Nowadays, there’s a lot of noise about how AI will replace developers. But here’s the thing, it’s not going to replace every developer. It will replace those who stop learning, those who rely only on what they know, and those who just "vibe code" without knowing anything.
If I were to start my developer journey in 2025 aiming for growth in 2026, I would approach it with intention and structure. Coding has definitely become more accessible, thanks to better tools and resources. But that doesn’t mean you can skip the fundamentals. If anything, they matter even more now.
"Mastering the basics isn’t just a phase — it’s a forever skill."
When you truly understand the core principles, you can adapt to change, evolve with tools, and even stand out in the future.
So How Do I Start?
If I were starting today, I’d go all in on javascript first. Not just copy-pasting from StackOverflow or ChatGPT but really learning how variables, loops, functions, and objects work. Why? Because once you understand how code flows and how logic works, every other tool or framework becomes easier.
A great way to internalize these ideas is by making games. It might sound silly at first, but building something like Snake, Tetris, or a simple quiz app forces you to think logically, solve problems, and understand the DOM (which is essential in web development).
My Suggested Roadmap
Here’s a visual breakdown of how I’d learn the fundamentals of web development if I were beginning now:
You can follow this in chunks over weeks/months depending on your pace. Don’t rush it. Learn, revisit, and build.
Lastly,
- Don't fear AI. Use it, but don’t depend on it.
- Learn how code works, not just what to write.
- Build small things. Games, tools, clones — anything that makes you solve problems.
- JavaScript is still the king of the browser — don’t skip it.
- Fundamentals over frameworks, always.
- Stay consistent. Even 30 mins a day is better than none.
I’ll be sharing more tips, insights, and stories from my journey soon.
If you’re just getting started or even just thinking about getting into tech, feel free to drop your thoughts below. I’d love to connect and chat!
Until then, keep learning. Keep building!
Top comments (5)
I think neat is the advice about learning by building small games first, it's pretty good. Do you think learning the basics well helps people adapt faster when things change in technology?
I think mastering the basics gives you a solid foundation. When you truly understand the core concepts, it becomes much easier to adapt as technology evolves. 🙌
This is helpful- I think it's also easier said than done. Having AI at the palm of our hands will make learning the basics a lot more complicated sadly. Hoping our future devs still take the time to understand the fundamentals before they take on vibe coding !!
Indeed. It really is tempting to let AI do all the heavy lifting these days. But yeah, fingers crossed future devs still take a step back to actually learn the basics.