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> I have many ideas that I want to build, but I'd have to learn new languages,

Why? Why, specifically, do you "have to learn new languages"?

So, sure, I can see that, for some product, you might need to learn a new tech (say ... some specific AWS/GCP/Azure service), or perhaps a new configuration language (YAML, TOML, whatever).

And, sure, for some ideas (for example a mobile phone app) you're forced into that specific ecosystem.

Other than the mobile exception above, why do you need to learn a new language to build your idea? There is nothing stopping you from implementing your idea in (for example) Python. Or Javascript. Or Java, C#, C++, etc.

A programming-language-barrier absolutely does not stop you building your idea.

You gotta make the call - are you interested in building $IDEA, or are you interested in learning $NEWLANG?




> There is nothing stopping you from implementing your idea in (for example) Python. Or Javascript. Or Java, C#, C++, etc

Except there is, my brain :), that's one of the constraints I'm talking about, I'm a frontend web dev and I only know JS/TS, and like some frontend web devs, I'm enamored by Rust because it seems so different. I already use JS/TS at work so I want to use something else for my personal projects. So I definitely would have to learn something new.

> You gotta make the call - are you interested in building $IDEA, or are you interested in learning $NEWLANG?

If I was only interested in building my idea, I'd have just used what I know and used AI to accelerate the process. However for me the journey is also important, I want to enjoy thinking and writing code (and this project is something only I'd use, so there's no hurry to release a prototype). The problem is I want to start writing code right away, but that has the issue that I've mentioned above (gaps in knowledge).

Nobody is at fault, other than me for setting these constraints for myself. I know the solution is to just suck up and go through the rust book, read a chapter daily and eventually I'd have all the concepts in my head that I can then just focus on writing the code. But whenever I go about doing this, my mind always persuades me that there must be a better way, or it finds some flaws in my current approach and so on. So I need to learn how to not listen to my mind in such cases, and stick to the goal that I set.

Edit - After reading a reply to my comment, I've decided to just start writing the code and not worry about having gaps, anytime I start having doubts again, I'd go through this comment thread


> I know the solution is to just suck up and go through the rust book

No. The solution is to skip Rust and choose Java, C# or Go. Rust has a steep learning curve and if you project can tolerate a GC, there is next to no return for using Rust.

Instead of spending the next 6 months (for most people it's longer) to learn Rust, spend the next week getting to grips with C# (or Go, or Java) instead.


I personally try to follow the method of "make it work, then make it nice". You build something that works, it does what you need it to do. After that, you probably already know where the code rubs you the wrong way, so you know where to look to improve and learn.


I sometimes do that too - but sometimes this leades to another trap: I have something which works, but not the best. and I won't fix it, since the plan is to now do it "right". so I end up staying with a PoC forever..


Good luck in your adventure! By the way, I think many people here on HN (myself included) would love to help you out if you get stuck / are struggling to get started / want a code review / want to chat about programming. Just shoot any of us an email ;)


I guess it depends. If they have been developing mobile apps, and now want to develop a web app, then they definitely need to learn something like PHP, or Go or Python kr Java. On the other hand if they have been doing web development and now want to develop a native app, they must learn Java/Kotlin/Swift. Same for databases (perhaps you never worked with one, then you must learn sql). Even html+css must be learned if you never used them before.


There’s react native and cordova, if all you want is to build the usual mobile apps and you only know JS. And Java, Kotlin, and Swift are used for web development if you’re going the other way.




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