In order to talk about what got me into studying software development at Flatiron. I will need to tell you how I got to this brain challenging event. Back in 2018/2019 I attended a Computer and Networking Technician course at Florida Career College.
During my time at FCC, we ended up on the Linux module learning how to do bash scripting. Right then and there was when I fell in love with writing scripts. For the homework assignment during that module, we were tasked to write two pages on two different topics about Linux. I for one decided to take that challenge a step further, instead of writing a dull paper, I create a interactive bash script with my assignment written in it.
After a few bash scripts later, I decided to look into what programming languages are out there, along with which one I should learn first. The first language I decided to teach myself was python, as it was the easiest to pick up, along with being able to run on both Windows and Linux. While trying to create my first application in python, I started running into common errors, like syntax errors. Despite the struggle, the end result felt rewarding, more so being able to say “I made this”.
Other programming languages I have tried where C# and JavaScript/Node.js. Although C# is where I am least knowledgeable in, I do enjoy making a GUI application with it in VisualStudio, as you can just drag & drop what you want while visually formatting on how you want the application to look. Jumping to Javascript/Node.js, I do want to admit one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to learn this language, was because I found out that you can create a drone with Node.js while controlling it with a Wii remote, which to me sounded pretty awesome. Though I have not yet created a drone yet, it is in my bucket list.
The summary of what truly got me into software development, is not only the challenge that comes with it. The challenge such as designing, the errors and even naming, whether the name of the application or the functions/variables in the code itself. I am going to repeat myself on this one, though I do love the feeling you get when your work is finished, the pride you get after all the frustration, then seeing your code run smoothly in action. Along with being able to say “I made this”, you can also add to your feeling of accomplishment from seeing your work being used to help others, especially if it makes their lives a bit easier. One of my biggest goals/dreams is to make or even be apart of something that helps other lives better or even easier, though not just for humans, but also for other animals and the planet itself.
