My Coding Journey: From Beginner to Confident Developer

Introduction

Hey everyone! I hope you're doing great. Today, I want to take you through my coding journey—an experience filled with challenges, learning, and growth. If you're a student in your second or third year of college, still wondering how to start coding or preparing for placements, this article is for you. I hope my experience inspires you to never give up on learning programming and helps you find your own path to success in software development.

2017: My First Encounter with Coding

Learning C# - The Beginning

My journey started in 2017 when I was first introduced to C# in my college curriculum. Like most beginners, I found coding intimidating at first, but there was something fascinating about writing commands and seeing the computer respond.

Key Learnings:
- Fundamentals of programming: loops, conditions, and functions.
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles.
- Writing simple C# programs, including my first Hello, World!.

Biggest Lesson : The first step is always the hardest, but understanding the basics makes everything easier down the road.

2018: Discovering Web Development

By 2018, I realized coding was more than just syntax; it was about creating something meaningful. That’s when I discovered frontend development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Why Frontend Development?

I wanted to build interactive applications that people could use.
JavaScript opened the door to frontend development.
I created small projects like a to-do list and a calculator.

First Encounter with React.js

The component-based structure of React amazed me.
I built a small React project to test my skills.

Biggest Lesson : Building projects is the best way to learn. Tutorials are great, but real learning happens when you apply concepts to a project.

2019: Backend Development and Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA)

Diving Into Node.js and Express.js By now, I was comfortable with frontend development, but I wanted to understand how the backend worked. That led me to Node.js and Express.js.

Learned how servers and APIs work.
Built my first REST API.
Explored databases like MongoDB and MySQL.

Learning Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) I realized that many top tech companies focus heavily on DSA in coding interviews. So, I started solving problems on:

CodeChef (Started with easy-level questions and progressed to harder ones.)
LeetCode & GeeksforGeeks (Focused on common interview problems.)

Biggest Lesson : Mastering DSA helps in problem-solving, which is crucial for software engineering interviews.

2020: Becoming a Full-Stack Developer

After learning both frontend and backend separately, I decided to put everything together and explore the MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) Stack.

Key Learnings in Full-Stack Development : ✅ Working with databases (MongoDB) for storing and managing data. ✅ Implementing authentication & security using JWT and OAuth. ✅ Creating scalable applications. ✅ Handling API calls efficiently.

Major Project:

Built a Task Management App, where users could register, log in, and manage tasks in real-time.

Biggest Lesson : A full-stack skill set makes you more versatile as a developer.

2021-Present: Improving & Preparing for Job Placements

By 2021, I had built multiple projects, but getting a job required more than just skills. I had to prepare for:

Online Assessments (OA): Took tests from Texas Instruments, Visa, Goldman Sachs, and others.
Competitive Coding: Continued my streak on CodeChef (300 days) and LeetCode (150 days).
System Design & Advanced Topics: Started learning about Docker, Kubernetes, and GraphQL.

Though I faced multiple rejections, I kept improving my skills and focusing on what really mattered—continuous learning.

Key Takeaways from My Coding Journey

Start Small, Stay Consistent

Master the basics before jumping into complex topics.
Daily practice helps you improve steadily.

Focus on Problem-Solving (DSA is Important!)

Companies prioritize problem-solving skills over just framework knowledge.

Build Real-World Projects

Hands-on experience matters more than just theoretical knowledge.

Stay Updated with the Latest Tech Trends

Follow developer blogs, YouTube channels, and Twitter discussions to keep learning.

Don’t Fear Rejections, Keep Applying!

Every interview is a learning experience.

Tips for Beginners Who Want to Get into Software Development

🎯 Must learn the basics of any language and don't try to switch it. (C++ and Java are suggested) 🎯 **Try to spend equal time on learning new concepts as well as Question Solving. 🎯 Try to participate in the contest as much as you can and give it honestly. (GFG, Leetcode and CodeChef platforms are suggested). 🎯 Create Projects: Build small projects before moving to bigger ones. 🎯 Join Communities: Connect with developers on GitHub, LinkedIn, Discord. 🎯 Always be consistent. 🎯 **Never Give Up!** Coding is challenging but rewarding.

Final Thoughts

Don't forget it is never too late for starting something but if you start early then you are half done.

From struggling with my first C# program in 2017 to building MERN stack applications today, my journey has been a rollercoaster. If you're just starting, remember that persistence is key. Every developer was once a beginner. Keep learning, keep building, and never lose your curiosity.

💬 What’s your coding journey like? Let’s connect and Share your experiences in the comments below!! 🚀