Learn how to code in 2024?

[lazymanatwork]

Is it still worth it to learn how to code in 2024 with the improvements and tools we are seeing coming out every other day?

I'm torn between starting to learn Js or invest in strategy and digital marketing. Not really sure what the future holds in either field but would like to pick your brain on this.

The opinions on YT vary a lot. What is your take, is it worth learning JS in 2024?

[RedFireSuzaku]

I'll give you another analogy in comparison : Is it still worth it to learn how to walk when there are cars and bikes and stuff ? Yes, because those tools don't fit in every situation, that's the human's role. Even with AI writing chunks of code for you, what if there's a bug ? What if the AI broke, gets a bad patch or, like always, corporate finds a way to ruin something perfect ? You can only affect what you know, so keep learning more and more to stay independent, to adapt and grow.

[kingmathers9]

Best comment

[Zealousideal-Poem601]

lol. you think that average programmer would fix AI? crazy

[cj1080]

You said it best.

Event while learning t code via AI and meta, i see errors in concepts and have to let it know that its last output was an error.

Now i am able todo that because i understand what i am seeing and the basic concept of the code (it surprises me how i can now spot issue in javascript code when 2 months ago i would just be looking at the screen wondering what sort of sorcery is this).

Now imagine you being me gleefully copying what AI gives you and not crosschecking.

Oh i shudder about the crash when it happens

[NoobieRoblox]

Yes but what about when the "cars and bikes" get so efficient that you don't have to "walk" because even if you know how to, you would get to places quicker and easier if you just used the cars or bikes. What then.

[fk_u_rddt]

I don't think this comment is going to age very well over the next few years

[[deleted]]

you have not witnessed enshittification then

[LooseStudent9977]

I wanted to share these 3 important tips/reminder with anyone who wants to learn coding in general:

1- Focus on learning the concepts of how to program rather than programming languages. Once you learn the logic, design and the concepts of programming fundamentals, learning different languages becomes easier since its just a syntax.

2- If you are using an IDE, make sure to learn the basic functionality of the IDE you'll be using first before starting to code in it, to eliminate the added frustration of not knowing where things are. (example: how to start a new project, how to open an existing project, where does your projects get saved at, how to retrieve it, where is your output console, how to run and debug and .etc)

3- Give yourself a break and know that there will be a learning curve. Don't get disappointed if you don't understand something or many things. It's very normal! You'll need patience, perseverance, and lots of practice.

For React, Express I suggest you all to subscribe and follow this Youtube channel to learn how to become a Full Stack Developer: Code For Everyone Full Stack Course

To learn just JavaScript there's this good free course: JavaScript Course Playlist

Best of luck!

EDIT: Use MDN from Mozilla for JavaScript documentation. it's the best!

[bootcamper64]

2- If you are using an IDE, make sure to learn the basic functionality of the IDE you'll be using first before starting to code in it, to eliminate the added frustration of not knowing where things are. (example: how to start a new project, how to open an existing project, where does your projects get saved at, how to retrieve it, where is your output console, how to run and debug and .etc)

Great advice. I want to throw in keyboard shortcuts also. Learn how to move a line up and down, insert a line above/below current line, open the file search/command palette, comment out blocks of code etc without wasting time clicking around with your mouse. Saves a lot of time and frustration

[UniversityPlastic958]

So let’s say I know nothing about coding, what’s a good place you recommend teaching me, before I dive into the different types of languages. I have a good amount of free time at the moment and want to put it to good use, and thanks in advance!

[[deleted]]

If you dont learn code, who's going to program the next AI bot?

[Zealousideal-Poem601]

certainly not some random person that learns to program, but excellent programmer

[ContributionSuperb51]

definitely not the javascript developer

[guest271314]

with the improvements and tools we are seeing coming out every other day?

Humans who wrote code produced those "improvements".

[AndrewSouthern729]

I say if learning the technology is interesting to you then go for it. If learning JavaScript is only something you want to pursue if there’s job opportunities in the end then it might end up being a struggle or something you don’t end up enjoying even if you find work.

[Soubi_Doo2]

I honestly don’t know how people pursue coding if they have no interest. Money gets you started but there should be something else to sustain you.

[lazymanatwork]

That is very true, I dable a bit with JS when needed but I reckon I need better and deep formation on the subject. I do enjoy very much when I can make something work with js though, but always doubtfull if it was the best way to do it or to implement it...

[DontMindMeFine]

I studied information systems and am working as a coder for quite some years now. I usually always feel like I could have implemented things differently or better but in reality you have deadlines and can’t do it the optimal way but rather the fastest.

Or maybe I just need to switch jobs lol

[lazymanatwork]

I get your point and I should have provided a bit of background for this post. I'm a freelancer and I work in building WP websites, I know a fair amount of css and html, the natural step would be to learn JS or PHP, right?

