How to Become a Self-Taught Developer
Introduction
Becoming a developer can be one of the most rewarding paths. It can be more than just hoofing it through a bunch of coding exercises and projects; we attempted to elaborate on what a developer is and does. (Or, more accurately, what kinds of stuff you could do if you were a developer.) And then we told you our story. This is how we became self-taught developers. We laid it all out in relatable, down-to-earth terms, mostly because we don't want you to experience the despair of "I can't do this!" that we wallowed in for a while.
1. Planning Your Learning Path
Start out with clearly defined and reachable goals. Choose programming languages and technologies that you have a real passion for, and draw up a path of least resistance through them. Set a tempo that feels comfortable to you, and whittle your big,scary goals down to small, fun projects that give you the illusion of constant progress. And above all, enjoy the process of programming as much as you can, and take every possible opportunity to congratulate yourself for reaching even the smallest of milestones.
2. Engaging in Hands-On Projects
Undoubtedly, theory holds great importance; however, true development happens when you implement your fresh insights on world problems. Begin with simple issues and ascend to those needing a bit more cleverness. Each project you handle enables you to play around with new skills, face actual problems in a world that says, "Let's build it!", and realize that vision you had when you first thought about pursuing a path in programming.
3. Overcoming Challenges
Setting off on a solo path in the world of development means, without a doubt, that you'll encounter some bumps along the way. When you come to those bumps, think of them as learning experiences and not as setbacks. They present you with a splendid occasion to build character (and become a better problem solver, which is kind of the same thing). Every difficult moment, as daunting as it may seem when you're in the thick of it, contains a lesson that can amplify your skills and refine your approach in your career.
4. Leveraging Online Resources
The digital world we live in today provides countless coding resources right at our fingertips. If you want a more guided and structured form of learning, you can take an online course or even go to a boot camp for coding. For more DIY learners, there are plenty of free, step-by-step tutorials and community coding forums to turn to for help — and, of course, lots of documentation and comments in the code itself. My very first coding teacher told us that if you wanted to go into programming, you'd better learn how to read and follow directions.
5. Building a Portfolio
The tale of your path as a self-taught developer unfolds in your portfolio. It is up to you whether to use GitHub, a personal website, or some other medium. Still, it is essential to make sure that your portfolio not only puts your programming skills on full display but also somehow hints at the individual nature of your growth and the unique path you've taken to and within this field.
Conclusion
Your journey in development is one of a kind—you'll face challenges, learn a lot, and have some great victories (we hope!). But remember, it's not just about the destination, the job you get after graduation; you should also embrace every step of the way, learning from the experiences you have (good and bad), as well as the people you meet. And when you look back after some time has passed, do celebrate the progress you've made. Coding is fun. So is this journey!