This article explores the process of building coding projects, emphasizing the less glamorous aspects often overlooked by beginners. It draws from personal experience in creating a VSCode extension and offers practical advice applicable to various coding projects, including website development.
The author was inspired by this tweet about building projects:
This guide aims to provide a structured approach to coding, helping you overcome common challenges and build successful projects. Let’s explore the necessary steps to start coding.
Break the Project Down into Smaller Units
When faced with a complex project, breaking it down into smaller, manageable units is crucial. This approach simplifies the development process and makes it easier to tackle individual components.
For example, when building a VSCode extension, the project can be broken down into the following parts:
- Installing the VSCode extension.
- Getting the content of an active file.
- Breaking down the content of the file into characters (e.g., “Word” => “w”, “o”, “r”, “d”).
- Listening to key presses.
- Displaying the character one by one whenever any key is pressed.
Photo shows a person working in a well-organized coding setup, reflecting the importance of breaking down a project into smaller parts.
Similarly, when building a website, the project can be divided into sections like:
- Header
- Main
- Sidebars
- Footer
Each section can then be further broken down into components. For instance, the header might include a logo, search box, signup/login buttons, and settings.
By listing out all the desired elements in each section and component, you create a clear roadmap for your project. Remember, execution is key, so avoid spending excessive time on planning and focus on getting started.
Write Your First Line of Code and Get Stuck
It’s vital to write your first line of code early in the project, even if you’re unsure of the direction. This helps overcome procrastination and fosters a solution-driven mindset. Your initial code might be imperfect and require revisions, but it serves as a starting point.
Photo shows a person seemingly stuck or frustrated while programming, representing the common experience of encountering challenges while coding.
Don’t wait to understand everything before writing your first line of code. You’ll never fully grasp everything upfront. Embrace the confusion and start coding.
No Project is Perfect – Including Google
Aiming for perfection is a common pitfall, especially for beginners. It’s essential to focus on core features and avoid adding unnecessary elements that could compromise usability.
Photo displays a person looking at a laptop screen displaying code, underscoring that even tech giants like Google started with a less-than-perfect initial project.
Instead of striving for a perfect project, concentrate on creating usable and lovable features. Remember that no project is immune to criticism, and focusing on core functionalities will lead to a more successful outcome.
Every Project is Built on Other Projects
Leveraging existing projects and resources is a common practice in software development. Examining related projects can provide valuable insights and accelerate the development process.
For instance, when creating a VSCode extension, exploring the source code of similar extensions can offer a better understanding of the VSCode extension APIs.
Photo showing a person researching code, illustrates how projects build upon previous knowledge and code from other projects.
By studying similar projects, you can identify features to adapt or copy, saving time and effort.
Don’t Be Afraid to Google
Effective use of search engines is a critical skill for any programmer. When encountering a challenge, don’t hesitate to search for answers online.
Photo displays hands typing on a laptop, symbolizing the critical role of searching for information and solutions while coding.
Before diving into a project, research relevant questions to gain a better understanding of the required steps. Conceptualize the idea or features you want to implement to refine your search queries and find targeted solutions.
Here are some basic googling tips:
- Know the keywords you care about: Be specific with your search terms to avoid irrelevant results. For example, instead of searching “How to build a landing page,” search “How to build a landing page with HTML and CSS.”
- Use quotes to get exact matches in Google: Enclose your search query in quotes to find results that contain the exact words in that order. For example, searching “How to build a landing page with HTML and CSS” will yield results with the exact phrase.
- Exclude a search term with (-): Use the minus sign (-) to exclude specific keywords from your search results. For example, searching “How to build a landing page with HTML and CSS – JavaScript” will exclude results that mention JavaScript.
- Switch out your terms: When transitioning between languages or frameworks, adapt your previous search terms accordingly. For example, if you’re moving from JavaScript to Python, replace “JavaScript” with “Python” in your searches.
You’ll Always Get Stuck – and That’s OK
Encountering challenges and getting stuck is an inevitable part of the coding process. “How to” tutorials don’t always emphasize this, but it’s essential to recognize that it’s okay to get stuck.
Photo of a person leaning back looking stressed in front of a computer, conveying that encountering challenges is a natural part of coding.
Your ability to overcome these challenges will determine how far you go in making projects. Improving your debugging skills is essential for navigating these roadblocks.
Conclusion
Building coding projects involves breaking down complex tasks, writing code early, embracing imperfections, leveraging existing resources, effective use of search engines, and developing debugging skills.
Remember that behind every amazing project, there’s a less glamorous story filled with challenges and perseverance. The most important thing is to keep building and not give up.
