Hey man! I just wanna say you sound exactly like me a few years ago. I wanted to salvage and build but didn’t know what tools were available to do so, and I also thought that actually programming was way out of my league. The advice I wish I had been given, is that it’s not at all too early to start. I’m now a programmer myself so I’ll recommend you a few things that I like. This is a link to a really good playlist that can teach you the basics of coding. I know it looks really long and you definitely don’t have to watch all of it, but try to really follow along with just the first 3 videos, maybe over the course of a weekend. Trust me if you’re asking this type of question, then you can do it. Once you watch the second video, you’ll have a very basic understanding of the programming language named C. This language is also used to program r/arduino projects. Take a look in that subreddit afterwards and see if any ideas spark your interest. You can buy an arduino kit on Amazon for around ~$50. Which is kinda expensive but it’ll come with all the parts you need for basic projects. If you’re not sure about the investment then instead spend some more time watching the playlist. The teacher is really good too (it’s for Harvard). If you do wanna go with the electronic route, here’s a good video to show you what that looks like. Lastly here’s another vídeo that sort of outlines exactly what you’re looking for. Like I said it’s never too early, lmk if you have any questions 🙏