From Doubts to Debugging: My Journey into Software Development

I had an interesting conversation with a youngster the other day (young relative to me, that is—he was in his early 20s). He wanted to pursue a career in software development but didn’t know where to start. He'd watched some YouTube videos, completed a free online course, and even built a super simple app by following instructions. He found it really cool. In my opinion, that's the perfect way to start. Then he asked, "But how do I actually apply for a job and prove that I can do the job?"

It’s a great question, one that I'm sure many can relate to. It's the kind of question that often comes up when you're starting out. This conversation inspired me to write this post, hoping it can help more people who find themselves in the same situation.

Just like I shared with him, I’ll share how I did it, and I believe it’s still completely relevant today. I was in a similar position at 21 years old. Having worked in retail for a few years, I decided I wanted to pursue software development. So, I enrolled in a course at an IT college. That decision led to me juggling full-time work, part-time studies, trying to balance my passion with my responsibilities (and a new girlfriend).

To gain real-world experience, I reached out to a family member who had started a company and offered to build him a website for free. All he had to do was cover the monthly hosting costs, which, for a simple static site on shared hosting back in 2011, was a mere R29 per month. Basically, he had nothing to lose. If you don’t have a family member or friend with a small business, look for someone with a side hustle or hobby that could benefit from a digital solution to address a pain point or add value to them in some way.

Sure, you could do a fictitious project for some made-up use case, but it's not the same. You don’t develop the same skills as when you're building something for someone else. Working on a real project forces you to consider user needs, deal with feedback, and meet deadlines. Plus, you get to add this real-world solution to your portfolio—something tangible you can showcase to potential employers or clients to demonstrate your skills. Lastly, it builds your confidence, and trust me here, each project completed is a boost, preparing you for more complex challenges ahead.

This arrangement provided me with a low-pressure opportunity to take my code from my PC and put it out on the public internet. It allowed me to build genuine commercial experience. And if I failed? Well, it wouldn’t really cost anyone much, so it provided a safe place for me to learn, make mistakes, and grow.

Now, you might be thinking, "But it's 2024, and a simple static site probably won’t cut it even for a small business." And you’d be right. Expectations have evolved, and the bar is set higher now. The good news is, the tools available today make it easier than ever to build dynamic, professional-looking sites or mobile apps with relatively little experience and cash.

So, what should you do? Start by using your current job to support your software career pursuit. If you don’t have one, find something basic. It doesn’t have to be glamorous. The goal is to keep your bills paid while you invest your time—and perhaps a little money—into learning. This is your chance to understand what the job is really like and to see if it’s something you genuinely enjoy and could see yourself doing long-term.

Because here’s the thing: Coding isn’t for everyone. Despite what the media and society might tell you, it’s not always a dream job. It can be tough, frustrating, and sometimes even downright boring. But it can also be incredibly rewarding, intellectually stimulating, and fun. The only way to find out if it's right for you is to dive in and experience it for yourself.

Don’t be afraid to start small, take risks, and most importantly, give yourself permission to fail. Failure is a part of learning. Every mistake is a step forward. Your path might not look like anyone else's, and that's okay. The important thing is to keep moving forward, learning, and growing.

Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll be the one giving advice to someone just starting out, wondering how to turn a few online tutorials into a rewarding career.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb