What I would do differently if I was learning to program again
I wouldn&#x27;t. I&#x27;d learn a trade. Not to be facetious, I&#x27;m serious. I love programming. I never played video games, I spent my free time learning basic and then assembler in the late 80&#x27;s. At the time, I was custom cabinet maker.  I eventually become allergic to the &#x27;smell&#x27; in oak, causing health problems. I had to give it up. I was busy 8 hours a day. I made decent money. Theirs a certain satisfaction at the end of the day and being able to point at something physical and say &#x27;A good days work&#x27;. I began contract programming and eventually into full time employment.<p>Flash forward about 30 years.  I&#x27;m still writing code professionally. I rarely write code for just enjoyment anymore. Those carpenters, cabinet makers, plumbers, electricians.. .trades people, make the same or more than I do. Their unionized. They can work practically anywhere and make the same amount of money. Not just in major cities. It doesn&#x27;t see many radical shifts in technologies, unlike programming that is a life long learning because of advancing tech. Its VERY likely you will find your skill set obsolete without a real concerted effort of constantly upgrading. I wont even get into the culture which IMO is fostered by those writing the cheques and even your peers. Nor the moral issues that you will inevitably face  - something few programmers ever talk about. It&#x27;s a real kick in the happiness meter when something you write is designed solely to put many people out of work.<p>My opinion, my real opinion, is that if you find yourself writing code &#x27;for fun&#x27; even if you don&#x27;t know what your doing, pursue it. If your only in it for the career. Turn and run like hell. You&#x27;ll be burnt out in 5 years and starting over.