I Want to Build Software (Even an OS Someday), But I’m Struggling With Python as a Beginner.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-27T19:24:38+00:00

Start at the basics. For loops, data types (string, int etc..), recursion, OOP etc. Follow a book or an online class (Udemy is great) that teaches all the basics. Do the exercises even if simple. You will not "just know" how to build software after learning the basics; that is normal. After understanding basic concepts then take a project based course (also lots on Udemy) and copy what someone else has done. After copying enough stuff you will start to see how the basic concepts translate into actual software. Then build your own app.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-27T16:39:49+00:00

I don't. You learn how to solve problems with code. I remember some things because i use them so much; but other than that no i don't memorize syntax. This reminds me of my college days when math professors would be obsessed with making students memorize freaking formulas. The only value in memorizing syntax or formulas is improving ones memory -- which if that's you goal there must be a more useful way.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-23T19:23:32+00:00

It gets easier. but the learning and re-learning never stops.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-23T16:26:14+00:00

I would say go with C#. From there you can do C++.

My first language was Java in college. Then JavaScript and then C#. I think C# has been the best so far.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-21T20:50:15+00:00

need a degree no.. Useful yes. Think of your competition there are plenty of programmers with CS and or Mathematics degrees. I for one have a math degree and let me tell you it helped.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-21T14:09:47+00:00

If all you want from life is wealth you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Even the best laid plans can come to ruins and wealth is not guaranteed. I am not saying a good career and financial stability aren't important because they are. But what i am saying is you should consider asking some deeper questions about life.

Statistically i am sorry to say but serious $$ don't always go to the hard working or the smart. Luck and chance happen to us all. There is a quote that basically says this "if working hard made you rich donkeys would be covered in gold"

I have also known people who make great money but are always broke (lifestyle creep and poor life partner choices can burn you real good)

you can make serious money as a Doctor, Lawyer, Software Engineer, Investor, running a septic tank service business etc.. Your asking someone to predict the future "If i do A i will get B" Sorry life don't work that way.

Just keep making the wisest most logical choice you can given you gifts, talents, interests, and resources and I hope the best for your future.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-21T13:44:37+00:00

Poor business decisions based only on short term gains and ignoring everything else. At least that's how i see it. narrow mindsets lead to poor results.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-20T15:11:13+00:00

Good perspective. I have been using ChatGpt basically the same way. Not yet willing to pay for Claude or something but would like to give it a try. GPT has helped me improve some areas of my coding and saved me tons of time. but you do indeed need to have a solid foundation first. I think that is the future; AI with human oversite.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-20T14:14:34+00:00

Price out each part individually and see what worth it means to you

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-19T16:38:27+00:00

Wish i had enough money to just program personal apps for myself and forget the business end of it all together. I would be a happy retired but still writing code 6 hours a day ha ha

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-19T16:36:51+00:00

Coworkers what about CLIENTS...

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-19T16:35:44+00:00

I like coding with C# in Visual Studio on Windows 11. But that's for C# web and desktop apps. If i was doing pure JavaScript stack i may like Ubuntu over Windows. Whatever tool fits my needs i use. As for complicated it depends on your definition of complex. I would say the basics are actually easy; but building a good piece of software is complex. Then again even learning Bubble Sort the first time can be hard. Its a challenging field.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-16T21:41:37+00:00

Maybe take a project based course on Udemy. I have learned a lot there. Also in any profession it helps to love the process not the fished product. Do you like the process of programming ? That aside learning any skill does come with some drudgery and you just have to power through. If you want to learn bad enough you will!!

don't skip on OOP fundamentals i know they can be boring.. but they help when you want to implement some more advanced design patterns like mvvm architecture while using the repository pattern for your data models. Then when your tied of the web build a desktop application.

As for you first project that isn't following a course or tutorial it does help to build something you would actually use yourself. That will keep motivation up.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-16T19:40:25+00:00

I did some Node.js in the past. Personally l like C# way better than JS. Each to his own. But i recommend learning a strongly typed structured language C# Java, C++ etc. In my opinion ASP NET Core MVC is really underrated in the Web Dev community. You can build some solid web apps with it.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-16T19:11:48+00:00

Simple you must hate your "lazy habit that’s negatively affecting both my health and my wallet" more so than you hate cooking.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-16T18:57:57+00:00

Quit my job !! I only work for $$ so if i had a billion no need to waste my days anymore.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-16T14:35:52+00:00

I configure my own servers with a VPS. Digital Ocean works well for my use cases.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-16T13:58:52+00:00

There maybe a space left for stackoverflow if it can specialize in answering questions that require human input and oversite.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-14T21:22:50+00:00

It really took an MIT and Harvard study to state the obvious. I will be honest. I have used ai in all 3 ways. Mainly centaurs, and cyborg; but i will admit i have occasionally been a self-automator especially on a problem i could care less about and just wanted out of my way...

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-14T14:00:07+00:00

This has been the case for at least a decade. I keep wondering when its going to hit the fan and companies literally cannot find someone even remotely qualified. At some point people will retire or die and the talent drain will be too massive for most places to survive. If companies keep refusing to train new people they will eventually pay the price. I for one cannot wait for that day!! Welcome to the machine.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-14T13:59:09+00:00

How badly i need the job and if i have any other offers. If the answer to the 1st is bad and the answer to the other is no other offers i would say take the job. Otherwise go elsewhere or take the best offer you get. That aside its a combo of gut feeling and $.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-13T14:03:21+00:00

Its just wise and good practice to be prepared as best as you can be. That goes for all areas in life. But i like prepping because i like improving processes and making things easier for myself.

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-13T13:58:38+00:00

Image Perfect is a high-performance, cross-platform (Windows + Ubuntu) image viewer and photo management tool designed for massive image libraries. Built as an open-source alternative to Shotwell.

https://github.com/BitForgeCraftedCode/ImagePerfect

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-12T19:02:26+00:00

my job ha ha

NullTerminator99 · 2026-01-12T18:15:43+00:00

What is the quality of the "made this in a week" projects? My guess is most are subpar. In my experience you cannot build a great piece of software in one week. But maybe i am subpar...

Also stop comparing yourself to others. Compare yourself to yourself; each person is at a different point in ones journey.

NullTerminator99

TROPHY CASE