The 6 Mistakes I Made When Learning To Code (And How To Fix Them)

If I could hop in a time machine, I would save myself countless months of frustration. I wasted so much energy focusing on the wrong things.

Knowing what I know now, my approach to learning to code would look completely different.

I’m writing this to help you shortcut the struggle. I want you to avoid the pitfalls that trap almost every beginner. Remember, this is just my perspective, but it comes from experience.

I taught myself to code and managed to build a successful career. Hopefully, you can see yourself in the struggles below and use this advice to move faster.

Share your own story on social media if this resonates. Remember how scary this mountain looked when you started? Your story might help someone else take their first step.

Why are you?

If you care about credentials, read this. If not, scroll down. I am a self-taught developer. The path worked out well for me, leading to roles at some major tech companies.

In 2012, I pivoted to teaching. Today, I mentor hundreds of developers from 20 countries, helping them master modern skills.

I’ve also watched friends burn cash on expensive bootcamps only to remain unemployed months later. (To be honest, the lies and empty promises made by some tutorials and schools make me incredibly angry).

I’m not the world's best coder. But I’ve found success without a degree. Enough about me - let’s look at the lessons that will actually help you.

Mistake #1: Following The Wrong Guides

Compared to when I started, the internet is now flooding with coding resources.

Some of it is world-class.

But now you face the paradox of choice. You cannot learn everything.

• Who is telling the truth?
• Where do you start? You are staring at an ocean of YouTube videos, books, bootcamps, Udemy courses, and freeCodeCamp modules.
• Which ones are actually current?
• Who is a real teacher, and who is just a marketer trying to take your money?

When you lack a roadmap, it’s easy to read one blog post and spiral:

"Okay! I need to learn PHP, cPanel, build 30 portfolio projects, then master Python for Machine Learning because that's trendy. Oh, and I need React, Vue, and Angular for the frontend, plus JavaScript. I'll just watch random YouTube videos until I know everything."

This is a recipe for failure.

Not all content is equal. Technology moves fast. Selecting who you learn from is the single biggest factor in your success.

If you pick a course or a mentor, vet them. Deeply.

There is a massive market for "teaching" code right now. Everyone is fighting for your attention. Everyone claims their way is the "right" way.

How do you filter the noise?

Use this checklist:

1. GitHub Activity: Do they actually code? Do they have a history of contributing to the tech they teach, or are they just content creators?
2. Freshness: When was the course updated? Does the instructor still care about it?
3. Real Success Stories: Do they have graduates who are hired? Can you verify this on LinkedIn? Avoid fake testimonials.
4. Industry Experience: Have they worked in the role they are teaching? Are they keeping their skills sharp, or have they been out of the game for 10 years?
5. Project Quality: Do they teach you to build real apps that impress hiring managers? (Calculators and To-Do lists won't get you a job).
6. Authority: Do they have a blog or other technical content? Do they have credibility beyond the course they are selling?

Choose your teacher wisely. A few hours of research now will save you hundreds of hours of wasted learning later.

(I believe David J. Malan is the gold standard for teaching. Platforms like Frontend Masters also do a great job vetting instructors. Be careful with open marketplaces where anyone can upload a video—you have to do more due diligence there).

There are two types of teachers:

1. The one who holds your hand so you become dependent on them.
2. The one who teaches you how to find answers so you eventually don't need them.

Number 1 is a salesman. Number 2 is a true mentor.

Lastly, no single person knows everything. Learn from multiple voices to get a well-rounded perspective.

Mistake #2: Drowning in Outdated Content

Just like instructors, there is no shortage of "resources." Everyone wants your click.

The problem is filtering: Which course is gold and which is garbage?

Every resource is different. As a beginner, it is hard to tell what is outdated and what is industry-standard.

Before you commit to a course, ensure it matches your goal (e.g., Web Development vs. Data Science) and teaches the modern workflow.

Check the dates. Is the course 3 years old? In tech, 3 years is a lifetime. If it hasn't been updated in a year, be skeptical.

This matters more for fast-moving tools like React than for foundational Computer Science concepts, but it's always a factor.

No single resource will hand you a career on a silver platter. Just like one class in high school didn't make you an adult.

Use multiple sources to build your "knowledge tree," but verify everything.

Use this filter:

1. Updates: Has the content been refreshed recently?
2. Social Proof: Do real students recommend it?
3. Market Fit: Does it align with current job trends? Check StackOverflow surveys or job boards.
4. Instructor Credibility: Are they a practitioner or just a narrator?
5. Relevance: Does the syllabus match the job descriptions you are applying for?
6. Production Value: Watch the preview. Is it structured and professional, or did they wing it in an afternoon?

Perfection doesn't exist, but your time is limited. Don't waste it on bad materials. Popularity often comes from marketing budget, not quality.

Mistake #3: The "Master of None" Trap

It is great to be curious. It is good to have a broad awareness of the tech landscape.

But if you decide you are going to master three languages at once...

"I'll learn Go because Google uses it, Python for AI, and JavaScript for the web. I'll be a triple-threat superstar!"

Stop. You are doing it wrong.

