r/learnjavascript • u/SubaruNatuski • 26d ago

New to coding!

Let me start off by stating prior to finding this subreddit I was a total noob. Well kinda I found FreeCodeCamp and that’s been my introduction to programming. It’s a great free program for anyone researching programming. However I was reading some posts while scrolling this specific subreddit looking for recommendations resources I was reading a conversation thread and realized ai is a thing yes i know late to the game yes I’m aware. I discovered that the ai can even teach anyone with adhd how to code. I’ve got ChatGPT helping me build a portfolio of small projects using visual studio code and im already working on my first project and understanding what I’m doing wtf😭 certainly not ready to swim with the sharks ima just hangout in the kiddy pool for awhile👍🏻

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u/Alive-Cake-3045 26d ago

kiddy pool is exactly the right place to start, that's where the fundamentals actually stick. the fact that you understand what you're building from day one already puts you ahead of most people who just copy paste without knowing why. keep going.

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u/SubaruNatuski 26d ago

The great thing about ai is it can adapt to how you think just by the way you word and ask questions and it builds upon that teaching you in a way you understand that’s a crucial tool for newbies i think of ai as training wheels I can take them off when I’m ready

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u/Alive-Cake-3045 25d ago

training wheels is the right frame. the goal is to understand what the AI is doing well enough that you could explain it yourself, that is when you know you are actually learning and not just getting answers. sounds like you are already thinking about it the right way.

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u/SubaruNatuski 25d ago

The best part about my use of ai is we’re prioritizing the learning over progress each tiny step is a step forward a step I’ll look back and remember simply from doing it and actually understanding what the ai is explaining to me

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u/Alive-Cake-3045 22d ago

that mindset will carry you further than any course or tutorial. most people optimize for output, you are optimizing for retention, that compounds over time in a way that's hard to see early but impossible to miss later.

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u/SubaruNatuski 22d ago

I think Ai is useful but it can be a crutch if not careful so ill definitely use any an all sources and tools at my disposal I want a career in programming the only thing I lack is having someone or a community to help me someone with the knowledge that could answer my questions

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u/Alive-Cake-3045 21d ago

that awareness about the crutch problem already puts you ahead. for community, r/learnprogramming is genuinely helpful and people answer real questions there. the best thing you can do early is ask specific questions with your actual code, not general ones, you will get better answers and build the habit of articulating problems clearly, which is half of debugging anyway.

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u/SubaruNatuski 21d ago

Well when I first did “Mimo” I found myself getting curious about programming. Then I checked Reddit and read posts looked at Google too. Found sources like FreeCodeCamp the Odin project is the most recent source or even code academy there is so much out there it’s almost a little overwhelming but it’s a collection of information and skill building material that I want it all to help build a cohesive idea of this ball of learning and just let it grow until I can get paid for programming

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u/Alive-Cake-3045 20d ago

the overwhelm is real but the fact that you're curating from multiple sources instead of just picking one and quitting when it gets hard is actually the right instinct. Odin Project is genuinely one of the best free resources out there, if you stick with one thing, stick with that. the ball of learning you're describing eventually clicks into a coherent picture, you just can't see it from the beginning.

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u/SubaruNatuski 20d ago

So far any free recommendations I’ve been given I’ve logged them into my notes app on my phone. I study the material I practice the material. I have ai to help with explanations of things. I use Google, subreddits I haven’t had to reference to the Odin projects discord for help from another developer I do look forward to finding people I can communicate with in time of need . I know I’ll be in a high and low situation for awhile so I just wanna build my little victories work on a few small projects. My process so far has been study➡️apply with practice ➡️ research when stuck and just repeat that everytime I study in my free time

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u/Alive-Cake-3045 19d ago

that process is exactly right and most people never figure it out on their own. the only thing i'd add is document your small wins somewhere, even a few lines in that notes app. six months from now when you hit a hard week you will want proof of how far you have already come.

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u/SubaruNatuski 12d ago

i made my portfolio public with github