(And Why "Old" Tech Might Be Your Secret Weapon)
The Struggle for Depth
When I started coding in 2019 with JavaScript, I could build websites, but something felt missing. Tutorials left me feeling like a circus performer, capable of tricks but lacking true mastery. The "learn fast, get rich faster" narrative never resonated with me. I wanted to build things with my bare hands and understand exactly how they worked—down to the electrons.
The Turning Point: Books & Low-Level Exploration
Everything changed when I ditched tutorials for books. I went back to fundamentals:
- NAND gates → logic circuits → assembly → C
- Compilers, memory models, and hardware interaction
- Systems programming beyond frameworks
Suddenly, concepts clicked. That "clown feeling" vanished when I could visualize how code translates to machine instructions.
Key Lessons for New Programmers
Beware the "Obsolete Tech" Myth
Old languages like C or Assembly aren’t relics—they’re time machines to understand modern abstractions.
Hardware Literacy Matters
Learn:
- How CPUs execute instructions
- Memory allocation (stack vs. heap)
- Compiler workflows
You’ll debug faster and write safer code.
Languages Are Tools, Not Identities
JavaScript today, Rust tomorrow, VHDL next year. Stay curious.
AI: Copilot, Not Captain
Use AI to automate grunt work, not to think for you.
Avoid Framework Addiction
Master vanilla languages first. Frameworks are seasoning, not the meal.
What’s Next?
Book Reviews: I’ll share beginner-friendly guides to low-level programming.
VHDL/FPGA Exploration: Bridging software and hardware design.
Programming isn’t about job titles or speedrunning tutorials. It’s about:
- Craftsmanship: Building with intention.
- Resilience: Debugging for 8 hours to fix one line.
- Balance: Code passionately, but live fully—hobbies, relationships, and whale-watching matter too.
P.S. If you’re stuck, try explaining pointers to a rubber duck. It works. 🦆
Top comments (0)