If you have zero experience, pick one language. Get good enough to get hired. Join a team using that language. The real learning only begins when you are solving real problems on a payroll.

Only branch out when there is a specific need or a clear market benefit. Focus on depth, not breadth.

Trying to learn React, Angular, and Vue simultaneously?

Congratulations. You now know the syntax of three tools that solve the exact same problem, but you still don't understand why you should index a database column. Pick one and own it.

Stay focused. Learn one tool that solves a specific problem and get to work.

Use a structured career roadmap to keep yourself from getting distracted. If you lack focus, find a curriculum that forces you to stay on one path.

Mistake #4: Waiting Until You Are "Ready"

The perfect programmer is a myth. Everyone writes bugs. Everyone breaks production. Code is never perfect.

Do not be intimidated. Your code won't be a masterpiece. Even if it is, it will be obsolete in two years.

Build things that work. Ugly code that runs is better than perfect code that doesn't exist. Mistakes are the only way to learn. Even your heroes write bad code sometimes.

The trick is to make the mistake, learn, and fix it.

When you finally reach the top of the mountain, you'll realize everyone else is just figuring it out as they go, too. We are all just imposters trying our best. Some just hide it better.

Stop waiting for perfection. Apply for the job. Ship the project. Launch the app. The "doers" always beat the "waiters."

Mistake #5: Obsessing Over Tools Instead of Problems

You start learning and hear buzzwords: GraphQL, Mongo, Serverless, Hooks, AWS. You start memorizing syntax without understanding the why.

The worst trap is jumping on a trend without understanding the problem it solves.

"React Hooks! Yay! No more classes! I'm rewriting my whole codebase!"

Why?

If you can't explain why that's a benefit to a non-technical friend, you shouldn't be doing it yet.

"TypeScript gives us static typing!" Great. Do you actually understand the pros and cons of static vs. dynamic typing, or are you just repeating a tweet you saw?

There is no silver bullet.

How do you pick the right tool?

Do your research (hint: Start with JavaScript).

And remember: Libraries change. Frameworks die. Fundamentals last forever. Focus there.

Mistake #6: The Passive Learning Trap (Tutorial Hell)

Stop watching other people code.

You cannot learn to swim by watching the Olympics. You have to get in the pool.

The highest ROI activity is building your own projects. If you catch yourself saying:

"I'll just watch these 5 videos, THEN I'll be ready to build something."

You are lying to yourself.

Build something now. Even if you don't know how. Google it as you go. If you are just consuming content without creating, pause and reflect.

Your code will suck. That is the point. You learn in the struggle, not in the success.

Watching 100 hours of video impresses nobody. Building a deployed app impresses everybody.

Remember: The only purpose of these tools is to build value.

Programming is just a toolbox. People care about the house you build, not the hammer you use.

If you tell a coach you've watched every soccer match in history but never kicked a ball, you aren't making the team.

They want to see you PLAY.

Build a project that takes more than a weekend. You will instantly be ahead of 90% of beginners.

The Truth About Coding Bootcamps

Should you go? 99% of the time: No.

If you have cash to burn and you've verified their outcomes with real graduates, maybe.

But realize this: Bootcamps teach the exact same content you can find online for a fraction of the cost.

There are good ones and scams.

If you are dropping $10k+, you better be certain. Usually, you don't need them.

Bootcamps are often rigid and slow to update their curriculum compared to online creators.

You are paying for three things:

1. Structure: Someone telling you where to be and when.
2. Accountability: The fear of wasting $10,000 forces you to work.
3. Community: Classmates to struggle with.

My goal as a teacher is to provide those exact benefits without the crippling debt.

Structure: A good online course cuts out the fluff and guides you. Accountability: You have to build discipline yourself (or find a study buddy). Community: There are thousands of online communities where you can grow together.

A bootcamp is not a golden ticket. You still have to do the work. And when it ends... then what?

That is why many of the students I mentor are actually bootcamp grads. They finished the bootcamp but still felt unprepared for interviews. They need a long-term community, not a 12-week sprint.

Valuable skills are hard to acquire. If it were easy, it wouldn't pay well.

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

In the beginning, the mountain looks impossible to climb. Good. It keeps the competition low.

There is no finish line. Technology evolves endlessly. This is a career for lifelong learners.

If you feel overwhelmed, that means you are learning. Welcome to the club.

Consistency beats intensity. Small steps over 10 years produce massive results. If you want to get rich in 3 months, go buy a lottery ticket.

If you want to master a craft and build the future, you are in the right place.

Drop the Ego and Ask for Help

If you are stuck, ask.

Don't nod your head and pretend you understand just to look smart.

You are playing the long game.

This isn't social media where everyone is perfect. This is your career. It is okay to admit you don't know something. That is the first step to knowing it.

Conclusion

Don't blindly follow the herd. Every hour you spend on bad resources is an hour you can't get back.

Learning effectively is a skill in itself.

But don't take my word for it.

Do your own research. Find mentors you trust.

Once you push past the initial pain—the part where most people quit—you will see the view from the top. The struggle is just the entry fee.

Good luck. Enjoy the climb.