Where and How Should I Start with Software Development? Which Programming Language and Computer Should I Choose?

Taking the first step into the world of software is an exciting but potentially confusing process. Which programming language should I start with? What kind of computer should I buy? How long will it take to learn? In this article, we offer a detailed roadmap for those who want to start coding from scratch.

1. Define Your Goal: What Do You Aim For in Software?

The world of software is vast. First, you need to determine what you want to do:

Become a web developer (Front-end / Back-end / Full Stack)
Become a mobile app developer (Android / iOS)
Become a desktop application developer
Game development
Data science / artificial intelligence
Cybersecurity
Embedded systems / IoT

2. The Most Suitable Programming Languages for Beginners

Here are the starting languages you should choose according to your goal:

Goal	Recommended Languages
Web Development	HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, PHP
Mobile Development	Kotlin (Android), Swift (iOS), Dart (Flutter)
Desktop Software	Python, C#, Java
Game Development	C#, C++ (Unity / Unreal Engine)
Data Science / AI	Python (NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow)
Cyber Security	Python, Bash, C
Embedded Systems	C, C++, MicroPython

✨ Note: Python is a general-purpose and highly readable language for beginners. It is recommended.

þ 3. Computer Recommendations Suitable for Software Development

You don't need NASA computers to learn software. However, some minimum features are beneficial for development:

Minimum System Requirements (General Purpose Coding)

i5 or Ryzen 5 (10th generation and above)
8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended)
SSD (256 GB and above)
Full HD screen (for eye strain)
Linux or Windows 11 / macOS Ventura

If your goal is:

Artificial intelligence / Data science: Laptop with NVIDIA CUDA supported graphics card (GTX/RTX)
Mobile application development (like Android Studio): 16 GB RAM is a must
Using game engines (Unity, Unreal): 6-core i7 / Ryzen 7 + 16 GB RAM + GTX 1660 and above

4. How Long Does It Take to Become a Software Developer?

This completely depends on personal effort:

With 2 hours of daily work, basic projects can be developed in 3-6 months.
Within 1 year, you can reach a level where you can take on small projects as a freelancer.
After 2-3 years, you can become a mid-level software developer.

5. Useful Resources and Platforms

YouTube: Coding 101, AkademikLink, Barış Aslan, FreeCodeCamp
Udemy: Python from Scratch, Web Development Courses
Patika.dev (Free Turkish programs)
GitHub: Review open source projects
Stack Overflow: Question-answer platform

Conclusion

To learn software, all you have to do is start. Taking the first step is the hardest, the rest will fall into place over time. Define your goal, choose the appropriate language and proceed step by step. Remember: "A good software developer is someone who writes a little better code every day."