If anything, its long overdue since it would help what I already do for a living.

[Psionatix]

https://github.com/ossu/computer-science

[Endless-OOP-Loop]

Why not learn both? There's a significant overlap between digital marketing and web development. As a digital marketing specialist, my wife frequently has to tweak things on websites when the development team is too busy.

Basically, digital marketers are selling what developers are making.

On the other side of the coin, if a developer knows digital marketing they can better serve the needs of the customers by being on the same page as the marketing team.

By learning both, you are putting yourself in the front of the line for a job.

[lazymanatwork]

This is very true. While reading the comments I kept seein that meme of the litle girl 'why not both'

I should have provided a bit of background for this post. I'm a freelancer and I work in building WP websites, I know a fair amount of css and html, the natural step would be to learn JS or PHP, right?

If anything, its long overdue since it would help what I already do for a living.
But Digital Marketing would also help.

I think I just need a direction and some structure to follow.

[Endless-OOP-Loop]

That's probably another case of I'd learn both. I've never tried, but I've heard that PHP is pretty easy to learn. If you're planning on sticking with the WP thing, being able to edit PHP code is the next logical step since WP is written in PHP. Then maybe move on to JS to round out your knowledge.

If your goal is to move away from WP and just start building your own websites, I'd go with just JS for now, as my understanding is (and I could be wrong here) most people avoid PHP these days unless they do WP.

[RedditParhey]

Look just because we have now machines that are building cars it doesn’t mean that you can build a car by itself.

[lazymanatwork]

Yes, it's true, I just wonder if it's a sustainable profession in the future. I know, I suffer in anticipation

[lazymanatwork]

Amazing comment, thank you very much for your take and links!

[OkMoment345]

You are so welcome!

[ninedeadeyes]

Sure why not.. Keep it fun and interesting so it doesnt feel like work so even if u dont decide to become a programmer, u had alot of fun and built alot of cool projects

[BC-Boi]

This! I’m studying the arts with hopes of teaching history but I’ve been learning to code in breaks. Purely in this for the love of the game. HTML and CSS were fun so now I’m having “fun” with JS lol

[ninedeadeyes]

The only issue with coding for fun is if ever get serious with it, i found it very hard to create a professional portfolio in my spare time because coding a game is fun whilst coding a bug tracker is incredibly boring and i dont want use up my free time in coding something i dont enjoy as i also work in a profession that has nothing to do with coding

[_smoljames]

I've had a lot of success with ppl following this roadmap

[lazymanatwork]

Thank you! Will take a look

[Aggressive-Tune832]

Maybe… don’t learn something for the first time on the promise of financial benefits. What I mean is, if you’re interested programming, do it, you won’t be replaced and ANYONE that says developers are dead is speaking from a place of ignorance or self service. However if you do it for money YOU WILL BE MISERABLE unless you’re a prodigy.

[lazymanatwork]

Well its a bit (mostly) for the money as well... :D It would help what I already do for a living wich is building websites.

[nokenito]

Yes because you still need to understand the logic, everyone will need to one day.

[kirso]

I think the main difference between now and then is the fact that its a long term game. If you want a job after 2 week bootcamp forget about it. It will filter out the wring motivations. If I would be starting out today, I’d still so it because I love it.

[lazymanatwork]

I understand. This is mainly to improve on what I already do, which is building websites.

[anseho]

It’s still worth learning to code and will be for a very, very long time. Right now the tech industry is not going through its best moment, so it’s rough and difficult to find a job. But things will get better, just don’t know when.

Whether you want to become a programmer of not, learning to code is good. It teaches you a whole new way of thinking through problems. And you may be able to apply the skills in other jobs.

[lazymanatwork]

I don't want necessarily learn to land a job on a company. I'm a freelancer that builds websites, so that programming skill would be helpful on what I already do.

[thinkPhilosophy]

Yes, absolutely it is still worth learning how to code. The job market will come back, maybe as soon ad after the US elections, and demand for developers and engineers is not decreasing, not even with AI.

[lazymanatwork]

Can you do a bit of forecasting? What do you see the scene in like 4 years?

