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Discussion on: How much do you need to know or learn before calling yourself a developer?

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Scott Tadman

The moment you write your first line of code you’re a developer. Obviously that first line will be but one of many on your journey to become something more than a beginner. The way to improve, to build on that, to train and hone your skills, is highly personal. It’s important to try different things and see what motivates you.

Once you find something you like, dig deeper, explore more, learn about the subject on a more fundamental level. The great thing about web development is that everything is documented either in manuals, blog posts, or if you’re really curious, the source itself.

Wrapping your head around some programming concepts might not come naturally, but don’t stress out about that, it doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for it. There’s a multitude of programming languages out there and some might make more sense to you than others. Find one you like and learn it well. Learning a second programming language is always easier than the first because you can build on what you already know. Start by solving little problems that are meaningful to you, then build up to bigger challenges.

It only takes a few months to get the basics under control. From there there’s no limit to what you can learn and try and master.