6 things I wish I knew when becoming a programmer
What do Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, have in common? They started off as computer programmers before becoming visionaries, entrepreneurs, and even millionaires.
People today are always using apps and websites for even the simplest tasks like checking the weather, reading news to playing games and checking social media. And computer programmer are responsible in creating these online spaces with codes!
In other words, every gadget we rely on, from smartphones and computers to satellite navigation systems and fitness monitors, our devices are programmed by computer programmers to ensure that it runs smoothly and dependably.
Like most careers, a computer programmer is responsible for client’s needs, let me make it short and sweet and write it down is simple steps for you:
Step 01: Identify client needs
Step 02: Design the proposed software on paper
Step 03: Develop the software on a computer
Step 04: Run tests to see if the software meets its purpose
1. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
The stereotype of hackers hurdling over a computer pressing away on keys can very well be applied to a programmer. Programmers sit all day and put together blocks of codes to build software that users will be satisfied with.
2. Take one step at a time.
Programming is a marathon and by no means a sprint, never compare yourself to someone else’s work, especially someone with more experience than you. You’re on your own journey, it going to take a while, just imagine, if programming was so easy and you could learn it in two months, everyone would be doing it, so have patience it will pay off in the long run.
The more desirable a product is, the more likely the user would start bragging about it, which means other users would desire it and grow product popularity, thereby helping the product thrive on the market.
3. Never skip the basics
Do not skip the fundamentals of the language or the OS, it’s like playing cricket, you don’t just hit a few sixes and say you’re ready to play the big game, rather you need the basics and you need to build up your stamina and work on your swing, so learn the fundamentals not only of the language but of the platform as well.
4. You don’t have to memorize!
It doesn’t matter how much of an experienced programmer you might be, you’re probably going to look up even the simplest of codes from day today. When you’re starting out you probably thought senior programmers just sit at their desk all day and type everything by heart, well, hate to break it to you, but you’re wrong.
The key here is that you need to know where to find the information you need, whether it’s documentation, a blog post, or a YouTube tutorial, you got to learn how to learn.
5. Don’t fall in to the Tutorial trap
Using tutorials to learn new things are totally fine, as long as you move on from it and try to build on your own, do not get caught in the ‘Tutorial trap’ where you end up doing tutorials after tutorials for more than 6 months.
This blocks you from exploring and enhancing your skills, and you feel stuck when you have to build something on your own. The only way to get out is to start building on your own, it might be rough and stressful at first but down the line, your skills will skyrocket!
6. The blue bird is your friend
It might sound like a bold statement, but jumping into conversations on Twitter and getting involved will boost your knowledge, this is how, designers, developers and programmers from other companies join in and share their experience and knowledge, and there’s almost always something to take away from those conversations.
So, at the end of the day know that a million tiny steps build-up to one huge leap forward in your programming career. Never stop learning, push your boundaries and be willing to try new things, even if you know you’ll fail. And even if you’ve solved an issue many times before, there’s always a possibility you can enhance your code considerably this time.
In the end…
It all comes down to what you want to do most, but if you’re a person that like to make changes in people’s lives and have the urge to create something every day then UX design IS for you, as it allows you to use your ideas and make an impact with how people use product thought out their life.