The Coding Question Still Looms Large
So, is learning to code in 2024 actually worth the hype? Honestly, it’s a question that kept me up at night more times than I’d like to admit. I mean, everyone and their grandma seems to be talking about AI and no-code solutions. Does that mean all the hours I spent hunched over my laptop, battling syntax errors and trying to understand JavaScript, were a waste of time? Probably not. But also, maybe?
The whole landscape of tech is changing so fast, it’s hard to keep up. One minute you’re the cool kid knowing React, the next minute someone’s saying it’s outdated and everyone’s using something else. It’s exhausting! And, well, a little discouraging. Coding bootcamps promise the world, but what happens after? Do people really land those dream jobs and triple their salary? Or is it all just cleverly marketed fluff? I really wondered that, and honestly, a part of me still does. Because it’s a tough market out there, no doubt.
My Coding Origin Story (and a Tiny Bit of Shame)
Okay, so here’s the deal. I started learning to code… because I thought it would be *easy*. Ugh, I know, rookie mistake. A friend of mine, who’s a brilliant software engineer, kept telling me how much money he was making. And I thought, “Hey, I can do that!” Famous last words, right? I jumped in headfirst, signed up for an online course, and immediately felt completely overwhelmed. I think it was week two, when they introduced pointers in C++, that I nearly threw my laptop out the window.
I remember one particularly frustrating evening trying to debug a simple Python script. I had spent nearly four hours trying to figure out why my “Hello, world!” program wasn’t working. Turns out, I had accidentally typed “Print” instead of “print”. Ugh. Seriously? I almost gave up right then and there. I even considered switching back to my old career path (which was teaching English, believe it or not!). But I had already invested so much time and money (and, let’s be real, ego) into it that I felt like I had to keep going. What choice did I have? I just wanted the thing to freaking *work*.
The Unexpected Perks (It’s Not Just About the Money)
Funny thing is, even though coding was way harder than I imagined, I started to… kind of enjoy it. Not all the time, of course. There were still plenty of moments of frustration and hair-pulling. But there was also this incredible feeling of accomplishment when I finally solved a problem. You know, that “aha!” moment when everything clicks into place. It’s kind of addictive, that feeling. And that’s where it started to become worthwhile. It wasn’t just about the potential salary anymore. It was about the challenge, the problem-solving, and the sheer satisfaction of building something from scratch.
Plus, learning to code changed the way I think. It forced me to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable steps. It taught me to be more patient, more persistent, and more resourceful. These are skills that are valuable in any area of life, not just in tech. And that’s a valuable takeaway. Also, if you’re into building and creating, like I am now, look at how to build a landing page without code. It’s related to the coding journey!
The Big Regret (I’m Still Kicking Myself)
Okay, here’s where I get really honest. I learned enough to build a pretty decent website for a local business. And I HATED it. I mean, *loathed* it. The client was super demanding, constantly changing their mind, and generally being a pain in the you-know-what. So, I vowed to never do freelance coding again. And I didn’t. For YEARS. And that was a HUGE mistake.
Because what I didn’t realize was that I was letting one bad experience ruin the whole thing for me. I let fear of another difficult client hold me back from pursuing something I was actually good at, and, dare I say, even enjoyed. It’s a regret I still carry. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to not give up so easily. To learn from that experience, but not let it define me. Who even knows where I’d be now if I hadn’t stopped? Ugh, what a mess! So what about coding in 2024?
Coding in 2024: Still Relevant?
So, circling back to the original question: is learning to code still worth it in 2024? My answer is… it depends. If you’re just looking for a quick way to make a lot of money, there are probably easier paths to take. But if you’re genuinely interested in technology, problem-solving, and building things, then absolutely.
The world needs developers, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Even with the rise of AI and no-code tools, there will always be a need for people who understand the underlying code. So, if you’re considering learning to code, don’t let the hype or the fear hold you back. Give it a try. You might surprise yourself. And who knows, you might even end up enjoying it. Just don’t be like me and give up after one bad experience! Learn from me and don’t make that mistake.