learn by shipping

software development offers many choices for beginners, from technologies to problem-solving. it’s hard to know where to begin.

a first google search will show lots of learning materials. tutorials help with basics and tool selection, but can lead to “tutorial hell” and information overload.

making an impact should come before learning. when you aim to make a difference, learning follows, especially with note-taking. tutorials offer memorization, while real projects offer active and associative learning.

here are some practical ways to learn by doing:

• help a local business use stripe to start making money online
• help a friend who doesn’t code to publish their thoughts using a cms
• support a non-profit you believe in by setting up online donations
• offer your coding skills to a business in an industry you’re interested in
• improve web accessibility for a local doctor’s office to reach more patients

using skills in real situations is better than learning for the sake of it. knowledge not used will fade, so focus on practical outcomes from the start.