this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2023
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Asklemmy

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Programming started as a hobby for me as a teenager. I always "liked computers" so thought I'd give it a try. I never intended to make a career out of it because it seemed so hard at first, but over a decade later, I'm decently accomplished in my field and get paid bank for it.

As a hobby, it's fantastic. You can add in missing features to open source software you use (including the one I'm posting this to right now!). You can make your own little apps to fill niches you haven't found an existing program for. You can automate boring stuff from other work. You can make mods for certain types of video games. Or if you're really ambitious, you can even make a video game (but I gotta tell you, video games are hard and need much more than just programming -- I do not recommend making video games as a goal unless you've thought out just what that involves).

If you make a career out of it later, cool. But even if you don't, it's a fun and rewarding hobby that costs almost nothing. As long as you have a computer (preferably not a mobile phone, though it's technically possible to use a phone), you can program. Hardware doesn't generally matter. Any cheap laptop works. All the tools you need have free and often open source ones you can use. You only need to pay for web hosting if you make a web tool and want to share it with others.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Programming is super useful as a scientist, especially with how easy it is to collect huge data sets these days.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

This, entirely. And especially with how tech-averse most scientists are in my field (biology), it's really easy to set yourself apart with just some basic programming knowledge

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Taking a break from making a video game to read this thread lol, you are not wrong about that part! Or any part, actually, programming is awesome and even outside of using it for work it's come in handy at least a little bit in every other hobby I've ever done. Up to and including knitting.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Meanwhile my dumbass has been trying to be even remotely functional with programming. A degree and a software dev job later I still don't think I really get it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

That happens to us all. My first year I felt useless. Once I started running projects and getting the opportunity to actually design our framework, I got a lot more confidence. The first project I ran I was not prepared for. But I improved in confidence so much while I did it.

Imposter syndrome affects us a lot. But even if you’re a shit dev, remember this: we literally do magic. Think about it for a moment. We write words in an esoteric script to convince electricity to create things that didn’t previously exist. Even the worst wizard is still a wizard. And the best part is that they can improve! There’s so many resources out there to improve your skills. It might not be for everyone, but I love my job.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Programming is great.

On that note, kinda similar: Selfhost your services. There is a lot of cool software that you can run on your old computer, or on a more dedicated machine. A file storage, a media server, your very own AI server, the lost is endless.

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[–] starman 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

There are many free (static) web hostings: GitHub Pages, Azure, Vercel, and so on.

On the rest of your comment, I agree

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (5 children)

It's not free, but you have to pay for it no matter what, so it kinda is, but cooking. Everyone should learn the basics of navigating a kitchen and the basic terminology.

Singing and dancing are both learnable free. Art in general tends to be cheaper. Usually anyway.

Intellectual skills are all fair game, there's wide availability online. You need to start with Information Literacy though, to kinda unlock the rest. Otherwise you'll waste too much time on bullshit.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Next time something breaks, try repairing it. Pull it apart and look for whats broken, google if you need info or ideas on fixing the problem, and go for it. Worst case scenario you can't fix something that wasn't working, best case scenario you've saved something from the scrap pile. Either way you'll have a little bit of knowledge you didn't already, maybe some skills

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Unless it has to do with electrical wiring or anything dangerous. Part of learning to repair is knowing your limits!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Some things are very dangerous even though for inexperienced they might not seem so. Case in point: the microwave. It has a powerful capacitor and if you try taking it apart, it might shock you even when disconnected from power

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Adding to that, capacitors can take a very long time to discharge. They can still do serious damage after not being connected for months

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I can't count the number of expensive things I've been given for free or cheap-as-free, and fixed it with 0 to 1 easy steps.

It's astounding how easily people give up on things.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (5 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

I’ve been practicing this. In 30 years when computer input is primarily voice and touchscreens, we’ll be the only ones left. It’ll be like knowing how to use Morse code with a wireless telegraph.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Lear how to cook. Just grab a simple online recipe, a bottle of your beverage of choice and try cooking something. It's a really simple and useful skill acquire.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Recently i picked up an electric smoker and oh boy it's been life changing. If you want to be the "cook" in your family this is the easiest way.

Take your meat of choice and smoke it. Make sure to tell everyone how long it took to smoke so they know to tell you it tastes good

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

What really helped me learning to cook was experimentation. I was always ok at following recipes but at some point I decided to cook Bolognese every week and every time I cooked it I had to use an ingredient I hadn't used before. Cooking the same thing with variation helped me learn the effect of adding different ingredients.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Having cooked professionally for the last 15 years, I take this for granted sometimes.

It amazes me how many people can't cook anything more complicated than kraft dinner. I don't mean to rag on anybody, but it's a skill you really need to learn if you don't know how. You'll save a ton of money and there's a lot of simple dishes that can impress people.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is an animated site for teaching you how to tie different knots.

