Is Coding For Me?

Except you’re living under a rock, it is quite clear that there’s a new fever taking over the career sector; Coding. Everyone wants to know, is it worth learning to code in 2023? Almost everyone wants to be a programmer, a web developer, a ui/ux designer, you just name it. Nowadays, it’s not even for the thrill or excitement, it’s evidently for the money. 

Nevertheless, this article is to answer the million dollar question: Is coding for me? Well, let’s see. If you can answer these few questions by the end of this article, or at least find answers, then coding is definitely for you. Don’t fret, at least not yet, they’re questions even a child should have thought of if he truly wants to become a web developer.

1. What is My Reason for Coding?

Coding, or rather, programming, is a way to create questions that plague the general public, and solve them in a way that life, as we know it, is easier and sweeter. There are different purposes, to each their own, for coding. Majority go in for the money, like I said earlier, however, there are still some that go in for the knowledge, for the joy of it. Hence, it is necessary to ask yourself, what is my reason for coding? 

When you have a cogent reason or goal for starting something, you tend to always be motivated. Why? You can always go back and look at that goal when it gets hard or frustrating (and coding can get hard and frustrating especially when you’re learning it). However, defining your reason, and sticking to it can help. So get a notepad, and write down the question, why should I start coding? Write an answer beside it and judge by yourself, if it’s good enough to begin a tech journey in coding.

2. What are The Benefits and Challenges For Learning Coding?

Everything and nothing comes with its own benefits and challenges, coding is no exception. You should at least weigh the pros and cons of anything, including coding, before delving into it. Below, I’ve outlined the benefits first, and then the challenges you might encounter in your coding journey. 

What are The Benefits of Coding?

1. The Salary

Statistics show that apart from doctors, programmers are one of the highest paid professions in the world. Some business analysts argue that it’s actually the highest paid profession and it will only continue to grow exponentially as the years go by. Whether you’re a web designer, or a technical writer, or a software programmer, or even a data analyst, with a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), you can never want for a good life. 

2. The Complexity

If you’re the type that loves to challenge yourself to complex situations, trying to solve the world’s problems one by one, then this is definitely a benefit for you. There is no one that would deny that coding can be quite complex, not even the experts that probably inspired you to begin this enquiry. At each stage in your coding journey, the complexity either increases, or decreases, depending on how you, as the programmer, decide to view and tackle it. It is a great incentive to the passionate problem solvers and the innovative thinkers.

3. The Work Conditions Flexibility

Most careers in tech do not need you to be at work 24/7. What I mean by this is, if you’re an introvert, or you just don’t like going to work, this should be the major push you need to pick a career in tech, lol.
Due to the fact that most of the work you’ll be doing will be on your system, you can work from anywhere. Plus, in the 21st century, with most companies taking more interest in the mental health of their employees, the working conditions are usually tailored to suit you, without being too imposing. 

4. Creativity and Growth

In programming, there is always room to be creative, to grow, to advance even more in your skill or career path. If you’re going in for the knowledge, then there’s even more opportunity for you. Learning something for the purpose of knowledge has a  way of pushing you beyond your limits. As Linus Torvalds once said,

“Most good programmers do programming not because they expect to get paid or get adulation by the public, but because it is fun to program.”

What Are The Challenges Of Coding?

1. Power Supply

For underdeveloped countries, where power supply is still a major issue, this might pose a big challenge in your coding career. Coding is a task that requires a steady power supply, as you’ll probably be on your system more often than not. Although, if you have the means to purchase a generator, or some sort of power plant, then this is not a problem.

2. The Complexity

While this might be an advantage to some, this can also be a great disadvantage to others. At some point, especially if you’ve never learned coding, programming or any computer-related field before, it can be really frustrating at first. In many programming bootcamps and schools, the major complaints of coding beginners is that it’s too hard. There are a lot of new concepts to understand after all. 

3. It’s Time Consuming

Everyone that has gone through, or is going through the hurdles of coding will tell you, it involves a lot of time. You have to be ready to give not just your money or resources to it, but your time as well. Money because you might need to buy courses or enroll in a bootcamp, and time because Rome was not built in a day. In addition, with the way tech keeps evolving, if you don’t practice everyday, you’re liable to forget the few things you know, or be left behind with an old skill that is not useful to anyone. Being a good programmer means writing codes everyday, learning everyday, seeking to better yourself everyday. There is no room for slacking off.

