Any tips for a 16yo learning Full-Stack Web Development?
Posted by Neither_Paper6003@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Hi!
I am 16 and I never coded in my entire life, but I understand very much about computers!
I already learned HTML and CSS and I'm thinking on moving to JavaScript.
I tend to be a full time freelancer in the future and I mostly learn from YouTube, freeCodeCamp and The Odin Project, but I fear that AI will replace what I am taking so much time build, idk...
So, I plan to learn Git, React, Node.js and much more.
Btw my main PC is a Raspberry Pi 4B 4GB RAM and I know linux well. It has some good performance tho...
So, any tips to maximize my potencial as a freelancer, what to learn, what to NOT learn or anything else would come handy!
Thanks !
FlashyResist5@reddit
Learning at 16 is not really different from learning at 40.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Ofc it is. I can enter the market really quick and my brain learns better
FlashyResist5@reddit
In the context of a beginner asking what to learn providing your age is unneeded information.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Replying that was also unneeded
FlashyResist5@reddit
It is relevant in that a large part of programming is figuring out what is needed and what is not. You directly mention this in your post when you ask” what Not to learn”.
An example of this is was an api was returning a bunch of fields that were not being used by the client. Those fields were unneeded, I removed them.
In the context of what to learn, your age here doesn’t matter. If you were 8, you may need a modified curriculum because your brain isn’t developed enough. But at 16 your brain is fully capable. The advice isn’t going to be fundamentally different than if you were 40.
Another big part of this field is constantly getting feedback. Do this differently, why did you do this, this would be better like this etc. You are going to have to get used to it. At first it might feel like an attack but is not. If people are giving you feedback they care enough to take the time.
bird_feeder_bird@reddit
Try using Javascript to make a game on an HTML canvas. And dont use any libraries, vanilla is more than enough. It will teach you more logic than you’ll ever need. And it will make it easier to learn other high level languages like Python
AI may be good for shipping products quickly, but it cant replace the slow, tedious process of learning. But going through that struggle line by line yourself is like a workout for your brain. At that point the value is not in what you know, but your fundamental ability to learn and solve problems
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Yeah, what do you think about the "Learn JavaScript by building a game" videos from freecodecamp channel on YouTube? Do you recommend it?
bird_feeder_bird@reddit
I havent used the freecodecamp tutorial, but I just looked it up, and its looks promising. This is the tutorial I was personally using, they look pretty similar: https://youtu.be/Lcdc2v-9PjA?si=ufX4azRYQuUAzEPb
And this is the very first tutorial I followed just to get a hang of the basics: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Games/Tutorials/2D_Breakout_game_pure_JavaScript
Also worth mentioning is that for web development, you’ll mostly be using Javascript for very simple things, like making a button with unique effects, or making colors automatically change. Super simple stuff mostly. But the logic you learn from making games is transferable to other programming fields, so I think its a great way to learn.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Yeah. Thanks for the help! I definitely try the tutorial! I really appreciate it.
bird_feeder_bird@reddit
Good luck! Also I should’ve said, you’ll mostly use vanilla Javascript for simple stuff. Theres a billion libraries with various features that you can test out once you learn the basics
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
So, you only recommend to use vannila and only use libraries when I master it?
bird_feeder_bird@reddit
You dont have to be a master, but definitely go through the vanilla tutorials first. It’ll help you focus on learning the language, and you’ll learn a lot more general skills that way too. It’ll also help you understand what you can do on your own vs what you should use libraries for
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Sure thing 🙏
hitanthrope@reddit
If you want to be a full time freelancer, then what I strongly suggest is that you imagine some freelance projects that you would like to, or be prepared to work on, your ideal thing, and build some. Nobody will be paying you, but not the point here.
The *ideal* case, is that you find somebody in your social circle or family, who might need something like this, and you offer to build it for them. You aren't charging, and you shouldn't. You just need a project and you need to know what it feels like to have a "client". They will ask for things you don't know how to do. That... will never change ;).
As a freelancer, your job is to know how to solve people's problems, and give them the confidence that you know how to do that. They don't give even the remotest shit if you know git etc, but it will matter to how well you can deliver for them.
I know some truly masterful engineers who would make bad freelancers.
