Why I Decided to Start Learning to Code

I have always been interested in computers and gaming consoles and have long been curious about what happens behind the scenes to make them work. One of my earliest memories of this curiosity was watching Jurassic Park as a child and seeing Samuel L. Jackson’s character talking about needing to access millions of lines of code. At the time, it sounded complex, powerful, and genuinely fascinating.

Despite that early interest, I did not have the opportunity to study computing in any meaningful way during school. Instead, my working life led me into manual labour roles, which I remained in for a number of years. Over time, and following a period of poor mental health, I found myself at a point where I had the space to reflect on what I actually wanted from my career.

During a recent break, I made a conscious decision to change direction and pursue work that aligned more closely with my long-standing interest in technology. I wanted to move away from manual labour and towards a career that involved problem-solving, learning, and working with computers.

With that in mind, I decided to begin at the fundamentals. Rather than immediately diving into the vast number of online learning resources available, I chose to start with books from my local library. There were only a small number available, which felt manageable, and it allowed me to focus on core concepts without becoming overwhelmed.

Starting With Books

I began by walking down to my local library and borrowing every book they had available that related to computer coding and programming. Only once I started the walk home did I fully appreciate how heavy several technical books can be when carried up a steep hill in a backpack.

Over the course of approximately three weeks, I worked through all of the books I had borrowed, taking notes and focusing on understanding the fundamentals rather than rushing through the material. I also looked for books that explained the physical components of a computer—what actually exists inside the machine itself—but there were none available at the library at the time.

Starting with books felt like a deliberate choice. With so many online resources available, it was easy to become overwhelmed. The limited selection at the library helped me stay focused, work through complete resources from start to finish, and build a structured foundation before moving on to online learning.

Books I studied during this stage from the Central Library in Halifax:

• Beginner’s Step-by-Step Coding Course: Learn Computer Programming the Easy Way (2020)
• Confident Coding: Learn How to Code and Master the Essentials — Rob Percival (2023)
• Python Essentials — John C. Shovic (2024)
• Python — Guy Hart-Davis (2022)
• Teach Yourself VISUALLY HTML and CSS: The Fast and Easy Way to Learn — Guy Hart-Davis (2023)
• JavaScript — Kirupa Chinnathambi (2017)
• JavaScript Essentials — Paul McFedries

How I Approached Studying

To stay organised while working through each book, I initially bought several A4 and A5 plain workbooks and used them to take handwritten notes. My approach was straightforward and consistent: I read a section of the book, wrote key points in my own words, and continued this pattern until I reached a practical exercise. When an exercise appeared, I completed it before moving on to the next section of reading and note-taking.

After a couple of books, I realised that handwriting everything was slowing me down and becoming physically uncomfortable. At that point, I switched to typing my notes on my laptop, which allowed me to work more efficiently and revise my notes more easily. This change also helped me focus more on understanding and applying concepts rather than spending time managing written pages.

What I learned From This First Step

Working through the books gave me a clearer understanding of what coding actually is and how different technologies fit together. I learned that HTML provides the structure of a webpage, CSS controls the presentation through fonts, colours, and layout choices, and JavaScript adds interactivity to bring pages to life. Seeing these components working together for the first time made the idea of building websites feel much more tangible.

I also began to understand the importance of syntax. Programming languages have strict rules and require precise structure, punctuation, and symbols. Even small mistakes can prevent code from running, which explained why attention to detail is essential. I found it fascinating that languages like Python or JavaScript ultimately translate down to binary instructions, allowing the computer to execute commands in a way it understands.

These early lessons showed me how programming extends far beyond websites and computers. It is present in everyday devices such as washing machines, cars, and household appliances, and ranges from low-level instructions close to machine code to high-level languages designed to be more readable for humans.

What stood out most during this stage was how much there is to learn. Seeing the basic structure of a webpage—headings, paragraphs, and elements arranged intentionally—was exciting because it felt like unlocking the first layer of something much larger. Finishing the books made it clear that I wanted to continue, and although the library selection had reached its end, my enthusiasm had not. I was ready to move on to online learning as the next phase of my journey.

Looking Ahead

After completing the books, I knew I wanted to continue building on the foundations I had developed. My next step was to move into online learning, where there is a wider range of resources, tutorials, and opportunities to practice through small projects. I planned to spend time working through recommended platforms, experimenting with practical exercises, and gaining more confidence before enrolling on a structured course. This felt like a natural progression: start with fundamentals, apply them through guided practice, and then formalise my learning through an accredited qualification.