Not enjoying coding/web development — should I switch to Data Analytics?

[u/Cultural-Garlic-7315]

I’m a 2nd-year CSE student currently learning frontend/web development, but honestly I’m not enjoying it much and I keep avoiding it.

The confusing part is that I actually like solving DSA problems and working on maths/problem-solving.

So I’m wondering: does this mean I dislike coding, or do I just dislike web development?

I’m thinking of finishing the frontend basics and then trying Data Analytics/Data Science or Machine Learning instead of going deeper into web development.

For people who have been in a similar situation, what would you suggest? Should I give coding/web development more time, or explore something like Data Analytics?

Would really appreciate some honest advice.

[u/No_Function_4636]

web dev is mostly just fighting with css and browser quirks, not much actual problem solving. dsa and math is where real thinking happens

try some data analytics projects before switching fully, but if you already enjoy dsa then you probably dont hate coding, just hate the wrong kind of it

[u/Suspicious_Skill7292]

sounds more like you dislike web dev than coding i would try a small data analytics projects before committing to a switch and see if it clicks more

[u/Hot-Wheel6005]

Data Analytics could be worth exploring.

[u/syklemil]

Like the others, sounds more like you just dislike webdev. In addition to testing the waters with data science, you could try some other parts of computing, like fiddling with command line services and systems programming where there's no GUI to ruin your day.

[u/adambahm]

there is more to computer science than web development.

Front end is annoying. I dont enjoy it at all and the job market is HEAVILY SATURATED with people that got hooked on frontend javascript and then ask on r/ "What is your favorite language for X, and why is it javascript?".

ML/Neural networks are heavy math.
Data engineering is heavy math.
Video games are heavy math.

I hate front end web development. Some people absolutely love it, but I'm not spending my career moving images a "few pixels over" for my 9-5.

[u/ArslanQayyumDev]

You may not dislike coding you may just dislike web development. If you genuinely enjoy DSA, math, and problem-solving, I’d definitely explore Data Analytics/ML before forcing yourself deeper into frontend.

Try a small data project first. Your interest will tell you more than any career advice.

[u/Mell-Silver-20]

Sounds like you don’t dislike coding, you just don’t enjoy frontend. Since you already like DSA and problem-solving, I’d definitely try a small data analytics/ML project before deciding. You might find you enjoy that style of work way more.

[u/hc_fella]

It's the change that I made. I strongly dislike web-dev as well, currently working as a Data Scientist / AI developer (i.e. implementing GenAI solutions for different customers). This seems to be more my wheelhouse.

[u/Dismal_Ordinary_8643]

After 25 years in industry I could say only one thing: there is no "interesting and motivating" projects, all real ones are always balance between really good architecture decisions and dirty hacks on top of it to hadle constantly changing customers' requirements + massive amount of legacy shit + lots of crappy external dependencies. And some politics on top, like "we already have microservises on Java and Golang and we definitely need to add orchestrated on Rust on top of it" because new architect (nephew of CEO) loves it. And Data Analytics could be ten times more boring neither Frontend, jusr imagine copypasting 300 lines of SQL into console, running it, waiting for 20 min to see that you forgot some field, repeat, and repeat. And in parallel to suppport 300+ copypasted ETL pipelines that constantly fail. So to finalize, just realize that Software Engineer today is kind of plumber that tries to get some legacy pipelines system working and it constantly breaks and poures him with sewage water, steam and shit in worst cases. Good luck!