Let’s be real. From the outside, coding can look like a superpower. You see people typing what looks like matrix code into a black screen and—poof—a website, an app, a whole dang universe appears. It’s easy to think, "I could never do that. You have to be a genius."
I’m here to tell you that’s a lie.
The biggest secret in tech isn’t some complex algorithm. It’s this: coding isn’t about being a genius. It’s about being stubborn and knowing how to follow a good checklist.
The best developers aren’t brilliant minds who hold everything in their heads. They’re problem-solvers who have a process. They get stuck, just like you. The difference is, they don’t panic. They just run down their list.
So, here’s the checklist. Stop trying to be a genius and start doing this instead.
Your "I'm Not a Genius" Developer Checklist
1. Break It Down. (No, Smaller Than That.)
You look at a big problem—"build a website"—and your brain freezes. Of course it does. Don't build a website.
- ✅ Your Job: Can you build a button? Can you make that button change color when you hover? Can you get text to appear when you click it? That’s it. That’s your first task. Small wins build momentum.
2. Google Like a Pro.
Thinking developers remember everything is like thinking a chef remembers every recipe. They don’t. They know how to find the right one.
- ✅ Your Job: Stuck? Form your problem into a simple search. “How to center a div with CSS” or “JavaScript get element by id”. Copy the code from Stack Overflow. Your job right now isn’t to memorize; it’s to understand what that code does.
3. It’s Okay to Break Everything.
The fear of breaking your code is the number one thing that stops beginners. Newsflash: you will break it. Everyone does.
- ✅ Your Job: Break it on purpose sometimes. Change a variable and see what happens. Delete a closing tag. Get comfortable with the error messages. They are not your enemies; they are clues left by your past self.
4. Build the Dumbest, Simplest Thing.
Your first project shouldn’t be the next TikTok. It should be incredibly, almost embarrassingly, simple.
- ✅ Your Job: Build a to-do list. A calculator. A page that displays a random joke from a list. Finishing something dumb is 100x better than never starting something brilliant. The confidence boost is everything.
5. Your First Code Will Be Ugly. Embrace It.
You'll look at your code in a month and cringe. This isn't a failure; it's proof you're improving. Perfect code is the enemy of finished code.
- ✅ Your Job: Give yourself permission to write "bad" code. Just get it working. You can always go back and make it pretty later. Done is better than perfect.
6. You Are Not Alone. Talk to Rubber Ducks.
The feeling of being stuck and alone is an illusion. Every single developer has been there. The trick is to break the isolation.
- ✅ Your Job: Explain your problem out loud, even if it's to a rubber duck, a pet, or a patient friend. Often, the act of articulating the problem reveals the solution. This is called rubber duck debugging, and it's a real thing.
7. Consistency Trumps Marathon Sessions.
You don't need to code for 10 hours every Saturday. In fact, that's a great way to burn out. Small, consistent habits build lasting skills.
- ✅ Your Job: Code for 20 minutes, today. Then try to do it again tomorrow. These small wins add up faster than you think and build a sustainable habit without the dread.
8. Celebrate the Tiny Wins.
Did your console.log finally work? Did you center that div? That's a victory. Don't wait until you've built a full-scale app to feel proud.
- ✅ Your Job: Acknowledge your progress. Finished a tutorial? Fixed a bug? Took a break when you felt frustrated? Celebrate it. This journey is made of thousands of these tiny wins.
9. Just. Start.
The most important step. You’re waiting for the "right time" or to "learn a little more first." That day will never come.
- ✅ Your Job: Open your code editor right now. Type one line. console.log("Hello, world");. You’re a coder. See? No genius required.
This checklist isn’t about magic. It’s about action. It’s about trusting the process more than you trust your self-doubt.
You’ve got this.
What's the first item on your checklist you're going to tackle? Tell us in the comments!
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Top comments (1)
Alright, call to action time! Let's make this a resource for everyone.