With a piece of string and perhaps a few wooden dowels, you can teach yourself a variety of useful knots for different needs.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This barely qualifies as a hobby, but at some point I decided to learn how to count in binary on my fingers. It's handy if you need to hold a number in your head for a bit and can't write things down, or to count past 10 visually on your fingers for somebody. There are probably YouTube videos on it. I literally can't remember where I learned, but I practiced a lot when bored in church. It's relatively non-disruptive and practicing can eat a decent amount of time.

0 materials. Just takes time. Literally free.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I practiced a lot when bored in church

I've heard church frowns upon non-binary people. But I had no idea they convert people to binary counting.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I did the same when Masahiro Sakurai explained how to do so when revealing Byleth for Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's come in handy a few times when needing to count things out, and honestly can be a fun exercise for dexterity to just count to 31 on each hand.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I learned the basics of 3D printing and Fusion 360 (CAD software) via youtube. And the 3D printing has gotten easier since I learned.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

3d printing without basic cad skills is almost useless imo. I use freecad now but I've made tons of useful precision fit things using tinkercad.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Freecad is based. It feels like a superpower to be able to imagine relatively high precision parts and make them real in just a few hours. Tailored exactly to your project.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

Clothing repair. Patch, darn, replace a zip or button. Expand that to full sewing and it isn’t free but you’ll save a bucket of money, have clothes that are exactly what you want, and don’t disintegrate in 6 months

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Learn a new language. Tons of free resources online. Borrow books or audiobooks from your local library. Make friends with others interested in learning and teaching each other new languages.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

programming

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Mental math. People overcomplicate how difficult things are but quickly calculating numbers and percentages is a super useful skill that'll save you a lot of time.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just recently took up cross stitching. You can learn all the basics for free on YouTube and there are tons of cross stitching communities online and there are tons of free patterns online too. All the supplies you need at first are some thread, some Aida cloth and needles. When I started I got a stitching hoop too I think my total investment was about $20.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well hey fancy seeing you here πŸ˜„

It is my sworn duty to drop the community link wherever it's relevant so please don't mind me jumping on your comment.

[email protected] <-- we have cute cross stitch, satanic cross stitch, occasional embroidery, and at least once we've accidentally had crochet too!

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you have a patch of soil with good sun exposure you can learn how to grow your own food. It's not free but you can be very thrifty while doing it. Huw Richards has published a nice book on the cheapest ways to garden.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Depends, define free and define useful. ;)

You can learn a lot by reading up and watching YT vids. I already did my own car maintenance (started as hobby, now it's a necessity, car mechanics cost twice/trice my hourly wage), but didn't know how to replace the fuelpump on this modern car. Garage quoted €500, part was 109, special tool 79, seals 5 each (2). Replaced it myself in 4h.

I'm also learning to play bass guitar with the help of YT (already have the bass), painted my house, replaced kitchen and parts in bathroom including plumbing,... None of DIY things for free, but cheaper then hiring somebody to do these task. Even when you count your hourly wage, most of those tasks can be done cheaper yourself.

When you want no investment at all, languages are very useful to learn, at least when you meet others speaking those languages. Learning to setup a computer with free software is usefull as well (saves cash, so eeven better then free ;) ).

At this moment in time, in most pasrts of Europe and the USA, labour is the most expensive part of everything, so I'd say everything you can learn to do yourself is worth investing some time and maybe some cash in. Nothing wrong with hobbies that can save cash in the long run.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Learn a language. It's a great thing and you can easily do it instead of browsing social medias while traveling. I started with japanese about 5 months ago and can understand some phrases of native speakers already.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (5 children)

You can teach yourself how to change the oil on your car simply by watching YouTube videos. And then all you need to buy are a few basic supplies, and you'll be able to change your oil for life. Oil changes are either absurdly expensive (dealership) or done half-assed (Jiffy Lube), so doing it yourself gives you a job done right for pennies on the dollar.

And if you find that you have a knack for it, you can teach yourself more basic maintenance jobs like changing brake pads.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Also, if you have a warehouse membership from like Sam’s Club or Costco, they often have the synthetic oil you need for an absurdly low price.

I was buying 5 quarts of oil for like $20-30, I bought a 4 pack of Costco brand 5 quart motor oil for like $40

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I took more stupid long to realize you boughtοΏΌ 20 qts of oil from Costco And not 5. Guess I need to learn that mental math stuff from earlier in the thread.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Check out The Odin Project. It is a free full stack developer course. I'm going to give it a try myself.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Additional languages beyond your native tongue. Spanish, French, Chinese, American (in my case) Sign Language, etc. There are so many apps that teach even the most basic conversational skills in the most commonly spoken languages, and a lot of content can be found without upgrading to a premium version. It's a great bonus job skill, and an excellent way to make new acquaintances.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Cooking. Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by "free". I guess tree climbing or parkour. Or, languages too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

You can literally go to the woods, pick up a thick branch and start carving away. Only tool you need is a cheap knife, even an old kitchen knife would suffice for starters.

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