Kyle Cook is the creator behind WebDev Simplified, one of the most recognisable web development YouTube channels out there. If you’ve ever searched for a tutorial on React, TypeScript, or just the basics of JavaScript, chances are you’ve landed on one of his videos. But behind the smooth production and to-the-point teaching style is a person whose story might surprise you.
Here are 11 things you probably didn’t know about Kyle Cook.
1. He’s an Introvert Who Talks to Millions
Despite having millions of views, Kyle considers himself pretty introverted. Filming YouTube videos in his home office feels more like talking to himself than talking to the world.
2. He Didn’t Grow Up Coding
Unlike many developers, Kyle didn’t grow up programming. He didn’t even know what programming was until his senior year of high school.
3. A One-Week Robotics Class Changed His Life
He discovered programming during a one-week lesson in an underwater robotics course. That week inspired him to change his college major from mechanical engineering to computer engineering.
4. He Loves Playing Guitar
When he gets into something, he goes all in, and that includes guitar. He practices an hour a day and still takes weekly lessons.
5. He Loves Working From Home (Mostly)
Working from home gives Kyle the freedom to set his own schedule, but it also means distractions. Like when his wife assumes he's free because he's "just at home."
6. He’s Lived All Over the U.S.
Born in Iowa, moved to Nebraska, then Delaware, and eventually back to Nebraska for college. He’s stayed there ever since.
7. His College Had One Web Dev Class (Using 1990s Tech)
Kyle studied computer engineering in college but had only one web dev class and it used outdated tech. That’s why he turned to YouTube to teach himself the modern stack.
8. CSS Is What Made Him Fall in Love with Web Development
Of all things, it was CSS that really hooked him. The mix of logic and creativity let him transform websites with just a few changes.
9. He Thought 10K Subs = Career
His original goal was 10,000 subscribers. He figured that number would let him turn YouTube into a part-time or full-time job. Spoiler: it wasn’t enough but it was a start.
10. He’s Only Been Recognized Once in Public
Despite his reach, Kyle says he’s only been recognized in person once, and it was at an Indian restaurant in Lincoln, Nebraska. His friends were more shocked than he was.
11. One Sale Changed Everything
Selling his first course for $20 gave him the belief that he could actually turn his passion into a business. That was the moment he knew he was on to something.
Kyle’s journey reminds us that you don’t need to start young or have the perfect background to become a respected voice in tech. Sometimes all it takes is one week, one sale, or one tutorial to change your life.
Want to know more about Kyle's journey? Watch the full mini-doc on our cult.repo YouTube channel:
Want to watch more like this? We're Cult Repo, the team behind the Vue, React and GraphQL documentaries (and many more). Head over to our YouTube channel to see what else we've made!
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