Where do I even start with coding? Like, from absolute zero?

Hey everyone. I'm a complete beginner here. Like, I have never written a single line of code in my life. I see all these people building apps and websites and I'm just lost on where to even begin. There's so much information out there it's overwhelming. I'm a recent graduate from campus here in Nairobi and I'm doing a small hustle selling clothes on WhatsApp but I want to learn something more stable. Maybe something with tech? I keep hearing about Python and HTML but I don't know what they even mean. Are there any free resources that actually work for someone like me who knows nothing? I have a basic smartphone and sometimes buy data bundles when I can afford them. If you started from zero, what was the very first thing you did? I'm not looking to become an expert overnight. Just something simple I can do for maybe 30 minutes a day after my hustle. Be real with me, what actually helped you? Also, is it okay to learn on a phone or do I really need a laptop? Thanks in advance.

Replies

AmaniOct 16

Hey, welcome. It's totally okay to start on a phone, I'd suggest the Mimo app for 30 minutes a day; it's free and works offline after you download the lessons. That's where I began, and it made the whole thing less scary.

Peter NjorogeOct 16

Try the Mimo app on your phone, do a short lesson after your hustle and then open your browser to type a simple HTML price list like <h1>My Clothes</h1> to see it work right away. What type of clothes do you sell so we can suggest a quick way to show them online?

Joshua SsemakulaOct 16

Mimo is a solid shout, that's how I got comfortable too. For your WhatsApp hustle, you could also try learning a bit of HTML to make simple digital flyers or product posts, freeCodeCamp works fine in a phone browser and it's free. Phone is okay for starting out, especially with 30 minutes a day, just know you'll eventually want a laptop for building bigger stuff. What kind of clothes do you sell, maybe we can suggest something practical for that?

Achieng OdhiamboOct 16

Mimo is a great place to start, I second that. The first thing I did was just one lesson on my phone during matatu rides. No pressure, just 30 minutes. For your WhatsApp hustle, you could even try typing a simple product list in Notepad using HTML tags (like `<h1>Price list</h1>`), it's literally just wrapping words in angle brackets, and you'll see it work in your phone browser. That small win got me hooked. Phone is fine for now, just keep it fun and don't overthink. What kind of clothes do you sell?

Collins OmondiOct 16

Mimo is definitely the best place to start honestly. Just download it and do one lesson after you finish your WhatsApp hustle - same time every day until it's a habit. And honestly, your clothes hustle is perfect because you can apply what you learn immediately. What kind of clothes do you mainly sell? That way we can suggest something practical for you to build first, maybe just a simple page showing your best sellers. You got this bro, starting is the hardest part.

Aline UwaseOct 16

Mimo is a great shout, I started the same way during my own matatu rides. For your clothes hustle, you could try this: type your prices in a simple list on your phone's notes app but practice writing the tags around them, like <h1>Price List</h1> then open it in your browser. That small "it works!" moment is what got me hooked. What kind of clothes do you sell? Maybe we can find a way to make them look tidy online bit by bit.