Learn how to deliver. Code is a means to that end.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Thanks, this is very valuable! I tried cold email local businesses btw with no success.
Misaka_Undefined@reddit
First learn basic Git.
Continue learn JavaScript then Node.js
Usually backend will come first when starting project, so learn basic Database structure.
Make very small project, something that will make you happy if you successfully complete it. Profile website, Simple Todo App, and Simple Online store are good start.
that's it for starters.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
I learned how to commit, add files and manage repositories on GitHub trough Odin Project and I there is more to learn so, yeah git is a must. What do you think of learning mongodb? But can you help me reduce the friction when starting a project on my own?
sleebybun@reddit
Yeah... don't...
If you wanna do full stack for personal projects ok, but they don't tend to have good salaries. Specialists receive more than generalists.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Can you point me a software career that pays well to freelancers?
JLeeIntell@reddit
Honestly, that's really strong start for 16. Running Linux, using a Raspberry Pi, and already learning on your own puts ahead of a lot of people.
My biggest advice is... don't chase every tool at once. Get good at Javascript first, and building small real projects first, then add React and backend stuff after that. Solid basics + projects wil take you way further than trying to learn everything fast.
And for frealancing later, people pay for trust, communication, and solving problems, not just code. AI will be around, but dependable builders will always have work.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Will do! But I have a kinda problem building pages alone. I can't think how to start, how to decorate it and that...
ryan_nitric@reddit
16 with HTML/CSS down already and learning on a Raspberry Pi is a genuinely strong start. You've got the only thing that actually matters: time and curiosity.
Don't worry about AI replacing what you're learning. The fundamentals (how the web works, how to debug, how to read code) are exactly what makes someone useful in an AI-assisted world, not less useful. The people who'll struggle are the ones who skip the fundamentals and just prompt their way through everything.
Stick with The Odin Project, finish the JavaScript path before touching React, build small projects after every section. Freelancing as a teenager is hard but possible. Get good first, hustle later.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the feedback! Yeah, I'll finish freecodecamp and the Odin project and learn well until I master JavaScript to move to react. About the AI thing, I kinda know that, but I am a little bit scared you know, it's impossible to not be.
Due-Influence0523@reddit
I’m still pretty new too, but from what I’ve seen, focusing on strong JavaScript fundamentals and actually building small projects consistently seems way more important than rushing through a bunch of frameworks.
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Yeah, totally agree.
DeepKaleidoscope7382@reddit
You might want to learn a backend language, for example python.
CupPuzzleheaded1867@reddit
Python is solid choice but don't stress too much about picking the "perfect" language right now. Since you already planning to learn Node.js, you could stick with JavaScript for backend too - it means less context switching and you get really good at one language instead of being okay at many
The AI thing is real concern but think about it this way - someone still needs to understand what the AI builds, fix it when it breaks, and tell it what to actually make. Plus clients want humans they can talk to, not just code that appears from nowhere
With your Pi setup you're already ahead of most people who think they need expensive MacBooks to code. That constraint will actually make you better developer because you'll write efficient code from start. Just maybe consider getting external monitor if you haven't already - makes debugging so much easier when you can see more code at once
Focus on building actual projects over just following tutorials. Even simple stuff like todo apps or weather widgets - put them on GitHub and start building portfolio early
Neither_Paper6003@reddit (OP)
Yeah, thanks for the feedback! I think I will stick to JavaScript for now and build some pages with it. And yes I have a relatively big monitor, I can debug code efficiently. Thanks
Pure_Relationship809@reddit
Starting at 16 with zero experience and already on The Odin Project is a genuinely strong start — better than most.
A few things I'd tell my younger self:
Finish what you start. The temptation to jump to the next shiny framework is real, but employers and clients care about shipped things, not learning streaks. Build actual projects, even small ones, and deploy them.
JavaScript first, framework second. Before reaching for React, make sure you understand how the DOM works, what async/await is actually doing, and how the event loop works. Frameworks make a lot more sense once the fundamentals click.
Freelancing at 16 is very achievable. Start with small local businesses — most have terrible or no websites. A clean, fast site for a local restaurant or gym is a real portfolio piece and real money.
Don't fear backend. Full-stack opens far more doors than frontend alone. Node.js is a natural next step since you're already in JS.
You're ahead of the curve. Keep building.