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How did you get into coding/programming? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've always had trouble getting into coding/programming because I've never truly dedicated myself to it. Mostly, this is because I kinda always lose momentum to learn it. I'm a heavy FOSS user; I love coreboot/Libreboot and am interested in getting into firmware development. I've already helped test hardware for Libreboot and enjoy learning about firmware.

I have just started to cut out gaming from my life to focus more on this. Maybe I should start with Python? At the same time, though, I feel like I should start with C, but don't want to jump the gun too quick.

Feel free to share your stories!

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

While I agree with a lot of the other comments with the "you learn by doing vibe", I feel like it's a bit open ended and it can be a struggle taking the first step.

I started out around 2012 with some "how to do java" tutorials, and through that learned the language agnostic basics of programming (variables, functions, arrays, loops etc). But because I had nothing I wanted to make, I dropped that pretty soon after and didn't touch anything code related for like 5 years.

I randomly applied for a job that required a whole lot of sql knowledge, got the role (when I probably shouldn't have in all honesty) and that prior knowledge helped tremendously in getting up to speed with that, I just had to learn the sql specific stuff on the go.

I then wanted to do a Pokemon Romhack, so followed tutorials on YouTube which taught me a bunch of C and git.

So yeah, it wasn't until I actually needed to use something that I actually learned any languages, and the original language I set out to learn I know absolutely nothing about now, but it did give me the baseline knowledge I needed to pick all the rest up far easier.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

I've twice now gotten a position without prior knowledge of the tools in question. I think a lot is just taking a gamble on your ability to learn as you go - which clearly worked out in your case.