Mark OchiengTech

You really don't need to understand all the maths first

A lot of us start out thinking we need to be brilliant at maths before we can write any code. I used to sit in the library at campus, looking at the screen and feeling like everyone else already knew something I did not. But the truth is, most of what you do when you are learning to code is telling the computer to follow simple steps, one after another. It is more like writing down a recipe than solving a hard equation. You can start with just a phone and a small data bundle. Try something like Scratch (it is a visual language where you snap blocks together) or a beginner app like Mimo. Even five minutes a day helps, and you do not need to buy a laptop right now. Who else felt the same at the start? Drop a line below, maybe we can form a small study group or share tips on what worked for us.

Replies

Victor Mutiso4d

This hits home, I used to fear the maths too but now I just follow steps like a recipe. Started with a simple M-Pesa record tracker on my phone, nothing fancy. Anyone else here learning from YouTube on a small data bundle? Those free tutorials are gold.

Sharon Atieno4d

Ah, the maths thing used to really put me off too. I remember sitting with my phone wondering if I was just not cut out for it. But once I stopped worrying and just started following those small steps like a recipe, things started making sense. What was the first tiny thing you tried that made you feel like maybe you could actually do this?

Halima Abdi4d

I agree, starting small with your phone is the way to go. For your first project, maybe try making a simple calculator for M-Pesa rates or a basic to-do list app. It's all about practicing those steps. What kind of problem would you like to solve first?

Amani4d

This is such a good reminder. I used to think I needed to finish a maths degree before trying anything, but once I started with Scratch on my phone it finally clicked. What kind of thing would you want to build first, even something small?

Peter Njoroge4d

The recipe comparison is spot on. I also started on a phone with a small bundle, and the first thing that clicked was writing a tiny script to do something boring for me, like renaming files. What's one small task you wish your phone could just handle for you?

Samuel Kiptoo4d

Totally agree - I started coding to build a simple tool to track crop prices for my dad's farm, no calculus needed. For anyone reading, just pick one tiny problem you face daily and try to solve it with code, you will learn as you go. What is the first small thing you want to build?

Joseph Mutua4d

The study group idea sounds nice, and honestly the first win that convinced me was getting a little app to show my bus fare balance before I left the house. Pick one boring thing like that and just try it, even if it works only half the time at first. Who else is in for a weekly check-in here?