Genevieve Learns to Code

A blog to keep track of my self-taught coding journey.

[genevievelearnstocode]

CSS Grid

I’m finishing the last CSS chapter and am about to start working through a CSS grid project. Since I’ve been building the TOC site using CSS grid, it’s cool to have the foundation of it and learn more about the advanced details. I’m looking forward to finishing up CSS and moving to the Javascript units.

I’ve also started a UX course for work, so my coding course has taken a little bit of a backseat. I’d love to be able to work through Codecademy fast enough that by the time I finish the UX course, I’ll be able to code the app that I’ve designed. That would be so cool.

FSECP Progress = 12%

[genevievelearnstocode]

First locally hosted site

It’s simple, but I coded my first locally hosted site today—index, css, image, etc. I’ve started using VS Code as my editor instead of Atom. VS Code seems more robust and has a lot of shortcuts that I like.

FSECP Progress = 7% (slowwwwww going)

[genevievelearnstocode]

4 Modules Down

I’ve been slowly chipping away at the FSECP. Completed HTML modules and intro CSS modules. Not a lot of new stuff since I’ve been learning a lot of CSS simply by building sites over the last few years. There have been a couple a-ha moments, though, which is cool and is encouraging me to take things slow and really read through it all even if I think I already know it.

I’ve been trying to work through the course with a “just one line of code a day” mindset so that I don’t dive in too deep and get burnt out too fast. 

I’ll start Javascript at module 9, so still a ways to go before I really begin digging into new stuff...things will likely be a lot more slow going but hopefully more interesting and useful, too.

FSECP Progress: 6%

[genevievelearnstocode]

Back at it

A lot has changed since I started [and stopped] this thing. Today marks 2 months at my new job—exciting stuff!

I bought a Codecademy Pro subscription for one year and have enrolled in the Full-Stack Engineer Career Path (FSECP) in the hopes of 1) developing my own skills and 2) understanding the full spectrum of coding so I can be ready to build out a web design and dev team in the future.

FSECP Progress: 3%

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 10: December 31, 2020

Progress

JavaScript for Beginners - finished lessons 4–7/59

Reflection

This course is soooooooo much better than Codecademy. Like, so much better. At least at present. Having a teacher walk through, explain, and demonstrate everything is great. I like being able to watch him write the code and update pages in real time, and I think Kalob Taulien a great teacher—engaging, knowledgable, and makes the content approachable.

The focus of the course is to learn JavaScript so that students come out with a mini portfolio and can get a job in front-end web development. That’s literally my goal. So I think having a class tailored to that specific goal gives the coding process greater context. Coding in Codecademy felt a little too nebulous for me, whereas working in HTML files in Atom and in my Chrome console feels a lot more concrete and purposeful.

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 9: December 29, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - 38% complete

JavaScript for Beginners - finished intro lessons 1–3/59

Reflection

Finished loops on Codecademy and did not retain a single thing. I’m so lost.

So I’m pausing Codecademy and starting JavaScript for Beginners, a Skillshare class taught by Kalob Taulien, a Web Development Teacher. It’s 8 hours of lessons and has 6 projects, and it’s taught by a human being. I’m hoping that with someone explaining the concepts to me, I’ll be able to understand better what, exactly, I’m doing.

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 8: December 28, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - 33% complete

Reflection

Started loops. Have a headache and didn’t get far. I need to code in the morning/afternoon when I’m fresher. This is too complex for nighttime studies.

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 7: December 27, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - 33% complete

Reflection

Learned about arrays today. Pretty straightforward. Still have no idea how to use functions in reality...so there’s that. Hoping we get more into complex web application in future lessons. I’m hoping I’ll just reach a point where the concepts will all sort of suddenly click into place. Right now it feels like I’m wearing contacts and am trying to blink them into place but they’re stuck on my eyelid or something. ~*mEtApHoRz*~

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 6: December 26, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - reviewed previously completed lessons + moved forward thru Scope

27% complete

Reflection

Finished my review and moved on to scope. I think the main things that have thrown me off with the lessons are the parts where they simplify/condense the code. The full code makes sense to me because the extra words (”function,” “if,” “else,” etc.) serve as keywords for me that help me to understand what, exactly, I’m asking the code to do. Without them, I don’t remember the lexical syntax I’ve been using to make the code logical to me. So I’ll be interested to see if developers use a ton of simplified code or if they type it all out.

