Baby Steps Into The World Of Development : "Dev Retro 2022"
Published: 2023-03-26 15:45:30

---
title: Baby Steps Into The World Of Development : "Dev Retro 2022"
published: true
date: 2022-12-10 03:51:32 UTC
tags: 
canonical_url: https://theamazingatharva.hashnode.dev/baby-steps-into-the-world-of-development-dev-retro-2022
---

# Introduction :

_This Blog is a part of the "Dev Retro 2022" initiative by Hashnode and is related to the theme of reflecting on my journey as a beginner developer._

Everyone has a hobby or activity they are **enthusiastic** and **passionate** about and can engage in **without getting bored** ; for me, that activity is programming and coding. Having learnt the basics of Java in 9th and 10th Grade and understanding the syntax of C and C++ through YouTube, I stand as of today still a beginner, **scratching just the surface of Software Development**. Reflecting on what I learned while understanding the aforementioned programming languages I am certain that my interests lie in the **vast ocean of development** that lies ahead. In this blog, I will be sharing the little things I have learnt in 2022, the challenges I faced and some general tips for those who would like to learn to code.

![let's begin the rookie GIF by ABC Network](https://media0.giphy.com/media/64aBXTVfd90zyUH2da/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e476uldp0o1mita8zm45rqn9um0h5w6tgcozshjvhdo&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)

# Why do I want to become a developer?

This one is rather easy to answer - because it combines my interests in **technology** , **problem-solving,** and **working with people** - the basic roles of a software developer. I would have the chance to work on a **range of projects** as a software engineer, **utilising various tools** and programming languages. Additionally, I would be able to work with other developers to **create and enhance new applications.**

**Passion** is an **important force** in our lives that helps us in many ways. It is passion that helps us achieve great success in life, achieve great things in life, **innovate and solve life's core problems**. It's **not what we see, it's what we feel**. It forces us to do what we love and it drives us to do our best.

> **It is obvious that we can no more explain a passion to a person who has never experienced it than we can explain light to the blind.**
> 
> **_T. S. Eliot_**
> 
> **I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.**
> 
> **_Albert Einstein_**

To me, being a software engineer is using **creativity, intelligence, and art** to bring life to the code and create apps that **solve practical problems**. Working with semi-colons and words that aren't described in a dictionary to **give them a meaning that both robots and people can understand** is what drives me to pursue development. In plain terms, it is like **using your creativity on a canvas (IDE) like an artist**, except that we create software instead of painting. We don't simply develop code; **we also build user-friendly, scalable systems and software.**

In my opinion, software engineering or development is largely misunderstood by those who haven't **experienced the joys of coding**. Many people think of it as **engineering** ; some say it's like **art** ; a few think of it as a **flawed creative process**. Even though they may look different, **software engineering is akin to painting in more ways than we think.** Both need discipline, repetition, and knowledge of the principles and require the use of our hands.

![Its Pure Art Robin James GIF - Its Pure Art Robin James Very Artistic GIFs](https://media.tenor.com/2iHL45MIL1EAAAAC/its-pure-art-robin-james.gif)

Similarly, Programming resembles **playing with Legos** in certain ways. However, you construct things with your thoughts rather than actual physical materials. The things you create are digital, which also makes them **eternally flexible**. You can shape and reshape! - them **limited only by your imagination**. When components come together to create a **useful tool or product** , it feels **incredibly great.** It gives one a strong sense of **accomplishment and self-worth**.

![Lego Legos GIF - Lego Legos Block GIFs](https://media.tenor.com/DKKyoCmW8FsAAAAM/lego-legos.gif)

In a way **"Programming"** is **empowering**. This is how we feel when we code successfully ...

![Iron Man Tony Stark GIF - Iron Man Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr GIFs](https://media.tenor.com/1hIfOVIolbMAAAAd/iron-man-tony-stark.gif)

# Challenges One Faces While Learning To Code And How To Overcome Them :

Many people believe that learning to code is too difficult to even begin with. Do you belong to them? Coding has many difficulties, but anyone can learn it with time and effort. Having said that, learning to code can come with several common obstacles. Let's investigate them and come up with ideas to make our learning curve as frictionless as possible.

1. **Focusing too much on syntax and not on problem-solving skills**

Irrespective of what programming language you choose, in the end, what matters is your ability to solve given problems. We tend to focus mostly on the syntax of the language and not on problem-solving methods while learning. You may learn (and later forget) how to write syntax, but if you dont know how to solve a simple question, all your coding knowledge will go in vain and your efforts will be wasted.

> _First, solve the problem. Then, write the code. John Johnson_

1. **Lack of energy or the hunger to code**

> _Sometimes it pays to stay in bed on Monday, rather than spending the rest of the week debugging Mondays code. Dan Salomon_

1. **Where do I begin?**

2. **You dont know what you should be learning and how**

How do you select topics to study? This is a common question. The first thing you probably do when confronted with such a query is Google. Additionally, you may have created a substantial developer roadmap. Following such a substantial roadmap is certain to sap your enthusiasm for learning. You will be frustrated if You force yourself to learn information that you are not yet prepared for or willing to learn. To begin, you must abandon the idea of a roadmap and concentrate on what you want to learn. This gives you the confidence to learn without trouble.

> _Simplicity is the soul of efficiency. Austin Freeman_

1. **Follow one mentor/blog and learn one thing at a time**

> # **Congratulations On Finishing The Blog!**
> 
> Thank you for joining me in my quest to share my experiences on learning to code and get a head start in the process of learning. Do react to my blog and share it with those who you think will benefit from this blog !!! Do follow me to read more blogs in the future. To Be Continued ...
> 
> # **Credit To The Following Resource I Referenced :**
> 
> 1. [5 Signs of Highly Passionate Programmers](https://betterprogramming.pub/5-signs-of-highly-passionate-programmers-d0791217e064)
> 
> 2. [Top 5 Challenges in Learning to Code](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-5-challenges-learning-code-yashvant-singh?trk=public_profile_article_view)
> 
> 3. [Overcoming 7 main problems of learning to code for people who dont have a developer job](https://zellwk.com/blog/7-challenges-of-learning-code/)
> 
> 4. [Challenges of learning to code](https://codeinstitute.net/global/blog/challenges-of-learning-to-code/)
> 
> 5. My first blog on Hashnode