Author: Mohamed Aboelez

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a programmer like myself. Whether you work freelance or on a contract, time is one of your most valuable commodities.

Still, developers often find themselves sucked into projects without paying attention to how well they manage their time — if at all.

Here’s a valuable piece of advice for anyone embarking on a new learning journey: disregard individuals who derive pleasure from belittling beginners. Some individuals take delight in undermining novices, perhaps out of insecurity or past experiences of being bullied, which gives them a misguided sense of power. Regardless of their reasons, if someone is trying to make you feel inadequate for trying something new, don’t pay attention to them. They simply lack empathy.

Back in 2012, Jeff Attwood wrote an article advising against learning how to code. I can’t help but wonder if he’ll give the same advice to his own children when they express a desire to follow in their father’s footsteps. It’s highly unlikely. He’ll likely enthusiastically guide them through the coding process, emphasizing how enjoyable and rewarding it can be encouraging them to pursue it wholeheartedly. Yet, according to his previous stance, coding is a pursuit exclusively reserved for Jeff and his kids.