Problem-Solving: Key to Software Dev Success
Programming is majorly about problem-solving.
The primary and most important skill you’ll need to become a successful software developer is the ability to solve problems. As software developers, we live every day to solve problems, and you have to accept this as the reality of the profession.
So as a beginner, don’t get bogged down by the programming language or fancy tools and frameworks to learn first — They all come and go, and some evolve. Just pick a programming language (preferably a beginner-friendly one, e.g., Python, JavaScript, PHP, etc.) and practice your problem-solving skills with it.
Using this approach sets a rock-solid foundation for you as a software developer and gets you equipped and ready for the tumultuous journey ahead (before becoming a mid and then senior engineer).
Once you’re able to solve diverse problems using your chosen programming language and confident in your problem-solving skills, you can then pick up another language. What you realize once you’re ready to pick up your next programming language is that you just need to familiarize yourself with the syntax unique to that language to get up to speed and build things with the new programming language.
Let me tell you a quick fact;
The way Photoshop, Corel-draw, Figma, and the like are just tools that help designers to create great graphics and UI designs, is the same way programming languages, libraries, and frameworks are also tools that enable programmers to build software products. Once you recognize them as just tools, it becomes easier to switch from one programming language to another to meet the demands of a project or your career path.
Lastly; Remember, the journey won’t be a walk in the park. It will require a lot of learning, trials, and errors before it gets better and easier. So expect and enjoy or manage the chaos and initial struggles. But I promise, it would definitely get better if you don’t give up.
Most experienced software developers, if not all still have days they feel like the dumbest people in the world. There are also days you feel on top of the world; when you successfully fix a disturbing problem so it's not always about your level of intelligence or years of experience. Just keep at it, don’t give up and you will definitely see results.
Having a mentor, equally motivated peers, or a helpful community can also help along the way. So keep learning, hacking, breaking, and building things. Godspeed!
