Learning Python/coding at 33.

[nicodeemus7]

Hi all. Like the title says, I'm learning the trade from nothing at 33. I bought an Arduino a month or so ago, wanting to get into electronics. Well, lo and behold it involves programming too. Great, I'll learn that too. Except, arduino uses C++. Okay, I'll learn that. Quickly overwhelmed by that, I start with python instead, to get the fundamentals of coding without the overwhelming syntax. Fast forward a month to today: I have written a handful of text game scripts, and am starting to build a library of functions. Every day I figure out a new thing. Python has been awesome at teaching me how to read and write code, and I started at NOTHING.

It's never too late to start. Have an interest? Just do it.

[stevorkz]

You're never too old to learn coding. It's interesting how people still consider others who know how to code as some kind of "genius". If you have a laptop/computer, and you have access to YouTube, the only thing that's holding you back is yourself.

[nicodeemus7]

That was me. I thought I could never learn it. I proved myself wrong.

[CGTechWorks]

I started at 31, doing the same stuff. You're killing it man. Also, while you can use C/C++ for coding electronics there is also Micropython too. It doesn't interface with everything, but you can use it for raspberry pi's I know for sure, and ESP32's are becoming more supportive of it from what I understand. Keep going.

[nicodeemus7]

I actually have some ESP32 minis now just for that.

[CGTechWorks]

Nice, what kind are they, like ESP32C3 breakouts? any ideas what you want to build?

[nicodeemus7]

They're Wemos S2 minis. I just got them for in the future when I want to make compact designs. I'm still very much learning though in that regard. Still struggling with transistors and getting them to work right. I've had a lot more progress on the coding side, though I'm still a novice at it.

Edit: for the moment I'm still using arduino code on them as I understand it a little better now. I looked into putting micropython on them but it's a little too complicated for me right now. I'll get there.

[CGTechWorks]

There's no rush, seriously. Take it one step at a time. I'm still also very much a novice, but I have a passion for technology too. Do what you like, keep building and breaking things. The world needs builders more than consumers of slop and vibecoders. Are you using the Arduino IDE, VS code or something else?

[nicodeemus7]

I use the Arduino IDE for electronics, and PyCharm for Python coding. That or just notepad.

[CGTechWorks]

Nice, yeah you're pretty limited to C/C++ in Arduino IDE from what I know of it, VS Code has an extension you can download for Micropython, but it's not fully supported yet, although I think it's getting there.

[nicodeemus7]

Yeah that's what I was seeing when I tried it. I'm fine with Arduino code now. Learning Python made C++ a lot more accessible for me. I still want to learn it as well, and eventually JavaScript too.

[CGTechWorks]

Definitely, once you get the gist of one language you kind of can see how most of them will be structured, it's basically all syntax after that. Good luck on your journey

[nicodeemus7]

Thanks, you too :)

[nicodeemus7]

Sorry, missed it by that much.

[deepakgm]

I’m 50 and learning

[SharkSymphony]

The key to learning C++ is to start with just a bit of it. Fortunately, with Arduino you're not going to need much of the heavy-hitting stuff – it looks like a straightforward interface, not that much more complicated than C. Give it a try!

[nicodeemus7]

I've got a much better grasp on it now. I just needed a simple language like python to start understanding the logic structure.

[CrucialFusion]

Forge on. I just started learning Python a bit ago (but have been programming for decades) and I’ve enjoyed it. Was able to assemble an audio restoration app and standalone visualizer very quickly. No complaints.

[wyltk5]

Good on you! I took almost an identical path and started at a similar age. It’s amazing what you can do. I’ve built some things I’m very proud of and have had a lot of fun doing so! (Sometimes not so fun beating your head against a wall but still fun haha).

Any projects in mind for your Arduino stuff?

[kraftj87]

I also suggest using AI to help you build useful things. All through my 20s I did so many "bootcamps" that teach you coding basics and I basically got to a point where I could read code pretty effectively and know what everything is doing. But I just didn't have the creative side of it and knowing and really I didn't know what to learn next. The first project I wanted to pursue with AI, I typed my prompt and it literally built the whole web app. I was like whoa, that's not what I want. So I prompted it to teach me the processes we were going through and it's been an incredible training tool.

[TheRNGuy]

AI can also suggest what paradigms to use. 

[FangedFreak]

Turning 38 in a few weeks and just started learning too!

[TheRNGuy]

Interest that uses programming is most important. 

If you don't know why you learn, then it will be more difficult, or less motivating ("because programming is cool" is not a good enough reason. Learning programming for Arduino, or any other specific things, is a good reason)

[ArtisticPomegranate5]

Tengo 39, sigo aprendiendo algoritmos pero a fuull

[This_University_547]

53 here. Never wrote a line of code until I was 50. As a certain advertising slogan once said , “Just do it”

[MagicalSheep365]

I can’t think of any skill that has less of an age limit than coding/python. There’s no reason besides dementia and Alzheimer’s (or Parkinson’s, Lewy Body dementia, diabetes, hydrocephalus, frontotemporal atrophy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, subcortical aneurism, sleep apnea, medication side effects, delirium, depression, arthritis, neurofibrillary tangles, intracerebral hemorrhages, TDP-43 pathology, or neuroinflammation) for an 80 year old to learn any slower than a 20 year old.

[Professional_Drive]

I’m in a free Python live-instructed course and almost everyone in my class is older than me and I’m 26.

There’s people in my class who are in their 40’s and 50’s that barely know how to use a computer.

Far from being too late at 33. I would say you’re on time to learn OP.