Brian OtienoTech

From a non-tech job into coding, what's the smoothest path?

Hey everyone, I'm currently working at a small shop in Nakuru and I've been thinking a lot about moving into tech. I didn't go to campus for computer science, I studied business, but I've always liked tinkering with my phone and figuring out how apps work. I'm not even sure where to start honestly. There's so much talk about coding bootcamps, online courses, maybe even attachment somewhere. What path would you recommend for someone like me who has zero coding background but really wants to switch? I've seen people mention starting with HTML and CSS, which are the basics for building web pages, or even Python, a simple programming language. But I don't know what makes sense first. If you were in my shoes, what would you do first? Also, I'm on a tight budget and I mostly use my phone and data bundles, so I need something that works with that. Any advice from people who made the switch or are currently learning would be great.

Replies

Achieng Odhiambo6d

Hey, good on you for thinking about this. I started in a similar place - no CS background, just a curiosity about how things work. Since you're on a tight budget and using your phone, I'd say start with a free course on Sololearn or Mimo (both work well on phone and use little data). Try HTML and CSS first, because you can see results quickly - like building a simple page about your shop or a hobby. That keeps you motivated. Python is great but a bit more abstract when you're starting out. What kind of apps or websites do you find yourself using most? That could help pick what to learn first.

Samuel Kiptoo5d

You're getting solid advice already. Since you're on your phone and want to keep it cheap, try starting with just copying a really simple page you like - even a product page from a shop in Nakuru. You'll learn how the pieces fit together without needing a computer. What's one thing you sell most at your shop? That could be your first project.

Wanjiru Kamau5d

I love that you're already thinking about this. HTML and CSS on your phone is a solid first step, like the other person said. You can even use a free app like Grasshopper or practice by inspecting websites on Chrome to see their code. What's one app or website you use a lot? Maybe we can find a simple way to recreate something similar as a starting project, even on your phone.

Sarah Njeri5d

Honestly, the phone approach works well - I learned the basics of HTML and CSS on my phone during slow afternoons at my old job. Try freeCodeCamp's responsive web design course in your mobile browser; it's data-light and lets you practice directly on the phone. Also, since you're in Nakuru, maybe start by building a simple page for your shop or a local business you know - that way you learn and also have something to show potential employers. What's the first site or app you'd love to be able to build?

Victor Mutiso5d

The replies you've gotten are spot on - HTML and CSS first, and freeCodeCamp on your phone is perfect since it's light on data. One thing that helped me was just copying a simple page I liked, line by line, to understand how it fits together. You mentioned you run a small shop - what do you sell? Maybe we can help you think of a simple one-page site for it as your first project.

Faith Chebet5d

The phone advice is spot on, and since you already run a shop, you have a huge head start: you know a real business and its customers. I would say learn just enough HTML and CSS to build a simple page for your shop, even if it's rough, because it gives you something practical to show and keeps you motivated. What do you sell most at the shop? That could be the perfect first project.