When did you start programming?

[xcontcom]

Body

When did you start programming? At what age, how many years ago? What inspired you? What was the first thing you programmed? What language was it in?

Guidelines

• I have read and understood this category's guidelines before making this post.

[realsunil]

I started programming in 2023 (so it’s been about 2–3 years now).

What inspired me was mainly curiosity + tech + gaming — I wanted to understand how websites/apps work and also build my own projects instead of just using existing ones.

The first thing I built was a basic HTML/CSS webpage, and after that I started learning JavaScript and made small projects. Later I moved into Node.js and started building things like Discord bots and automation tools.

Now I’m still learning and improving, and I really enjoy creating useful projects and experimenting with new ideas

[isatyamshivam]

I started programming in 2021 during my BCA currently I'm pursuing MCA, beginning with Java and basic web technologies. Since then, I’ve built real-world projects using React, Next.js, and Node.js and contributed to open-source programs like GSSoC and KWoC, learning a lot through hands-on experience.

[realsunil]

i also pursuing MCA

[MertJSX]

I started programming when I was 14 years old. Programming was my dream job when I was child. I always wanted to build my own game. I started learning web development by reading W3Schools documentations (HTML, CSS, JS). Now I'm 18 years old and I'm building portfolio apps while going to school every morning.

[evilenx]

I started programming when I was 14 years old. Programming was my dream job when I was child. I always wanted to build my own game. I started learning web development by reading W3Schools documentations (HTML, CSS, JS). Now I'm 18 years old and I'm building portfolio apps while going to school every morning.

Hey, that's not programming. HTML and CSS? That's just markup and styling - like slapping paint on a house. And vanilla JS from W3Schools? That's scripting for beginners, not real programming.

Real programming is managing memory, writing algorithms, handling concurrency, and building systems that don't crash under load. I don't like copy-pasting web tutorials.

You're 18 now? Good, drop the kiddie stuff and build something that actually controls hardware or runs servers without choking. Try Go or straight C, no frameworks. See if you survive.

[MertJSX]

Why so aggressive, man just chill. I know that html/css is not a real programming language. You also think that JS is for beginners. That's right, but the question was how I started programming. How can you say that I copy-pasted codes, but actually, you didn't see how I learned. Building apps without frameworks with C is shooting your foot. You're not the first one that tells me that. If you do something like that, that means that you're challenging yourself or you want to build something serious that does some job better than the existing alternatives. Just don't be so aggressive like that, I hate people who talk to me like that. Just don't do that. Be kind.

[Elasxny]

Why so aggressive, man just chill. I know that html/css is not a real programming language. You also think that JS is for beginners. That's right, but the question was how I started programming. How can you say that I copy-pasted codes, but actually, you didn't see how I learned. Building apps without frameworks with C is shooting your foot. You're not the first one that tells me that. If you do something like that, that means that you're challenging yourself or you want to build something serious that does some job better than the existing alternatives. Just don't be so aggressive like that, I hate people who talk to me like that. Just don't do that. Be kind.

Maintaining your own pace is great.Don't mind others

[Shubhamvumap123]

I wrote my first line of code the day I realized I was doing the same repetitive task for the third time. I started with simple automation scripts to handle data entry and file management. The thrill of saving hours of work with just a few minutes of coding hooked me immediately. Since then, my journey has been defined by a single goal: building scalable systems that solve real-world inefficiencies.

[dhruvhaldar]

ok

[z0nyx]

Hi 👋

I started programming when I was in the 8th class. I was inspired by the bots i saw on discord and what they could do, which made me want to try building one myself.

The very first thing i programmed was a discord bot in javascript. It was built on the old discord.js version 12.5.3, back when bots only used prefix commands (like !ping) and slash commands didn't exist yet. The bot's job was to send a random captcha via direct message to any user who joined the server. They had 5 minutes to solve and reply with the answer. If they failed or didn't respond in time, the bot would automatically kick them from the server.

From those beginnings, I've expanded my skills significantly. Currently, I develop web applications, write various bots, and work on creating LLM models. The main programming languages i use now are Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Go (Golang).

[BossEmma]

I started building since 2020. I realized early on that I prefer writing the code to just using the app. I started with the frontend but fell in love with the backend—specifically Python and Django. From simple bots to automation scripts, I build tools that solve problems. Always experimenting, always shipping

[egeuysall]

I started when I was 15. Now, I’m 16, made a lot of projects and learnt a lot. Right now I’m building a production SaaS. Check my profile if you want to :)

[Bdemirbelul]

I started programming before AI tools were a thing back when learning meant spending hours digging through Stack Overflow.😄

[aaditya1819]

I started programming in my first year of engineering (2023) when I was introduced to C and basic problem-solving concepts. Over time, I explored web development, backend systems, databases, and AI-based applications, and gradually started building real-world projects. Since then, I’ve been consistently improving my skills through academic projects, hackathons, and self-learning.

[Monoartiam99]

It has been nearly two or three years since I began programming in 2023.
I began by learning HTML, SQL, and the fundamentals of database management systems. First of all, until I learned about CSS, I had no idea what HTML was all about. When I started using HTML, it was a really cool way to create a list of teachers at my school. Learn about C programming and other frameworks and how they operate after that. Next, create a game in the Javascript project. Additionally, I've been continuously picking up new skills by taking part in hackathons and academic initiatives.

