Should junior developers blog about what they learn?

[ProudGeek]

I have always had a dream of having a self-built blog where I share what I learn. Not for any ulterior motives but just to share my experiences, as I do not like the ecosystem social media platforms have built.

But now, that I am all setup and have written a few articles, I am concerned if I should be spending time writing articles just for fun. All the "blogging as a career" content out there seems to make me feel like aspiring to just blog as a hobby is a pipe-dream.

So I want to ask, is anyone out there blogging for fun anymore?

[rektide]

Putting thoughts into words is an extremely valuable practice. It makes you a far better thinker, helps you pick & choose what ideas are important, what words to use to think about things. I 100% recommend writing down what you are learning.

There's a much longer form write up on why you should write on a blog or otherwise in a public area, in Swyx's Learn In Public[1]. You're doing it, you're on the path, you're doing great. Keep it up.

The point, overwhelmingly, to me is, you don't know what will be valuable. You don't know when it will be. People are random functions, in randomized situations, and it might be years, but someday either you or someone else being able to run into your words, your posts, & gain some insight: that could make all the difference, for you, for someone else.

One other small plug, some friends have "TIL" blogs or git projects, where they add 1-3 sentence things that they learn. It's really fun, for them, and for their growing audience. Time commitment is low, anything goes for topics (many are 60/40 tech/other), it's interesting to read, it gives the readers some idea of where you are, and best of all, it encourages mindfulness: being on the lookout for what you are learning, watching yourself grow, seeing yourself evolve over time. I love the TIL blogs. Need to start mine. ;)

[1] https://www.swyx.io/learn-in-public/

[ProudGeek]

That sounds interesting, I haven't seen such blogs myself but the concept is exactly what I thought blogging was originally about. Since I am currently still learning as a developer, people around me give me advises like I could spend the time I spent writing articles on learning something new. I am not saying they are correct, sharing my experiences gives me a different form of pleasure. But I was just in the dilemma of whether doing something I like is good when I am still trying to get better at my craft. Thanks for the encouragement :)

[notional]

When I was just getting started in my first couple years of learning, I blogged at least once a week about what I was excited about and what I was learning.

It was a good way to put words to thoughts and solidify things I've learned. It also helped keep me on track, I could look back at what I wrote last week and keep myself on track and honest to myself that I was going to follow through.

I should probably pick this back up since it was an effective means for learning. No one ever read what I wrote but some times it helps to put it out there in the public instead of a diary in order to kind of force yourself to stay with it.

[ProudGeek]

And the shameless plug: here is my amateur blog - https://www.newbiedev.me/

[idontevengohere]

hey, if you do it, I'll start a blog too! We can do it together

[ProudGeek]

I already did. Just wondering if I should continue doing it.

[PaulHoule]

Just do it.