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 5: December 25, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - reviewed previously completed lessons

22% complete

Reflection

Reviewing variables was really helpful. Because I understood the structure, I was able to focus less on that syntax and more of the meaning/purpose behind variable assignments. This allowed me to imagine using them in more practical situations, which helped it all make more sense. I think review and practice will be key. I’ve tried to look up practice exercises, but I’m such a beginning that all the exercises I’m finding are far beyond my level. Hopefully I’ll feel like I have a handle on things and will be able to move forward with the course over the next few days. I also want to look at a couple of the SkillShare courses I saved. Since I accidentally subscribed for a full year, I might as well take advantage of it!

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 4: December 24, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - reviewed previously completed lessons

22% complete

Reflection

After yesterday, I realized I needed more practice with the basic concepts because I was just regurgitating what was in the practice portions without actually comprehending what I was doing. I might start reading one of the JS books that I found in the hopes they go into more detail.

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 3: December 23, 2020

General

I wanted to run JavaScript in my Atom editor, so I found a few tutorials/articles/posts to help me do that. For reference:

Install “script” in Atom Settings installer

Download + install node.js

Open new file in Atom + choose “JavaScript” as language in bottom right corner.

Write code. Use [command + i] to run code.

So now I can practice writing JavaScript outside of Codecademy.

Progress

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - 22% complete

Reflection

Running JS on Atom ended up being more difficult than I feel like it should have been. It’s interesting to see “tutorials” on it because no one seems to understand that if you aren’t already running programs, you likely aren’t going to understand codespeak or how to do most of the things the [non]helpful people are sharing. Just tell me what package to download and be done with it. I didn’t understand what my error messages were saying when trying to run a very basic code, so I’m definitely not going to understand your “help” that involves opening up dev files on my Mac (?!). So yeah. I feel that my 4 step process above is proof that you don’t always need to make things so complicated.

Or maybe I’m ignorant and will laugh at myself for the above statement in the future.

Also, I went through a couple Codecademy modules today and am feeling very overwhelmed with functions and JavaScript in general. It really is like learning a new language and it’s hard because I don’t have any foundational vocab or syntactical understanding. cool cool cool

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 2: December 22, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn CSS - Completed

Codecademy: Learn JavaScript - 11% complete

Reflection

Got a crash course about CSS flexbox and grid layout properties. I definitely feel like practicing is the only way I’m going to memorize all the different properties, values, and what they all translate to in practice. It really is like learning a new language and having to memorize vocabulary. I’ll be curious to see if there are parts of coding that are similar to the periodic table, in the sense that you inadvertently learn about elements you see/use often, but you don’t have to memorize the whole table of elements because you’ll always have access to it.

Just beginning JavaScript. This is what I’m really here to dive into. I’m hoping I genuinely learn info and don’t just end up regurgitating what they tell me to do without internalizing anything. I think I might want to try to get into web development, so this is the first step to see if that is viable.

[genevievelearnstocode]

Day 1: December 21, 2020

Progress

Codecademy: Learn HTML - Started

Codecademy: Learn HTML - Completed

Codecademy: Learn CSS - 36% complete

Reflection

My experience working on Squarespace and Wordpress platforms has given me a solid handle on most HTML and CSS concepts learned thus far. I’m mostly going through these courses in order to make sure I have the proper foundation to take future Codecademy web dev courses.

[genevievelearnstocode]

and so it begins

I want to use this blog to track my self-taught coding journey. Let’s see how this goes.