I recently read a blog post from Levelsio (if you don't know who that is, I'll fill you in later) that was titled "In the future writing actual code will be like using a pro DSLR camera, and no code will be like using a smartphone camera"...

The post is from just under five years ago and I couldn't agree more. The main message is that it's becoming easier and easier to make really nice websites without knowing or learning how to code. But the drawback is you are limited to the best tools that exist out there.

Will there be a tool that can build any website or app you want to create as good as native development could?

Yes.

But for now, the people building those no-code and low-code tools, those native websites and apps that do incredibly powerful and unique things - they are all custom developed by people with serious coding skills.

I don't think I will ever be interested in being employed as a software engineer or programmer. But I do believe that we are at a vital point in time, in history, that is filled with more opportunity than ever before.

Internet.

Computers.

Smartphones.

Artificial Intelligence.

All of this has either grown or started in my lifetime.

So the reason I am learning to code at 27 years old, with no prior background in development is simply because today is better than tomorrow.

I'm building things for fun right now. Like this website. Or a map that shows where all the nearest specialty coffee shops are near you.

Money isn't the goal. Yet.

I want to learn and have fun.

I do firmly believe, however, that there will be a point in the next 3-5 years where my side projects earn more money for me than my 9-5 salary. I'll be documenting all of my learnings here. Where I'm starting, what I'm doing, struggles, wins, all of it. I'll try to stick to 1-2 updates per month to keep it attainable.

For technical details, I'm starting with PHP. It's a coding language as old as Facebook (Facebook was built on PHP) and is relatively easy for beginners to learn. My next update will cover how I got setup with PHP, what my first tinkerings with it were and where I'm at now.

Till next time!