3. What Type Of Coding Is For Me? 

There are different branches of technology, all of which are usually generally referred to as ‘career in tech’. There are the data analysts, the web developers, the software engineers, the software programmers, etc. There’s also the part that doesn’t really need any knowledge in coding, and is still grouped under ‘careers in tech’. These are the UI designers, the web designers, technical writers, etc. All of which has the benefits (and challenges) outlined above. So, proper research should be made before diving into the coding world. 

Questions you should ask are: 

• Which coding path would suit me more? 
• Which one am I actually interested in? 
• Why should I take this path?
• Am I ready and willing to see this through to the end?
• What books can I buy that will aid my coding journey?

Questions you should not focus on are:

• What tech career path is the highest paid?
• Which one can I get a job in quickly?
• Is learning coding hard?
• Is learning coding expensive? (It isn’t.)
• Which one is most beneficial? (No one!)

4. Is it Worth Learning To Code In 2023?

With the rise in the need for developers in the tech industry, yes, it is very much worth learning to code in 2023 and subsequent years to come. It is predicted that the need for more people in tech will take years before it runs out. So, if your fear is that there’s too many people in tech and you might never be able to catch up, that fear is unfounded and frankly, just an excuse. If you want to do something, do it right. Put in the work and the effort and trust me, you’re guaranteed to see results.

The tech world is one that’s constantly evolving. Even Elon Musk, or Mark Zuckerberg, who are billionaires, are still learning. It’s constantly growing and changing, however, the best time to start learning it is now. There is no better time than the present.

5. Can I Learn Coding On My Own?

The question of, can I learn coding on my own, is kind of tricky. It’s a yes and no question really, it all depends on you as a person. Are you the type of person that can learn things on your own? And if you are, in a technical course like coding or any other field in programming for that matter, it’s always a good thing to have a mentor. There are many software developers today that are self taught, and really know their onions, however, it still all boils down to you. But, yes, it is very possible to learn coding by yourself. 

Download materials, there are a lot of free telegram channels that you can get free materials if you don’t have the money to get courses. There is also a lot of youtube videos out there to guide you on where and how you should start. One thing that’s consistent though in all these materials is this, be ready to put in the time and dedication to finish this journey. This is because at some point, especially if you’re self taught, you will get frustrated and tired. It is up to you to motivate yourself and keep going no matter what. The good news? It’s definitely worth it in the end.

Frequently Asked Coding Questions For Starters

Question 1: What age is too late to learn coding?

There is no age that is too late to learn coding. Yes, if you started learning at a younger age, it’d have probably been advantageous for you however, this is true for many things. So, just start.

Question 2: Do you need to be good at math to learn coding?

No, there is no need. It will definitely help you to have a basic math knowledge, however, it is not a required prerequisite to start learning coding.

Question 3: Is coding stressful

Is learning coding hard? Both questions are in the same category. Everything, when learning for the first time, is stressful or hard at first. Nonetheless, it gets easier with more practice and a bit more time.

Question 4: How do I know if programming is the right career for me?

Well, if you’ve thoroughly read through this article, you should have an idea by now whether it is or not. Nevertheless, in all sincerity, you are the only one that can answer that question. If you feel it is the right career for you, then it is. 

Question 5: Can a normal person learn coding?

I don’t know if there are normal and abnormal people but yes, everyone can learn coding. The difference between that genius and you is that you’ve not yet learned what the genius knows. Trust me, once you do, you become a genius yourself.

Conclusion

You can do anything you set your mind to do, including learning coding. There is nothing that’s difficult, you just have to give yourself time, while feeding yourself with all the necessary information and knowledge. 

If you later decide to pursue a career path in coding, or learn it just for fun, well, I’ll be here rooting for you. As Kent Beck said, “I’m not a great programmer; I’m just a good programmer with great habits.” 

Good Luck!

All images are sourced from unsplash.com