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I thought learning to code was all about writing syntax and copying tutorials. But I was wrong.
The real growth began when I stopped watching and actually started building.
After I completed my first real app — a simple grocery list app using Flutter and Hive — something inside me shifted. It wasn’t just about creating a working app. It was about how much I learned during the process.
This blog is about the 5 biggest lessons that hit me hard — and I believe every beginner should know them before getting too deep into coding.
🧠 1. Tutorials Don’t Make You a Developer — Projects Do
I wasted months watching videos on YouTube — tutorial after tutorial — thinking I was "learning."
But once I tried building something on my own, I realized I couldn’t remember most of what I watched.
Here’s the truth:
Watching is passive.
Building is active.
If you want to grow fast, start building projects as soon as you learn the basics.
Even if you fail, the mistakes will teach you more than 10 hours of tutorials ever can.
🛠 2. Start Small, Think Big
When I began learning Flutter, I had big dreams — to create a fully functional app with animations, login, user profiles, and online storage. But I didn’t even know how to add a button at first!
That mindset nearly burned me out.
Instead, I challenged myself to build a small offline grocery list app in just 7 days.
And guess what? It worked. And it gave me confidence to keep going.
So here's the trick:
Start with something small that works.
Then, improve it step by step.
That’s how you grow as a developer — not with complexity, but with consistency.
🐞 3. Debugging Is Not Frustration — It’s Education
The first time my app crashed, I thought I failed.
I spent hours trying to fix one bug related to Hive not saving data properly.
But after reading the error, checking documentation, and trying solutions, I fixed it — on my own.
And that moment? It felt 10x better than finishing a tutorial.
Debugging teaches you:
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Patience
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Attention to detail
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Problem-solving
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How things really work
So don’t avoid bugs — welcome them.
They are the best teachers.
⏱️ 4. 1 Hour a Day Is More Powerful Than You Think
Before I started building apps, I used to spend 5–6 hours on my phone scrolling Instagram, YouTube Shorts, or playing random games.
At the end of the day, I felt drained... but unproductive.
When I began coding for just 1 focused hour per day, everything changed.
In a week, I had a working app.
In two weeks, I was planning my next project.
In a month, I had this blog.
All from just 1 hour a day.
You don’t need to work hard all day — you just need to work smart every day.
Replace 1 hour of scrolling with building. That’s where the real magic happens.
💻 5. Your Code Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect – Just Make It Work
At first, I was obsessed with writing “clean” and “perfect” code.
I would waste hours reorganizing functions or changing variable names — without actually improving the app.
Now I realize:
Done is better than perfect.
It’s okay to write messy code when you’re learning.
You’ll get better as you build more projects.
So stop overthinking and start finishing. Every finished project is a level up. 💪
🧠 Bonus Truth: You’re Not “Too Late” or “Too Dumb”
If you’re a student or beginner and feel like everyone else is ahead of you — ignore that.
You’re on your own path.
The only competition is who you were yesterday.
I started building seriously just months ago. Before that, I was just like you — stuck, unsure, and always procrastinating.
But now, I build, I write, I post — because I finally took control.
🔥 Final Thoughts
Building my first app changed me more than I expected.
It gave me:
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Confidence
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Purpose
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A sense of control
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A reason to believe in myself
And if it can do that for me, it can absolutely do that for you too.
So start small. Build one thing. Fix one bug.
You don’t need motivation — you need momentum.
The best time to build your first app was yesterday.
The second best time? Today.
📬 Got questions? Want help with your first app idea?
Email me at acesziku@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @acesziku.
Let’s build this journey together. 💻🔥
