Rekindling my love for programming and enjoying the act of creating

post, May 16, 2023, on Mitja Felicijan's blog

Programming can be a challenging and rewarding experience, but sometimes it's easy to feel burnt out or disinterested. I have lost the passion for coding over the past couple of months and it looked like I will never enjoy the coding as much as I did.

I was feeling burnt out with programming. I thought taking a break from it and focusing on other activities that I enjoy might be helpful. This way, I could come back to programming with a fresh perspective and renewed energy. I also thought about learning a new programming language or technology to keep things interesting and challenging.

However, what I didn't realize was that learning a new language or technology wasn't going to solve the underlying issue. I needed to take a step back and re-evaluate why I had lost my passion for programming in the first place. This involved taking a deep look into what I was doing that resulted in this rut.

Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the hype of new technologies or languages, and we can feel like we're missing out if we're not constantly learning and experimenting. However, it's important to remember that the latest and greatest isn't always the best fit for our projects or our interests. Instead of constantly chasing the next big thing, it can be helpful to focus on what truly interests us and what we're passionate about. This can help us stay motivated and engaged with our work, rather than feeling like we're just going through the motions.

I expressed that I had lost my passion for coding over the past couple of months, and I realized that the reason behind it was my tendency to spread myself too thin and not focus on completing interesting projects. In order to regain my passion for coding, I need to focus on projects that truly interest me and give me a sense of purpose and motivation.

Recently, I have been playing World of Warcraft more frequently and have become interested in developing addons for the game.

This quickly resulted in me creating three addons that improve the quality of life, and I subsequently developed a more useful add-on that encapsulates all the others I made.

I found it interesting that this action sparked a new interest in me. Additionally, I discovered the Lua language, which reminded me that coding should be fun rather than just a struggle with a language. It should be pure, unadulterated fun.

I wasn't fighting the syntax, nor was I focused on finding the most optimal solution. I simply created things without the pressure of making them the best they could possibly be.

This made me realize that I actually adore simple languages that get out of the way and let you express what you want to do. It forced me to rethink a lot about what I use and what I actually enjoy.

I have decided to stick to the basics. For a scripting language, I will use Lua. For networking, I will use Golang. And for any special needs, I will rely on C. I do not require Rust, Nim, or Zig. This selection is more than sufficient for my needs. I have to stay true to this simplicity. There is something to the Occam's Razor.

I've been struggling with a lack of creativity lately, but now I'm experiencing a real change. I realized I needed to take a step back and stop actively trying to address the issue. I needed to stop worrying and overthinking it. I simply needed some time. Looking back, I don't think I've taken any significant time off in the last 10 years.

Suddenly, I find myself with the energy and passion to complete multiple small projects. It doesn't feel like a chore at all. Who knew I needed WoW to kickstart everything. Inspiration really does come from the strangest places.