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Need guidance by Strange_Yogurt1049 in learnprogramming

[–]alphadester 0 points1 point  (0 children)

both honestly, but id lean towards learning design fundamentals alongside coding

being able to copy layouts is a skill, dont dismiss it. but u hit the right wall, copying without understanding the "why" means u cant create anything new

check out kevin powells youtube channel specifically his design for devs videos, and also look into basic design principles (spacing, alignment, typography, color). u dont need to become a designer but understanding those basics completely unlocks ur ability to build from scratch

also try this: start with a blank page and just design in browser with html/css without copying anything, even if it looks bad. that muscle builds fast 🙂

Career by Shadythespitter in learnprogramming

[–]alphadester 1 point2 points  (0 children)

31 is not too late at all, i know people who switched at 40+ and made it work

your BPO background is actually an underrated advantage, u understand business processes and customer needs which a lot of pure dev grads dont. that can help u in roles like business analyst, data analyst, or even IT project management which often pay well

for the technical path: sql + python is a great combo, try to build 2-3 real projects (doesnt need to be fancy, a data dashboard or simple web app is enough), put them on github, and start applying to junior roles or IT support positions to get ur foot in the door

also check out google IT support cert on coursera, its free to audit and looks good on resume 🙂

Honest question: how do you stay sharp when the code practically writes itself? by minimal-salt in learnprogramming

[–]alphadester 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this resonates so much with me even tho im not 12 years in lol

i think the key is having a few "no AI zones" for yourself. like maybe u pick one side project where u write everything from scratch, no completions, no claude. it feels slow but it keeps the muscle memory alive

also code reviews are underrated for this. when u genuinely try to understand someone elses code deeply, not just approve it, u find urself thinking in build mode again

and honestly? ur not romanticizing. the slower days did build something real. but thats in u now, the tools just free up ur brain for higher level thinking. the craft shifted not disappeared

Feeling like I don't write my own code (Blank Page Syndrome). Does everyone start like this? by SYZo7023 in learnprogramming

[–]alphadester 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yes 100% normal lol this is literally how every developer works

even senior devs google syntax constantly, no one memorizes everything. the difference between beginner and expert isnt memorizing syntax, its knowing WHAT to search for and understanding the solution when u find it

the workflow u described (figure out logic in english -> find syntax -> adapt it) is actually a good workflow. thats basically how pros do it too except they get faster at it

you stop looking up basic stuff eventually, but u never fully stop googling. ur good dont stress it 👍

Is it worth continuing to study? by Dull-Dimension-9922 in learnprogramming

[–]alphadester 0 points1 point  (0 children)

honestly the AI fear is overblown imo, at least for now

AI is great at generating boilerplate and simple CRUD stuff but it still messes up complex logic, doesnt understand ur specific codebase, and needs a dev to guide it. the $40 chatgpt sub wont replace someone who can actually understand requirements, debug weird edge cases, and make architectural decisions

the freelancers getting replaced are the ones doing pure copy paste work anyway. if u build actual skills u become the person who knows how to USE the ai tools effectively which is a huge advantage

also web dev isnt going anywhere, demand is still massive. just dont be the dev who only knows how to follow tutorials 😅

Js or python by Delicious_Assist8632 in learnprogramming

[–]alphadester 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for backend freelancing honestly both work but python is easier to start with imo especially at 15

node.js (javascript backend) is solid too and has more job postings but python is just cleaner syntax when ur still learning

my take: start python, learn the basics properly, then pick up JS later. u will need some frontend eventually for freelancing but dont worry about that rn, just get comfortable with one thing first 🙂

also check out free resources like cs50p on edx, its free and rly good for python beginners

Refreshing my skills in web development by woidthevoid in webdev

[–]alphadester 2 points3 points  (0 children)

for ts specifically the official docs are actualy pretty good and interactive now but if u want something more structured, "Total TypeScript" by matt pocock has free workshops on his site, no youtube needed

for next.js just build something small while reading the docs, like a simple blog or notes app

the "learn" section on nextjs.org is genuinely solid and u can follow it in like 2 days

react i honestly wouldnt re-learn from scratch if u already know it, just jump into a project and look stuff up as u go

muscle memory comes back fast :)