The start of something beautiful...perhaps?

Allan 'Azrall' Bott — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:56:40 +0000

Managed to create two little small projects today. Two websites, one for my dev portfolio and another for my Youtube ventures in 2023.

Both very basic with a nice linktree feature. Might not be all that to some, but for me, it's a great acheivement and something to be pleased about. Especially as I'm a total noob!

Check them out over at
Azrall.com & portfolio

HTML & CSS learning Journey!

Allan 'Azrall' Bott — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 21:27:10 +0000

Another session of HTML/CSS learning and build this registration form!

So pleased with myself - next step is to do it with no help or prompting! LET'S GO!

Front end? Back end? What would you recommend?

Allan 'Azrall' Bott — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:18:43 +0000

What would you recommend to someone who's looking into learning web development? Front end, or back end?

I have experience with SQL, HTML & CSS. Currently self-teaching myself Python, Django and will move onto Javascript.

Well, that's the plan at least....

Hi, I'm new.

Allan 'Azrall' Bott — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:34:58 +0000

Seven years ago, I was let go from my last IT job. I was heartbroken. Not because I'd lost the job per se, but because I'd been let go for suffering with mental health.

No, really. I was sacked for having mental health issues.

I adored my IT career, having worked in retail from 15 years of age, I managed to sweep into 1st Line support when in 2007, when I was 22. Fast forward a couple of years, I went from service desk analyst to software deployment, getting stuck into SQL and learning very very basic C++.

Having been bitten by the bug, I wanted to go into software development, but didn't know where to look, sure there were online courses and bootcamps, but I simply just couldn't afford them. Stupid financial decisions in my youth meant I spent most of my time living hand to mouth. And IT back then just wasn't an inclusive place, hell - maybe it was and my face just didn't fit. Not getting any opportunities to develop, I job hopped, a lot. From software installation to deployment, hoping to find the "in" to kick-start my software development career.

But it wasn't to be,I thought I'd landed on my feet in 2013 with a relatively small and new company. I was learning a lot with SQL server and things seemed to be going well - until the Big Black Dog arrived.

I struggled daily with depression and changes to my mental health, I bottled it up and it was obvious. People noticed, but noticed for the wrong reasons. I was lashing out and being quite abrupt. My line manager at the time noticed, I shared what I wanted to share, but instead of support, I got berated. Told I was disruptive and "not a team player."

This continued for some time, I was trying my best, I really was - but I felt and was treated like an outcast and a burden.
My biggest regret in that company was not taking a job offer from a valued friend in the business. He headed up the technical side of the business and clearly knew something was up! He approached me in the kitchen area of the office and asked if I fancied joning his team as a Technical Consultant. I should have said yes,but for some reason, I said no. I couldn't even tell you what I said, because I can't remember. Either way, two days after that conversation I was let go.

I needed a job, and fast. Disillusioned by IT due to the way I was treated, I ended up landing a job as an Assistant Commercial Manager - someone who deals with contracts in construction. Fast forward seven years and now I'm a Chartered Surveyor suffering a mid-life career crisis.

Do I like my job? Yes! Am I passionate about it? No, not in the slightest. I'm passionate about software and development.

So here I am, a newbie developer, teaching himself Python and BASIC to light a spark inside me that hopefully produces an inferno of passion.

I want to be a developer. Help me make that dream.

DEV Community: Allan 'Azrall' Bott

The start of something beautiful...perhaps?

HTML & CSS learning Journey!

Front end? Back end? What would you recommend?

Hi, I'm new.