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There are a lot of good answers here. What launched me into development when I didn't even know to program (so one step behind you) was that I found a problem I
by jastanton 12y ago
There are a lot of good answers here. What launched me into development when I didn't even know to program (so one step behind you) was that I found a problem I had personally had and looked for a way that could solved it. It turned out it was programming. The reason this was so effective was I was already passionate about the problem before I even knew what programming was. Then I discovered programming was the right approach, so I learned the tools to get the job done, then iterated.
That _passion_ was a HUGE motivator, in fact i didn't even like programming really was when I solved the problem, but I liked the result. I realized later how many problems could be solved that programming was the tool for the job so I eventually learned to program. But that came after I found the problems I was passionate about.
I find later that this approach was very fulfilling and now I am reading heavy textbooks and doing jobs I thought I would NEVER do because I really like solving problems. But I never could have seen myself doing this 10 years ago.
Now you're follow up question might be, how do I find my passion for this tool I have. Doesn't that now feel like an awkward question? I have a tool, I don't know why I have it, but I want to use it on something. There must have been some reason why you learned how to use this tool. What made you say "wow, how was this done?", or "I wish I could just do X" Try to recreate whatever it was that made you first look up "how to learn javascript programming" in google. If you are still stuck, then you might take to some of these other answers. Browse github, visualize something that could exist and work backwards, read other peoples code etc... but where all of them will fall short and where I suggest you take with yourself is that nothing will kick you on the curb harder then doing something that you're not passionate about.
The number of times I quit a program half way through because I lost the passion was A LOT! I felt miserable about programming for years. I thought I didn't have what it takes and beat myself up about it a lot. I was admittedly ambitious. Some things that could have helped:
* Smaller problems. Something you may not be able to control.
* Breaking your goals up into smaller chunks so you get rewards often.
* Working with someone else. Think of it like a running buddy, or a workout buddy.
* Being forced to do it. Get a job in programming, if someone realizes on you, and you feel that heat under your butt you'll probably end up doing it even if you loose the passion temporarily, though you should stop if you never get the passion back, but give it some time.
* Teach someone. You learn very quickly if you try to teach someone else. Especially if you try to force your brain to think of ways to find your passion. It's a good chance it will spark some passion into yourself as well.
Good luck, I hope something I said helped spark something in you and I hope you can find your passion! Or learn that this passion isn't for you. Someone once said that programming is 90% frustration and 10% elation. That gets you through that 90% my argument here is your passion to solve the issue. If you have no passion that 90% is going to be hell. But stick with it because it will take time! Good Luck!
- veb 12y agoThis is an excellent comment, and I really feel similar to you, and I have had the same experience! I completely agree with "working with someone else". Find a programming buddy, do it. Join IRC and start becoming a regular in whatever channels you're passionate about (#programming, #rails... etc). You will find someone you kick off well with, and you will find yourselves working on the same project but the BEST thing is you will both make each other passionate and force one another to finish a project. It's exciting and fun. However, "being forced to do it" I'm not sure sits well with me -- if you're forced to create web forms all day, every day, you'll get so tired, bored and you'll start to _hate_ programming. It's best to be around like minded people (even if it's IRC or your programming buddy). My programming buddy is now my co-founder. Exciting times ahead! :-) My last tip would be to learn algorithms, which aren't tied to any programming language but will give you a really good mindset for solving problems. It wasn't until I really sat down to learn recursion etc, that I learned programming for real.