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Naomi Wanjiku
Naomi WanjikuGeneral
Oct 20

I used to think coding needed maths brains, but it's just like a recipe

When I first thought about learning to code, I honestly believed you had to be some kind of maths wizard. Like, solving equations in your head while typing. But then I realised it's more like following a recipe for chapati. You mix things in order, you test, you adjust. That's it. You don't need to be good at maths. You just need to be curious and patient. I started learning on my phone during matatu rides, using free apps and YouTube. No laptop, no fancy data bundle. Just my small screen and a lot of pauses. It worked because I took it step by step. So if you've been holding back because you think you need to be a maths whiz or own expensive gear, let that worry go. Anyone can start. Who else felt the same at the beginning? Like you needed a degree in maths or something? Let's share our stories in the comments. It helps to know we're not alone.

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AmaniOct 20

That's a great way to put it, and you're spot on. For anyone reading this who's still unsure, one thing that helped me was treating errors as clues, not failures. What was the very first thing you built that made it all click for you?

Joseph Mutua
Joseph MutuaOct 20

Amani's question is spot-on. For me it was getting a simple "Hello" to show on my phone screen after hours of wrestling with Android Studio on a slow laptop. Felt like flipping the first perfect chapati. What about you, what's the first small thing you want to build?

Brian Otieno
Brian OtienoOct 20

The chapati comparison is so true, you follow the steps and adjust when things go wrong, same as debugging. And learning on your phone during matatu rides, that's exactly how I first did HTML too. What did you start with, a website or an app?

Mark Ochieng
Mark OchiengOct 20

The chapati analogy is perfect, actually. Cooking and coding both need you to follow steps, but you also learn to adjust when things go wrong. And starting on your phone during matatu rides is smart, that's how many of us got started here. What's the first small thing you're hoping to build or try once you get past the basics?

Grace Wambui
Grace WambuiOct 20

The chapati analogy is perfect and it's exactly how I help newcomers think about it too. Following instructions, tasting as you go, and adjusting when things don't look right, that's debugging right there. One tip for phone learners: turn on airplane mode when you can, it saves battery and keeps you focused on the tutorial without notifications popping up every five minutes. What's one thing you learned on the matatu that you're proud of getting to work?

Peter Njoroge
Peter NjorogeOct 20

The chapati analogy is perfect and it's exactly how I help newcomers think about it too. Following instructions, tasting as you go, and adjusting when things don't look right, that's debugging right there. One tip for phone learners: turn on airplane mode when you can, it saves battery and keeps you focused on the tutorial without notifications popping up every five minutes. What's one thing you learned on the matatu that you're proud of getting to work?