My Programming Diaries – Part One

“Programming Diaries” – Part One

Bob Knight, the American basketball coach nicknamed “The General,” says: “It’s not the desire to win that makes the biggest difference, but the desire to practice in order to win.” And such is life. The lesson is not in the hopes or desires themselves, but in the path you take and the skills you acquire during an enjoyable journey that never truly ends—it stays with you for life. True enjoyment is found within this journey: the journey of learning and self-development.

My name is Ahmed Abu El-Dahab. I am one of Google’s experts in mobile app development and own my own software company, in addition to working as a technical consultant for various companies and institutions, both inside and outside Egypt. I started my programming journey about twenty-four years ago, primarily through self-learning fueled by a love of knowledge. I learned many techniques and programming languages and progressed through various roles and jobs.

These years have given me accumulated experience and important lessons—some learned through costly mistakes, and some through trial and error. I always wished there had been someone to guide me on the right path toward my goal; perhaps then I could have shortened this journey to just 5 or 10 years.

“Programming Diaries” is a series of articles I am writing for the first time, in which I try to answer some frequently asked questions I receive on social media—from those finding their way into programming, to those hoping to learn it someday, and even professionals aiming to reach global excellence, God willing. I hope my words serve as a spark to light their path and save them years I spent fumbling at the start. Later, I will cover technical topics relevant to anyone following this path, and I ask God to grant me sincerity in words and actions.

First, let me reassure you as you read this: you have chosen the right time to start learning. Programming is not a secret code or something complex requiring special abilities. In fact, the abundance of learning resources today can be overwhelming for beginners: which resources to choose? Which is best? Most of these resources are now widely available and free, whether you are a child of ten or a senior over sixty. Learning has no age limit as long as you have determination and willpower.

But let’s agree on a few things first:

• Don’t assume success is easy or that the path is lined with roses; otherwise everyone would succeed. The journey requires perseverance and consistency—the best work is that which continues even if small.

• You will face many discouraging obstacles, and some hurdles may even come from those closest to you. As long as you hold onto your goal, you will reach it. God does not waste the reward of those who do good work.

• When you start, begin with simple things. You don’t need to start with complex tasks. What matters is to take your first steps and keep moving forward.

• Programming is the future, and whatever your field, learning it will benefit you and give you valuable skills, regardless of your profession.

• I always consider programming and tech specialties as highly suitable careers for women, due to their flexibility and the variety of options that may suit their preferences and requirements for an ideal job.

Agreed? Then let’s address some common questions you might have.

Is there a certain age to start learning programming?
There is no specific age—you can start anytime as long as you have the basic skills needed. I believe programming can start in childhood, around age 8 or 10, after a child has learned reading, writing, English, and some problem-solving skills. But even if you are over fifty, it’s never too late. I know people who started this path after 35 and have even taught programming courses to those over fifty.

Is programming only for scientific or technical disciplines?
Absolutely not. Many who came from literary or medical fields excelled in programming. Today, many global companies prioritize skills and what you can do over formal qualifications.

Do I need strong math skills to enter this field?
It depends on the specialization you choose. For 80% of programming fields, you don’t need advanced math. However, math is very important if you want to work in AI (Artificial Intelligence) or ML (Machine Learning) or pursue research papers in these fields. In that case, mathematics and algorithms are crucial.

I always hear about algorithms and data structures—should I start with them at the beginning?
It depends on your chosen field. As mentioned, you usually won’t need them until reaching an advanced level or if you aim to join global companies like Google, Microsoft, or Amazon, where most interview questions focus on algorithms and data structures rather than a specific programming language. These points will be explained in simplified form in the next articles.

There are many fields in programming, and I don’t know which one to choose.
First, you need to ask yourself: why are you learning? Is it for enjoyment and love of knowledge, or to get a job? Identify your goal first, then choose your path.

If your next question is whether to learn desktop, mobile, or web development, it depends on where you want to work and the available job opportunities. Generally, web and mobile app development are most in demand. My advice is to start with simple things and easy languages like HTML & CSS. Learning them is easy, and you can see results quickly, boosting your confidence and enthusiasm. Then move on to JavaScript. Whatever path you choose later, learning these basics provides a solid foundation for your programming journey. You can then proceed to more advanced languages based on your chosen path.

I’ll stop here for now so as not to bore you, dear reader. We will continue in future posts as part of the Programming Diaries series.

To contact me, my handle is Dahabdev on all social media platforms.