From Excel Master to Code Newbie: My Journey Back to the Beginning

My name is Yoda Gunawan, but you can call me “oldtrickcoder.” I’m a developer based in Bandung, Indonesia, and I have a confession to make: I started my coding journey in a place most “real” programmers wouldn’t even consider — Microsoft Excel.

For years, I was an Excel whisperer. I could make spreadsheets sing and dance with the power of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). I built complex systems, automated tedious tasks, and pushed Excel to its absolute limits. I was comfortable, I was proficient, and I was in a bubble.

But deep down, I knew there was a whole world of programming out there that I was missing. I saw the incredible things people were building with languages like JavaScript, Python, and Go. I saw the power of web development, the elegance of mobile apps, and the vast possibilities of open-source collaboration. And I wanted in.

So, I made a decision. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and become a beginner again. I put away my well-worn VBA toolkit and picked up the unfamiliar tools of a front-end developer. I started with the very basics: HTML and CSS. It was a humbling experience. I went from being an expert in my field to a complete novice, struggling with concepts that seasoned developers take for granted.

My GitHub repository, “First-HTMLCSS-after-Return-From-Dead,” is a testament to this journey. It’s not the most polished or impressive project, but it’s a reminder of where I started, and how far I’ve come. It’s a symbol of my willingness to learn, to grow, and to embrace the discomfort of the unknown.

Since then, I’ve been on a mission to expand my skillset. I’ve been dabbling in various technologies, from creating a full-stack desktop application with Electron.js and SQLite in my “nextron-sqlite-crud-js-sample1” repository, to exploring the world of front-end development with various sample projects.

My journey is far from over. I’m still learning, still growing, and still making mistakes. But I’m also building, creating, and contributing. I’m excited to see where this path takes me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story with you.

If you’re a fellow developer, I encourage you to check out my work on GitHub. And if you’re someone who’s thinking about making a change, I hope my story inspires you to take that leap of faith. It’s never too late to start over, and you’re never too old to learn a new trick.