Why Learn to Code?

MacBook keyboard image

Willkommen! 🇩🇪

Thanks for visiting my “ancient” WordPress site. As strange as it may sound, this site sometimes reminds me of a classic automobile, like the ’64 Porsche 911 below (although the new Tesla Model S is clearly a greener choice). Like this old website, they run smoothly if adequately maintained (and yes, I’m partial to German engineering).

In the early 90s, I became intrigued with software and web design and began learning more about the internet. Several years later, in 2003, WordPress was launched.

1964 Porsche 911

A little about me – I’m based in Austin. I’ve lived here with my amazing Canadian wife (a civil defense attorney) for several years. I’m a devoted fan of German football ⚽️ (and the Bundesliga). I’ve worked in SaaS business development and leadership roles for most of my software career. I’ve also spent time working as a web developer/entrepreneur/student, digital nomad, and remote worker. I’ve been working remotely since 2015. Let’s face it, WFH (for most) is pretty amazing! What’s not to like about working with (and learning) new technologies from anywhere? It’s quickly becoming the norm (if it wasn’t already).

This site (like me), is a perpetual work in progress as I continually focus on becoming more grateful each day for my life and the people in it.

The internet is a powerful tool for learning. It’s still astounding to me to see the growing number of educational websites that are available to easily and conveniently learn new skills (your choice of technology). 🤔

I enjoy helping people, marine animals, rescue pups and continuously learning. In mid-2019, I acquired a (Shopify) company on the curated list of “Staff picks” on Exchange Marketplace. I support (also as an investor) what Shopify represents as an environmentally conscious company (but that’s a conscious capitalism story for another time).

So, Why Learn to Code?

There are many reasons (besides the fact that it is hopefully as fun yet challenging for you as it has been for me). Here are a few initial basic “starter” projects I put together to begin my initial portfolio.

Years ago, I wondered when would be the “best” time to deploy this site. Was it ready to be deployed? Well, yes and no. It was simply an initial starting point for me to improve upon. Admittedly, I’m still somewhat conscientious when creating and deploying projects because I can only see it as a reflection of my “quality of work.” Proper and efficient design is an endless pursuit. As you can see, this old, quirky (outdated) website is not remotely an example of this, which is why that’s the point. 🙂 You have to begin somewhere.

If you’re just starting out, the main thing to remember is that it’s essential to keep progressing and learning incrementally. You will improve over time. If you are determined to learn, keep persisting, and you will reach a point where you can look back and say, wow, I did that, and I didn’t even have a clue about that technology a year ago (or six months ago, etc.).

I took a few “breaks” before I picked myself back up and persisted in learning until it “clicked” for me. I’m still going through that same process with another subject, and always will be. That’s the gratification (and challenge) of learning something new.

So, what eventually caused me to dive deeper and learn more about web development, new technologies, and entrepreneurship? I’ll share my story with you.

Feel free to grab your favorite beverage/coffee ☕️, so you can hopefully stay awake while you continue reading this incredibly interesting story (side note: I like to approach life with a little humor and always try to see the good in everything).

I wasn’t “born with a phone in my hand.” The truth is, I’m a full-fledged “Boomer” (I was born in late ’64, so I guess that technically makes me a “Boomer II,” right?)…so the first time I programmed a small line of code and saw the result, I was super stoked!

For me, this took place back in the early 80s during a BASIC class (an acronym for “Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code”) which I elected to take during my senior year in high school…( where I was probably listening to The Psychedelic Furs or The Clash and watching Jeff Spicoli and the term “dude” grow incessantly 🏄‍♂️).

Fast forward a few decades…I initially deployed this site because I thought WordPress would be a good place to start, and I simply wanted to figure out how to create and deploy a website on my own.

One thing that helped me initially was the fact that I actually enjoy researching. I decided to make a transition after working many years in the “corporate world.” I always wanted to nerd out on the deeper underlying technical details to understand how they functioned.

I’m grateful for all the teams I was fortunate to be part of and learn from and for being able to work with some incredibly talented people. I was lucky to be part of it (and who knows, maybe one day I may go back). At the time, I was ready for a change and wanted to dive even deeper into tech. Why not, right? Why not try something new?

I finally decided to take action (instead of just dreaming about it ). Learning to code (or any new technology) takes perseverance. I still enjoy working with people that are continuously learning new technologies. It’s challenging, engaging, and always fun. If it isn’t, find something that is. Life is way too short!

photo of a MacBook pro desk

I’ve listed a few ideas below that may help you find a place to begin.

One thing I’ve learned to ignore, regardless of how much (or how little) I have learned so far, is that it’s easy to think to yourself, “I’ll never learn this fast enough”…”There’s so much information to keep up with,”…”What programming language do I begin with?” …”Will my head explode?”

We all strive to have an area of expertise. Initially, if you’re interested in web development, you may want to consider learning how web browsers work, specifically, the “DOM” (Document Object Model).

I also found it helpful to familiarize myself with Git, GitHub, and the CLI (Command Line Interface), especially if you prefer using keyboard shortcuts that don’t require a mouse.

