Do you have a lot different interests outside the world of code? Maybe alongside your goal of being a fantastic developer, you also want to be a skilled musician or an impactful author, or insert your greatest desire here✨.
It requires time to focus on your other goals and desires. So it's reasonable that maybe you've taken a break from code at some point (or that you may take a hiatus in the future). And that's okay!
I personally returned from my path of unbridled ambitions about a month ago. Getting back into the groove of code can almost make you feel like a noob all over again. So to make sure your return is as smooth as possible, I've compiled some tips that I've found helpful since I've been back.
Keep in mind, these tips are also helpful if you've never touched code before. And if you're a seasoned coder who finds some value in this post, drop a comment and let us know what enlightened you - maybe it's a tip or best practice that more people would benefit from seeing 😊
- Tip #1 - Rally Up Your Dev Community
If you have old friends from a computer science course in college, digital nomad pals you met in a hostel in Seattle, or that one Facebook developer acquaintance you sparked conversation with in the airport after missing your flight - hit them up!
Benefits:
Have you ever walked away from a conversation and felt motivated & inspired with tons of new ideas? That's the power of communicating with like-minded individuals.
The ability to reach our for help when you get stuck. And on the flip-side, you'll be able to offer your assistance when friends have questions. Einstein said it best, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.". Let this exchange of knowledge between you and others reinforce your learning and make you a better coder.
Keeps you in the loop of the computer programming industry. Chatting with other devs can keep you up-to-date on trends, job opportunities, etc. - you just never know.
- Tip #2 - Be Aware of New AND Older Language Standards
Many of the handy dandy tutorial videos I used to rely on for JavaScript often referred to ES6 Syntax. Imagine the way my jaw dropped as I'm re-watching these videos the other day, somehow thinking ES6 was the latest standard...only to find out we're all the way to ES12 😅
Benefits:
You'll be able to understand code that was written a while back. Depending on your coding goals, at one point or another you may have to examine code that other people have written. And that code won't always be using the most up-to-date syntax or current best practices. So instead of being stuck and wondering, "what the HEX😉 going on?", (see what I did there?), widen your knowledge to understand old and new conventions.
Older standards can help you understand some of the newer, shinier, seemingly more complex tools we have today. For instance, Promises (the newer way of handling asynchronous tasks) is a difficult tool to understand at first. But if you take a look at the use of Callback Functions (the older way of handling asynchronous tasks), you can compare. What tasks have both tools been used to accomplish? How are the syntaxes the same? Where do they differ and how does the newer syntax make for cleaner, more efficient code?
- Tip #3 - Open Your Imagination to What You Will Create
Code gives you the power to create literally anything. The possibilities are endless. The only thing that can stop you is you. So get excited about the awesome things you'll create. That's gonna be your fuel to keep going.
Benefits:
- Yenno those goals and desires we were talking about earlier? Maybe instead of them being separate from your coding journey, they can align with it. If you're a musician, build your own digital press kit. If you have a green thumb, create a system that keeps track of your plants' watering schedules . Getting creative with your ideas will help you live as your truest, eclectic self.
Conclusion:
So that's it guys. There are a ton more tips I could come up with, but I have some case studies due tomorrow and realized "Oh geez it's already 5pm😮". But I hope these tidbits were helpful. Go talk with your coding pals, soak up all there is to learn, and bring your most fire ideas to the table and EXECUTE. You got this. You are awesome and so capable of anything you desire. Peace out✌️-Sal the Dev
Top comments (0)