[xcontcom]

I started programming around 2002. It was GW-BASIC, then Visual Basic 6.0.
In our country, there was a weekly magazine related to computer topics (hardware, software, games). There was an article about the Mandelbrot set that inspired me.
In 1998-2000 I attended a radio hobby club where we learned to solder and assemble circuits from radio components. I read a lot of technical literature. And one book I liked the most - it described how logic gates built with transistors work. It definitely influenced my thinking.

[AdvayRChandra]

I started programming in 2016 when I was just 9 years old, but started programming with actual programming languages around a year later. I originally started with learning JavaScript and HTML5 using the Khan Academy Hour of Code program, but later learned Python via a book. I really got serious in around 2020-2022, when I learned C++, Java, C#, Rust, TypeScript, Visual Basic, Lua, and even a bit of Assembly, and hopped on learning AI development in Summer 2022 (Yes, I started before ChatGPT was a thing). The truth is that I really didn't know where this would take me.

[vishwesh-01]

I began learning Python at the age of 16, but I didn’t continue at that time because it felt boring and abstract. After nearly two years, I revisited programming with a new perspective and realized that coding is fundamentally about logical thinking, problem-solving, and building meaningful things. This shift in mindset reignited my interest in Python, and I began developing projects, experimenting, and exploring how things work under the hood.I understood that to grasp programming effectively, there are only a few core concepts that truly matter. Once those fundamentals are clear, learning syntax becomes secondary, and mastery comes from consistently diving deeper and applying knowledge in real-world scenarios. Over time, I expanded my skill set by learning Java, Python, HTML, Agentic AI concepts, and some Machine Learning. Currently, I am learning JavaScript and moving toward full-stack web development using the PERN stack.

Programming often starts with confusion or boredom, but with persistence, curiosity, and hands-on practice, it gradually becomes engaging and deeply rewarding. Keep Exploring with Curiosity and Keep Building

[0MEGA01]

I started programming during my college years, a few years ago. I was curious about how software and applications work behind the scenes, which motivated me to start learning. I initially learned C, C++ then explored Swift, but later I was introduced to Java. After learning Java and Spring Boot, building web applications felt more interesting and practical to me, so I shifted my focus there.

[yuanyuan-qwq]

I started when I was 18, and now I’m 24. I’ve already built many projects and learned a lot along the way. Right now, I’m working on a production AI product.

These days, it’s much easier to start coding because we have AI tools like Cursor and ChatGPT that help with learning, debugging, and building faster. Of course, you still need to understand the basics, but AI makes the journey much smoother.

Feel free to check my profile if you’re interested 🙂

[habtedev]

I started programming at around age 19, about three years ago. I was inspired by how modern websites and applications work and wanted to build real products myself. My first projects were simple web pages and small apps like a calculator using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. JavaScript was the first programming language I learned.

[joelindra]

I am primarily a cybersecurity professional; I only have a basic understanding of programming. My main strength lies in being able to read and understand program logic and code flow rather than developing software from scratch. I started my career in this field in 2018 and have been active up to the present.

[Neeraj1708]

I started programming a few years ago during my studies. I was inspired by how software can solve real-world problems. I began with simple programs in JAVA, which helped me build a strong foundation in logic and problem-solving.

[xcontcom]

My first language was Basic and the second one was Pascal.

[moeezmir]

After completing my 12th class

[mergisi]

Love this thread! Here's my story:

Started: Around 15, inspired by wanting to automate boring tasks in video games 🎮

First language: Python - mainly because everyone said it was "beginner-friendly" (they were right!)

The journey:

• Started with simple scripts and automation
• • Moved to web development (HTML/CSS/JS)
• • Then backend development introduced me to databases and SQL
    The SQL moment: This was a turning point for me. Understanding how data is stored and queried opened up so many possibilities. I went from "I can build a website" to "I can build applications that actually DO something useful."

One thing that accelerated my SQL learning was using ai2sql.io - it helped me understand query patterns by showing how natural language translates to SQL. Instead of memorizing syntax, I learned to think about what I wanted from the data.

My advice for beginners:

• Start with whatever excites you (games, websites, apps)
• • Don't skip databases - they're everywhere
• • Build projects, break things, fix them
    The best time to start programming was 10 years ago. The second best time is now! 🚀

What inspired everyone else here to start?

[UtsavKash19]

Body

When did you start programming? At what age, how many years ago? What inspired you? What was the first thing you programmed? What language was it in?

Guidelines

• I have read and understood this category's guidelines before making this post.

I started programming during my Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science & Engineering (2022–2026), which means I began coding around 2022, roughly 3–4 years ago. My inspiration came from my growing interest in data structures, algorithms, and software development, along with active participation in competitive programming platforms and real-world development work.

The first things I programmed were DSA problem solutions and small C++ utilities, which later evolved into structured projects like a C++ stress-test tool and a collection of reusable DSA code snippets to help optimize competitive programming preparation.

My initial primary programming language was C++, and over time I expanded to Java, Python, TypeScript, and SQL, while also working with backend systems, APIs, and cloud-based environments through internships and projects.

[nsr-dev-in]

🚀 My Coding Journey (2024)

Started my programming journey at 19 with just a laptop 💻, computer knowledge, and curiosity about software & tech.

First program?
👉 Hello World (haha, classic 😄)

Languages timeline:

🐍 Python — where it all began
⚡ C++ — for logic, DSA, and performance
🔧 C — to understand how things really work

🔁 Back to Python — stronger, smarter, better

Still learning. Still debugging. Still leveling up.
One line of code at a time 🔥