Become a Developer

This path takes you from never having written code to being a confident, capable developer. No CS degree required - just curiosity, persistence, and willingness to struggle productively.

Time commitment: Work through this at your own pace. Most people complete it over several months of part-time study.

Phase 1: Learn How to Learn

Before diving into code, optimize how you learn. These skills pay dividends on everything that follows.

Learning How to Learn

  • How memory actually works (and why most study habits are backwards)
  • Speed reading - what works, what’s snake oil
  • Spaced repetition and active recall
  • Focus techniques for deep work
  • Sleep optimization for learning (yes, really)

Why this first? Learning to code is hard. Learning to code with bad study habits is much harder. Get this right and everything else goes faster.

Phase 2: Think Like an Engineer

Programming is problem-solving. These lessons build the mental tools you’ll use constantly.

Thinking Clearly

  • Testing your assumptions
  • Avoiding cognitive traps
  • Making decisions under uncertainty
  • Debugging your own thinking

Why this second? Code is just thoughts made concrete. Fuzzy thinking produces fuzzy code. Clear thinking produces clean solutions.

Phase 3: Your First Programming Language

Now you’re ready for code. C is a small, powerful language that teaches you how computers actually work.

Learning C From Scratch

  • Variables, types, and memory
  • Control flow and functions
  • Pointers - the key to understanding computers
  • Building a real project

Why C? Learning C is like learning to drive a manual transmission - it teaches you what’s actually happening. Every other language becomes easier to understand afterward.

Phase 4: Write Code That Lasts

Knowing syntax isn’t enough. Learn the principles that separate throwaway scripts from maintainable software.

Software Principles

  • DRY and SOLID explained with real analogies
  • When to follow rules and when to break them
  • Recognizing code smells

Why this last? These principles only make sense once you’ve written enough code to feel the pain they prevent.

What’s Next?

After completing this path, you’ll have:

  • A solid mental foundation for learning anything
  • Clear thinking skills applicable beyond programming
  • Hands-on experience with a foundational language
  • Understanding of principles used by professional developers

From here, you can:

  • Learn another language (they’ll all feel easier now)
  • Dive into a specialization (web, mobile, AI, systems)
  • Start building projects and contributing to open source
  • Continue with the “Build AI From Scratch” path if AI interests you

Remember

This path is designed to be followed in order. Each phase builds on the previous ones. Resist the urge to skip ahead - the fundamentals make everything else possible.

Take your time. Write the code. Do the exercises. The struggle is the point.