Newport book: so great.
Be so good they can not ignore you!