I'm New To Flutter.

Elizabeth Ajileye — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 19:30:00 +0000

"Welcome to the world of Flutter!"

If you're reading this, chances are you're curious about building mobile apps with this popular framework. Maybe you're even an expert at this. I welcome you, either ways, to this incredibly powerful and flexible tool for building cross-platform apps.

"Flutter is a tool for building mobile apps, like the ones you use on your phone. Imagine you want to build a house, but instead of using different materials for the walls, roof, and floors, you use a special kind of LEGO block that can be used for everything! That's basically what Flutter does, but instead of LEGO blocks, it uses a single codebase to build apps for both Android and iOS systems. This means developers can create apps more efficiently and quickly, without having to start from scratch for each platform. It's like a magic LEGO block for mobile apps!"

This was probably the most basic and fun way I've seen Flutter described.

Flutter, the open-source mobile app development framework created by Google, has revolutionized the way we build cross-platform applications.
Flutter uses a modern language called Dart and a framework that focuses on declarative programming to help developers build fast and beautiful apps that work smoothly on both Android and iOS devices.

You most likely knew all these already, though.

What I'm actually going to be talking about in this article is how I transitioned from the Web aspect of programming into Mobile Development. So yeah, it's not a technical write-up.

Grab a cup of coffee or whatever , get comfortable, and join me on this thrilling journey about tribulations, and the lessons I've learned along the way. Buckle up, friend, as we dive into the world of coding!

Few years ago, I started out into programming. I was excited at first, you know, at the prospect of writing "codes". Of course, it was simple HTML and CSS. I loved styling, I created numerous simple projects, using those languages. I even created a clone of the YouTube homepage, with no functionalities whatsoever 😂. At that time, I was almost never doing anything else.

You can probably predict that when I got to JavaScript, I ran 🤣.

To think that it was only vanilla js. That was the first time, though. Okay...before then, I actually started out with Python, learnt the basics. It was a very good 4-hour YouTube video on Python programming basics.

So, like I was saying, the first time, I had a hard time understanding concepts like destructuring assignment in js, even the syntax of functions.
I remember applying for trainings, to understand js. Some of them weren't free, of course. I asked for help from friends, read materials to aid my understanding.

The second time I started all over, though, everything started to make sense. I loved js. If you read my previous article, you'd probably remember me mentioning I was addicted to solving algorithms on Codewars and HackerRank. It was mostly Codewars, though. It kept me up so late into the night. I can recall not sleeping a wink, this particular day, until about 6 a.m, because I was solving algorithms 😂😂.

All of these were after almost a year of trying to escape programming.

Sometime later, through the help of a friend, I got someone to mentor me in React js. For some reason, it still didn't resonate with me. At a point, I began to question if I was actually interested n programming. Lots of conversations in my head, questions on my mind. I resumed back to school and almost totally forgot to code.

I struggled with learning React JS, despite having a mentor to guide me. My difficulties led to self-doubt, and I wondered if programming was truly my passion. I had many inner conversations and questions, which ultimately led me to put coding on hold when I returned to school 🙂. I felt like I wasn't cut out for programming.

.
..
...
....
.....

Later, I realized that setbacks and doubts are an inevitable part of growth. And so, right now, I'm taking another shot at coding, but this time with a fresh approach. Something a bit different.

You see, it's okay to take a break for a while, but never stop doing something because you think it's too difficult. I'm now on a mission to excel in mobile development, and I'm going to give it my best shot.

I'll talk about my motivation to learn Flutter some other time, but I'll wrap up here for now.

Thanks for reading!!😁😁

I'm open to connecting with you on LinkedIn.

Programming newbie?? Beginner Tips.

Elizabeth Ajileye — Thu, 16 May 2024 22:09:01 +0000

The best way to predict the future is to invent it
-Donald Knuth.

Programming has been a transformative experience for me, and I've learned that it's not just about writing code, but about solving problems, creating something from scratch, and continuously learning and improving.
As I've journeyed through the world of programming, I've picked up a few valuable lessons along the way. Here's me sharing a few things I've learned over time.

Embrace the learning journey
Not all programming languages or frameworks will resonate with you at first. There's nothing bad in exploring different paths in order to find what truly excites you.
You might find the initial learning process dull or monotonous, but you'll eventually overcome the hurdles and grow, if you're truly interested in it.

Go Deep On The Basics

If you know the basics well, it's a lot easier to learn a new tool in the ecosystem.

That was just an excerpt from a similar article I read sometime ago.
It's usually less tedious, to understand, and build more complex structures, once you've mastered the basics. No one is pressuring you. Learn at your own pace, while making sure you understand syntax and control structures.

Learn how to find the information you need.
Read Documentation. They are official guides, and resources provided by the creators of a language, and very essential to developers.
Keep in mind that programming tools constantly update, subscribe to newsletters, articles, just to ensure you are up-to-date.

Practice. Challenge Yourself
Practice makes purr-fect code! Write code regularly, work on small projects or exercises to reinforce new concepts.
Also, solve coding problems. You could participate in coding challenges (e.g HackerRank, Codewars, etc.) I remember I used to love Codewars. They have pretty interesting challenges - I was kind of addicted 😅

Take Breaks and Refresh Your Mind
Taking breaks is an essential part of the programming journey. While working, you can decide to pause, take a walk, or step away from your screen for a few minutes. Better still, take scheduled breaks to recharge and refocus your mind. This helps to improve productivity, reduce stress, and prevent burnout.

Set Goals, reward yourself when you achieve them
Setting coding goals and rewarding yourself when you achieve them is a great way to stay motivated and track your progress as a programmer. Setting specific and achievable goals give you a sense of direction and purpose.

Conclusion

Programming is a journey, not a destination. By embracing the process, you'll be well on your way to becoming a skilled programmer. Remember to stay curious, keep learning, and enjoy the ride!

DEV Community: Elizabeth Ajileye

I'm New To Flutter.

"Welcome to the world of Flutter!"

Programming newbie?? Beginner Tips.

Conclusion