gjutras

the biggest problem is libraries. Almost all languages, need you to connect to some cdn/library/repo in order to check version, get, download dependent libraries for your project. Without that ability, you're in rough shape. You could use a cacheing proxy as others have recommended to get around this. And then downloaded books would let you continue to experiment. Trying programming is the only way to truly learn it. Books and articles and videos let you know what you can do, but you don't absorb it until you're actually doing it. Is it possible starlink isp is available where you are for a satellite ISP?

55 here developing since 13. Recently dropped lead from my role and just became a developer again. I gained so much joy from not having to deal with most of the company stuff and just concentrating on the things I truly enjoy: creating, designing, troubleshooting, teaching, learning. I burnt out trying to do that and being the communication window through which the company and my team worked. As long as you forever enjoy learning (oddly enough which you do through continually learning), you can stay current enough. If you keep somewhat current, have a strong work ethic and continually contribute to both your team and your company and make a good relationship with your manager (sadly, very important to happiness, stress, success & growth in your current company), you'll avoid a lot of ageism. And the older you get, the more important it becomes to stay healthy in order to keep your brain working as well as it can.

Make code hygiene your mantra. Piece at a time, make existing code better and make your code obey all the solid clean code principles you care about. If you want to TDD, make artificial seems on everything new and do TDD on the new stuff and start putting tests around areas at the smallest levels you can and start refactoring slowly in areas that you are touching. Make it a process that you always follow to have good hygiene. You'll eventually end up with clean code.

balsamiq is great for ui mockup. Other than that I agree with habs, paper works. Although i have recently started using Microsoft One Note 2007. It makes for great brainstorming / idea throwing / white boarding.