Familiarizing yourself with the CLI can save you hoards of time (plus, you’ll quickly become a keyboard ninja).

What are HTML & CSS?

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) uses tags to identify different types of content and the purposes they each serve to the webpage. It’s a great place to start if you want to get involved with computers, primarily because it’s exciting, and you can see the results of your learning almost instantly.

HTML provides the raw tools needed to structure content on a website. CSS, on the other hand, helps to style this content, so it appears to the user the way it was intended to be seen. These languages are kept separate to ensure websites are built correctly before they’re reformatted.

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. It dictates how the HTML elements of a website should actually appear on the front end of the page (what the user can see).

Put simply, CSS is a list of rules that can assign different properties to HTML tags, either specified to single tags, multiple tags, an entire document, or multiple documents. It exists because, as design elements (like fonts and colors) were developed, web designers had a lot of trouble adapting HTML to these new features.

After learning HTML and CSS, you may want to consider learning JavaScript next. It’s always your choice as to what interests you (e.g. React, Sass, Python, Ruby, Vue, UX design, etc.)… I think it’s best to focus on learning one at a time before moving on to the next language or framework.

I prefer working with the front end (otherwise known as the “client-side” or what you see rendering in your browser) since it appeals to my creative side. Transforming ideas into a digital format (as you can see, I’m a crazy fan of unique emojis (artwork), and probably use them way too often). I think it’s cool to see colors and representational art vs. b&w text (like this incredibly interactive website 🤔).

Front-end development is continually evolving, and this keeps it interesting.

For me, visual design is just as important because not only is it important for websites to function correctly, every pixel should be visually appealing (of course, I’m laughing to myself as I write this because this site is not remotely an example of that). It’s all subjective, and this particular website is a never-ending experiment that I eventually return to and update.

What is JavaScript?

JavaScript is a more complicated language than HTML or CSS (at least it was for me), and it wasn’t released in beta form until 1995. Today (2021), JavaScript is supported by all modern web browsers and is used on almost every site on the web for more powerful and complex functionality.

What is it used for? JavaScript is a logic-based programming language that can be used to modify website content and make it behave in different ways in response to a user’s actions. Common uses for JavaScript include confirmation boxes, calls-to-action, and adding new identities to existing information. It basically makes your webpage interactive.

JavaScript logo

In short, JavaScript is a programming language that lets web developers design these interactive sites. Most of the dynamic behavior you’ll see on a web page can be attributed to JavaScript since it augments a browser’s default controls and behaviors.

One example of JavaScript in action is boxes that “pop up” on your screen. Think about the last time you entered information into an online form, and a confirmation box popped up, asking you to press “OK” or “Cancel” to proceed. This is an example made possible through JavaScript — in the code, you would find an “if-else” statement that tells the computer to do one thing if the user clicks “OK,” and a different thing if the user clicks “Cancel.” Incidentally, this is a JavaScript course I highly recommend by Wes Bos.

In early 2018, I finally decided to get out of my comfort zone and go for it.

I dove in and immersed myself in code (full-time) and made the decision to complete The University of Texas at Austin Full-Stack Web Development Program (a.k.a. “UT Coding Boot Camp”).

After getting over the fact that I better not screw this opportunity up, I gained familiarity and experience working with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and MERN-stack (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node) technologies.

Some days it’s like you’re drinking from a firehose, so stay thirsty, focused, and positive. Choose to continue learning (with or without “imposter syndrome“).

What I like about this entire process is that it motivates you to keep learning something unfamiliar that challenges you. The learning process is research-intensive. This is a good thing. Stick with it since it will pay off in the long run. It will eventually click for you, and when it does, it’s a pretty awesome feeling.

Although it’s not a “popular” language, I initially started learning about PHP, so I could better understand how it interacts with WordPress. I still think it’s pretty amazing and rewarding to see how the code you write becomes “alive” on your page and how the user experience can constantly be improved.

This particular WordPress theme (an older theme I am purposefully using) did not look like this years ago. So far (as of early 2023), I’ve made a “few” revisions to this page.

update image in WordPress

I initially chose this theme before “Dark mode” was a common term. It’s still intriguing to learn how to change the overall look of the site and make improvements to it over time using HTML and CSS.

You can also use PHP to edit the theme’s code and (for example) modify some items in the footer (the very bottom of the page) to display your name instead of the generic “Powered by WordPress.” I’m old school and like to figure out how things work (even if it’s an “older” language or framework). It’s just as fun to learn how it works.

Attend a Developers Conference – Invest in yourself!

I took a friend’s advice and attended a developers/designers conference in Seattle (in March 2019) – An Event Apart. I learned from complete subject matter experts and a list of a variable who’s who in web design and development staff, met other interesting developers, and learned some really useful information about design.

Below are a few resources that I’ve found very helpful.

A Great Place to Start Coding:

FreeCodeCamp – Totally free online courses

FCC is a great way to get started, especially if you want to access free online courses. The podcast is informative, engaging, and fun to listen to. Oh, and did I mention it’s completely free?

The value here is not that it’s free…there is a real, vibrant community, and the site is now even more “accessible” (built with text editors for accessibility requirements). Pretty cool.

