The world of software development is magical, but also brutal. As a newbie to the field, I quickly learned that writing code doesn’t protect you from making mistakes, and sometimes it even increases your chances of making them. Not only did the mistakes teach me valuable lessons, but they also led to a crisis of enthusiasm that made me rethink my path. This article is about my struggle, the lessons I learned, and how I intend to move forward.
The beginning of the road: The joy of the first success
I will never forget the joy I felt when I created my first working add-on for XenForo. It was an add-on that turned a forum into a news portal – an idea that seemed revolutionary to me. After weeks of testing, error, and countless attempts, I finally saw my project come to life. I remember literally dancing with happiness. That moment was a symbol of the fact that I could create, that I could be useful. The feedback from users – both praise and criticism – inspired me even more.
The first mistakes: How enthusiasm fades
But over time, I started making mistakes. Some were small, like forgotten code or incorrect logic, but others were more serious. The biggest mistake was letting small disappointments get me down. A few negative comments, unfair expectations from users, or a lack of feedback managed to make me feel like a failure.
A big blow to my motivation was the illegal distribution of my supplements. I would work for hours to create a product, and then see it being illegally shared. Not only was this unfair, but it also destroyed my enthusiasm. I felt like my work had no value.
The quiet disappointment
Over time, I started to lose interest in the things that used to bring me joy. There was no mood for plugin upgrades or writing articles. Even the successes I achieved no longer brought the same joy. The silence in communication with users became even more discouraging.
I reached a point where I began to question whether there was any point in continuing. Was it possible to bring back the joy of creation? At that moment, I realized that I had to do something different. I had to find a way to regain my enthusiasm and turn my mistakes into lessons.
The lessons I learned
1. Mistakes are inevitable and useful
As a newbie to the world of development, it’s normal to make mistakes. They’re part of the process. The important thing is to learn from them. One of the biggest mistakes I made was letting small failures kill my motivation. Instead, I should have seen them as opportunities for growth.
2. Feedback is valuable
Feedback, whether positive or negative, is extremely important. Instead of getting frustrated by criticism, I should have used it to improve my work. Users who express opinions actually help me become better.
3. Injustice shouldn’t stop you
Yes, it was frustrating to see my add-ons being distributed illegally. But instead of focusing on the injustice, I needed to think about how to protect my work and how to keep creating.
4. Silence can be a motivator
The silence that so unsettled me can actually be helpful. It gave me time to think about what I wanted to achieve. And I realized that what I was missing was not the activity itself, but the sense of meaning that came from it.
What’s next?
After much thought, I have decided to make a change. You will no longer have to purchase each add-on individually. All of my XenForo add-ons, as well as my WordPress plugins, will be available for a $35 annual subscription plan. With this change, I aim to make things more accessible for users while simplifying the process of managing add-ons.
To learn from the experience of others
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that there’s a lot to learn from people with more experience. Instead of closing myself off in my own world, I should seek advice, read about the successes and failures of others, and be inspired by them.
Conclusion
This is the path. To err is human, but what matters is how you react to those mistakes. My mistakes taught me that the enthusiasm and joy of creation comes not from the absence of problems, but from the way you deal with them. Now that I have decided to change my approach, I am more determined than ever to move forward.
Life and work as a developer are challenging, but that’s what makes success even sweeter. I believe that with the right approach, perseverance, and a willingness to learn, I can bring back the joy of creation. And this time, I’m going to make sure that what I do brings happiness not only to me, but also to the people who use my products. This is the path.