Before I learned how to build web applications in Rails I was a product manager. All I did was come up with ideas and work with a developer to build it. Well, I left that job to do the whole startup thing. I was going to come up with ideas and just find a developer to build it. But it was hard to convince even long time friends to become technical co-founders. In fact, they didn’t even come on board until after I learned Rails.
Learning Rails was the best decision I ever made. If I ever need a new feature implemented all I have to do is fire up the command line and hack away. No need to wait for a developer. Here are a bunch of other great reasons to learn how to code.
You’ll know how to work with developers
If you’re non-technical and you have an idea you want build what do you do? You look for a developer. Knowing how to talk to them is crucial. If they’re freelancers you need to make sure you’re not getting ripped off. You can check their progress on GitHub and verify the quality of the code. You can talk to them about why they’re writing code a certain way.
Knowing how to talk to developers can also help you communicate your vision more clearly. A lot of times developers look at features and think about the limitations of why it can’t be done. Now you have some knowledge of why it can and should be done. They’ll also respect you a lot more too if you’re not just an idea man.
You’ll become a builder
There are so many people from different fields that don’t know how to code. Imagine the amount of innovative technology solutions there will be if you put the ability to code in these people’s hands. Once you become a builder you think about how you can improve everything in life. You will no longer say that things just aren’t possible.
Being a builder can also be your biggest catalyst. If you start the momentum in building your product, other people will get excited. They’ll see progress and give you feedback. You’ll get excited too and keep pushing iterations out.
You’ll see problems from a new angle
Coding teaches you a new way to think. It’s a different way of problem solving that you’ve never done before. It teaches you how to find answers to problems and makes you figure out how things work.
You really do learn how to approach problems differently after learning how to code. You learn patience and multiple ways to view a problem. It’s like how a drawing classes teaches you a new way to view the world.
What was your experience with learning how to code?
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