My Journey Into Web Development

It all started in college, during a live coding competition in my first year. I barely knew HTML, but the thrill of seeing my code come alive in a browser was unforgettable. That moment set everything in motion.

The Early Days

My first ever website was... well, let's just say it was humble. But that's the beauty of starting somewhere. I pushed it to GitHub (yes, it's still there — my-first-ever-website), and looking back at it now always makes me smile.

I started with the basics:

• HTML for structure
• CSS for styling (lots of trial and error!)
• JavaScript for interactivity

Discovering React

Everything changed when I discovered React. The component-based architecture just clicked with me. Building reusable pieces of UI felt like assembling LEGO blocks. My first major React project was a recipe finder app that pulled data from an API.

// My first React component - it felt magical!
function RecipeCard({ recipe }) {
  return (
    <div className="recipe-card">
      <h3>{recipe.title}</h3>
      <p>{recipe.description}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

Going Full Stack

Once I was comfortable with the frontend, I dove into backend development. Node.js with Express became my go-to stack, and MongoDB completed the MERN setup. I even created a Backend Roadmap to help others follow the same path.

What I've Learned

After years of coding, here are my key takeaways:

1. Start building immediately — Don't wait until you "know enough"
2. Read other people's code — GitHub is a goldmine for learning
3. Break things — The best debugging skills come from fixing your own mess
4. Stay curious — The web is always evolving, and that's exciting

What's Next?

I'm currently exploring SEO, TypeScript, and modern frameworks like Next.js. The web keeps evolving, and I want to evolve with it. This blog is part of that journey — a place to share what I learn along the way.

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

This quote from Robert Frost has always resonated with me. In a world of tutorials and bootcamps, finding your own path is what makes the journey worthwhile.