Re:Ask HN: I can never learn coding
by JeffRosenberg on Monday May 20, 2019 @09:15AM
(#19959975)
I agree with this, particularly the bit about using Upwork. It doesn't pay well, but will give you a concrete task and a paying customer to hold you accountable. Submit a relatively low bid, with a relatively long timeframe, and be honest upfront about why the bid is so low. Then muddle through and figure it out as you go!
Re:Ask HN: I can never learn coding
by throwawayt2119 on Monday May 20, 2019 @12:40PM
(#19962215)
I have found out that after 10 years I am still spending more time on choosing which stack to learn, instead of focusing on any one and learning it.
Learn by building is great advice because I learnt basic HTML, CSS, and WordPress when I built a website for Excel tutorials. In fact, whatever I have learnt so far it is out of necessity.
Re:Ask HN: I can never learn coding
by mapping_assets on Tuesday May 21, 2019 @02:05PM
(#19972892)
It takes an evening to pick up basics of any framework but it can take weeks or months to build something with it... Learning just for the sake of it sounds a bit weird, pick one and build something, have fun while doing it :)
That said, I would suggest to learn coding by building something that you actually want to build. Maybe you have an idea for a project that could make money somehow? Then learn the bare minimum you need to learn in order to build that project.
If you just sit there thinking "I am going to learn how to code" then you will likely dick around learning little bits here and there with no real aim. Coding is a means to an end, not a means in itself.
Here is another idea: take a look at the projects on freelancing sites like Upwork. Try coding some of them yourself. You could make yourself a goal to complete a paid project on Upwork within one years time. Pick a language/platform, find projects in that area on upwork, do them yourself as practice runs, learn the bare minimum you need to complete each practice project. As you do more and more you will learn new things each time and eventually you will be confident enough to do a paid project (though you will likely have to bid a pretty low price to get the job!). But you will have the satisfaction of having earned hard money for your efforts, even if its not much!