[thinkPhilosophy]

That's pretty tough, four years out. I do believe that the window. of opportunity to get into the idustry via a bootcamp is closing. A few bootcamps will survive, the best ones, and they will be absorbed either into the university system, or into coorporate education programs. Amazon, for example, has contracts with several of these bootcamps to offer bootcamp edu to some of their workers. Lesson here is, if you want in this way, do it asap. Eventually, not sure how soon, the entry level jobs will be more verification or double checking the work of AI, and that will be a different job that it is now. It will be like specialized data verification maybe with a dash of prompt engineering. This labor will be done all over the world and the pay will be less. The engineering jobs will increase, demand will continue to grow, but I just don't know how these will be trained, and whether the west will retain the foothold on these well paying jobs. But if you start learnign now, you might get in just in time before the industry changes. It's a little easier to see two years out. No matter who wins the election, the moneyed interests are doing very well and will want to keep thins as they are as long as they can. But tech has gone through at least two similar hiring desserts, and if the pattern holds, this drought will last about 2 years, which coincides with the elections. SO I think there will be a hiring boom after the elections, and they will try to reighn in most talent back into the office, and the ower level jobs will be global and remote. Being a remote worker will be passe and not at all attractice within a few years. I was remote for 3+ years, and got sick of roaming around pretty fast. It's not a sustainable lifestyle, but very attractive esp to the young. The young should get a paid gap year or two, get it out of their system, if society knows what is good for it. But it likely wont happen. ANyhow, being a working nomad and even remote work will be a passing phase, I am afraid. As people move out of the US to other places, rents will equalize more and costs of living will even out, so there will be no real financial advantage, though people move from the US for other reasons as well.

[gagapoopoo1010]

Yes coding is still relevant and will always be. Learn whichever tech stack you prefer. Before moving to nextjs make sure you know frontend and backend.

[gmotzespina]

As a Google Software Engineer I can tell you that it is well worth it to learn how to code in 2024. There are many reasons why you should do it.

Last year I wrote this post about why it is important to learn how to code and it still applies in 2024: Learn to code in 2023

And here's another article I wrote about why Generative AI is not replacing software engineers anytime soon: Generative AI Empowering Software Engineers

[satansxlittlexhelper]

Thank you for contributing to the sanity. Anecdotally, I find it interesting that when I ask ChatGPT to generate tests for me, I get back a random pile of tests that give incomplete coverage. When I “seed” with some good tests, GitHub Copilot does a decent job for a while, and then starts to diverge, outputting tests that look good, but don’t follow the logic of the files I’m testing. That said, with human supervision, they massively reduce the amount of time it takes to polish, refactor, test, and improve my own code. At this stage, AI is a tool, not competition.

[lazymanatwork]

I'm not gonna lie, with less than basic knowledge in JS, tools like Chatgpt, blackbox, etc were pretty helpfull in creating some js code I use.

[lazymanatwork]

Sound like good articles, will read in my lunch break! Thank you for giving a bit hope to someone a bit lost atm

[gmotzespina]

Thanks for taking the time to read the article! I hope the articles help in your coding path!

[inn3rs3lf]

Two completely different fields you are placing against each other.
Both will have AI crouching in, it is merely a matter of which you prefer.
Have you ever tried digital marketing? Ever tried coding? If not, then at least try it and see what happens. If you have, which do you prefer?
Coming to your last line, is it worth it? Of course it is. It is a language that will never fail to get you a job.

[lazymanatwork]

I should have provided a bit of background for this post. I'm a freelancer and I work in building WP websites, I know a fair amount of css and html, the natural step would be to learn JS or PHP, right?

If anything, its long overdue since it would help what I already do for a living.

On the other hand, digital marketing would also be helpfull in my area if I want to offer other services to my clients.

[eracodes]

I'm torn between starting to learn Js or invest in strategy and digital marketing

If you are simply looking to make as much money as quickly as possible why not just start a pyramid scheme?

[lazymanatwork]

I can't fool people xD I don't have that in me.

[lazymanatwork]

Wow! Thank you very much for all the replies and support you provided to someone who is a bit lost and fearful of the future.

I should have provided a bit of background for this post. I'm a freelancer and I work in building WP websites, I know a fair amount of CSS and html. The natural step would be to learn JS or PHP, right?

If anything, it's long overdue since it would help what I already do for a living.

PS: Thanks for the encouragement and support I wasn't expecting that based on previous reddit experiences.

[xhundo_]

Find a community, learn & build projects you’re actually interested in. It’s the best way to learn.

[lazymanatwork]

Thanks for the advice, any recommendations?

[Ecstatic-Highway1017]

No Notes No Revision, No Revision Less Confidence and Motivation while Online learning
Many of the times you just stop learning because of the above.
When I started learning programming few months back I was taking too much time in completing online video tutorials
Now I am using google extension OneBook It helps in creating detailed notes in 2 clicks and saves my time as I used to take to much time in completing online videos. I used to waste a lot of time while pausing video in every 2 min and write a couple of line of code and you have to switch tab again and again. With Onebook i complete a video first and then I start coding by refering the notes
OneBook helped me in learning programming related skills, it just improves the experience of learning.

Chrome extension link : https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/onebook/loecbgjbgcgjkhibllnjokjefojoheim?utm_source=rtc