I’ve researched a ton of online resources, and one of my favorites (IMHO) is treehouse.

They have a variety of different “Tracks” to choose from, and for me, the format is really clear and easy to understand, with videos and thorough step-by-step instructions.

Their slack channel is an effective way to connect with other coding students and instructors, and it’s also a good resource for getting quick answers to all your questions.

You are encouraged to review other people’s project submissions, which helps to reinforce your own learning.

You should definitely consider checking them out.

A great book to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript:

There are obviously zillions of other helpful resources online and on YouTube, but I found these particularly helpful.

Besides learning online on treehouse, this book (HTML&CSS – design and build websites) is a classic must-read by Jon Duckett (in addition to his JavaScript book):

Here’s a game that helps to learn CSS or CSS grid!

Udemy: HTML/CSS/JavaScript Courses:

You can watch these anytime and anywhere on mobile (via the Udemy app).

How awesome is that? You can learn 24/7/365 from almost anywhere.

These instructors do a fantastic job of taking the time to explain the process in a way that is very straightforward (and they respond quickly to your questions).

There are many other great courses available. These are just a few I recommend starting out with.

I have no affiliation with the course resources and podcast links below; They are listed to help make it easier for you to locate.

As you can probably tell, I really do prefer treehouse as an overall “go-to” resource. Getting started and spending just an hour or two every day is really what matters most.

- The Complete 2020 Web Development Bootcamp by Angela Yu at the App Brewery

- Build Responsive Real-World Websites with HTML5 and CSS3 by Jonas Schmedtmann

- The Complete JavaScript Course 2023: Build Real Projects! by Jonas Schmedtmann

Learning Git and GitHub (version control):

As a developer, it’s important to learn Git and GitHub so you can post your code (“repositories”) and easily collaborate with other developers. GitHub Desktop is also a cool app.

Learn to Code with Me (Laurence Bradford)

I started listening to her podcast and found it really helpful initially as a beginner. I think I’ll always feel like a beginner, but in retrospect, I have learned a lot and always have a lot more to learn.

I also found her website to be an excellent entry-level or informational resource. Definitely check it out.

WordPress:

If you’re interested in learning one of the most powerful and predominant Content Management Systems (CMS) in the world, you may want to familiarize yourself with WordPress (since it powered over 43.2% of the web in 2022 – that means 2 out of every 5 websites use WordPress )!

There are still many WordPress developers out there that stay very busy helping clients with WordPress sites or building themes or plugins. Personally, I’m a big fan of WordPress and the WP community.

Below are a few resources I found helpful:

- WordPress 101 by Shawn Hesketh
- WPBeginner – A great place to start
- The Complete WordPress Business Course by Rob Percival & Gregg Davis
- Become a WordPress Developer by Brad Schiff
- WordPress for Beginners by Brad Schiff

You can always attend a local WordPress MeetUp or WordCamp (or have an excuse to travel to the PNW for fun, like I do, by going to the Seattle WordCamp).

Podcasts and Additional References:

It’s amazing how much you can learn from listening to podcasts.

Besides listening to the Techmeme Ride Home podcast daily, I like listening (and learning) from the Syntax and ShopTalk podcasts. Wes Bos (from Syntax and JavaScript 30) is a great JavaScript and React instructor.

Resources for CSS: As you probably already know, Chris Coyier and Rachel Andrew are both super knowledgeable in CSS. They both spoke at the An Event Apart conference I was, fortunately, able to attend.

It’s always beneficial to get involved in your community with like-minded people (developers & designers) by attending local Meetups a few times a quarter or as often as possible. You never know who you will meet, learn from, or help out.

Titles…

Web Developer, Front-End, Back-End, Full-stack Developer, etc. I try not to get too caught up on titles.

Personally, I like the term “Front-End Designer” (which I heard recently) since (to me), design and development are equal.

I personally strive to learn the “front” of the front end along with UI (user interface) design. I find learning back-end (or server-side) technologies interesting too. I just prefer coding and designing with front-end technologies.

Wow, if you made it this far without passing out and going into REM sleep, congrats! As you continue to learn how to code (which really never ends), I hope some of the information above saves you time and helps you find a useful curriculum.

After a Long Day of Staring at a Screen

This is the part where you get outside and make time to take a break for a brisk walk, run, swim, or ride. It really helps to clear your mind, re-focus, and create new ideas. If you’ve made it this far, you probably could use some fresh air (or perhaps you feel like jumping through a window (metaphorically)).

Besides getting outside, one of my favorite things to do (every four years) is to catch the World Cup and the national German soccer team… “Die Mannschaft,” which translates to “The team.” It’s nice to see the world unite for a few weeks and experience these tournaments. ⚽️

When the World Cup is not on, I enjoy rooting for my favorite team in the Bundesliga, Bayern München (Munich, Bavaria).

I also enjoy learning where people come from (their lineage). My ancestry is German, Dutch, and Swiss. Check out a few European travel videos on these countries below (they may require a few seconds to buffer).

Einsteinstein quote on education The wonderful Albert Einstein