Summary

The article "Why Coding is the Best Thing you’ll ever Learn" argues that coding is an accessible, creative, and valuable skill for people of all ages and backgrounds, dispelling the myth that it's only for the exceptionally intelligent.

Abstract

The author initially had no interest in coding, viewing it as an arcane skill reserved for the intellectually gifted. However, after witnessing the passion and results of coding bootcamps and realizing the creative potential and practical applications of coding, the author's perspective shifted dramatically. The article emphasizes that coding is not age-restricted and can be learned by anyone, including children and the elderly. It is presented as a highly creative endeavor, akin to art, where one can bring virtually any idea to life. The author encourages readers to learn coding to change careers, build websites or apps, contribute to society, and unleash their creativity. The article suggests that while there are many programming languages to choose from, it's best to start with one that enables the creation of complete projects, such as Ruby on Rails for full-stack development.

Opinions

Coding was once perceived by the author as a complex skill for a select few, but this view was incorrect.
The thrill of coding became apparent to the author after seeing the creations of her husband and his team at a coding bootcamp.
Coding is described as an inclusive skill, suitable for individuals across all age groups.
The author, with an art background, finds coding to be more creative than oil painting due to its ability to turn ideas into tangible digital products.
Coding is seen as a pathway to career changes, personal projects like websites and apps, and contributing positively to the world.
The coding community is portrayed as supportive and amazing, suggesting that learning to code can also be a way to help others.
The choice of the first programming language to learn should be guided by the desire to create and the understanding of the distinction between frontend and backend development.
The author expresses a personal preference for Ruby on Rails due to its comprehensive full-stack capabilities and ease of use, although other languages like Python are also popular.
The article concludes by reinforcing the idea that coding is an extraordinary skill, likened to magic, and encourages readers to explore coding and its potential to create something magical.

Why Coding is the Best Thing you’ll ever Learn

If you are thinking of learning to code, I hope it inspires you to learn!

I never in a million years thought I would do coding. Let alone learn to code.

When I worked for a marketing agency, I organised a massive hackathon for teenagers in tech. Teenagers were asked to come up with some cool exciting ideas in health tech. I always admired the young people minds.

I worked in a tech/communications company prior to that. We had a huge team of developers. I always thought these guys are geniuses. They had two or sometimes three screens with weird writing on it.

I always had the impression one had to be super smart to do be able to do coding or understand the writing on the screen.

My husband went to a coding bootcamp in Barcelona. I was excited to see the creations my husband and his team did. However, I didn’t understand the thrill until I tried it myself.

Coding is for Everyone

I was under the impression I had to be super smart to do be able to do coding. I thought coding was to very selected few. I thought it was not possible for me to code as I don’t have “the brain” for it. Little did I know how wrong I was.

Coding is for everyone.

When I say coding is for everyone I mean children, teenagers, adults, old people whomever wishes to learn. Coding doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t have an age limit. If I ever have children I would love them to learn to code. It’s such a great skill!

This youtube video is amazing. It shows everyone can really learn to code!

Why Coding is great?

How much time do you have? I cannot stop talking about coding ever. Let’s break some of my incorrect views of coding I used to have.

All you need with coding is willingness to feel ‘stupid’ all the time. Why on earth should you know it? Coding teaches humbleness. It’s like with everything new. You shouldn’t expect to understand everything at once.

Coding is creative!

I studied art. Oil painting is my background. I’d go to say as far as coding is more creative than oil paining for me. With coding you can create anything and it becomes real. For example, you want a new website, I can do it. I can add any colour, any font, any style, any photo, video… Anything you can imagine it you can do it with code.

Why learn to Code..?

If you want to learn something new and exciting.

If you want to change your career.

If you want to code your own website.

If you want to code your own app.

If you want to do something cool with a few lines of code.

If you want to make a better world learn to code.

If you want to be creative.

If you want to learn to help others (coding community is amazing).

What Coding Language to Learn?

It’s really up to you. I wouldn’t go and learn every language there is. I would learn something that allows me to create something. It probably is a good idea to know what’s a backend development and what is a frontend development.

Backend development is everything to do behind the website everything you don’t see. Frontend development is all the pretty stuff on the website, all design details, colours, fonts and clicks and etc.

I am learning ruby on rails and it’s a full stack development including backend and frontend development. I know how to use CSS and html. I am yet to learn java script. Some people love python but since I started with ruby on rails I am addicted.

Learning to code it really is an amazing skill. I hope you are inspired to take a leap and try and code something magical. Because coding is nothing more than real magic!

Love and Light!