Finally Shipped My App at 40 with ADHD

You Can Do This!
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Let me be real. I failed freeCodeCamp’s first JavaScript cert three times. Three. Now I’m 41 and somehow getting paid for code that tracks forklift parts. Here’s what finally worked when meds and willpower didn’t:

The breakthrough came when I stopped “learning” and started building crap my warehouse buddies actually needed. My Frankenstein app uses:

FCC’s JS modules (shoutout to the 10-hour Algorithms grind)
Pixso for mapping shelf zones after their Figma community plugin broke my React app
A $7 AliExpress LED board that blinks when inventory’s low (tactile feedback > todo lists)

The funny story is that Pixso’s SVG exports kept glitching until I realized their layer names matched my database columns. Accidentally created a janky auto-update system. FCC’s D3 lessons suddenly made sense when I saw real pallet data moving through those ugly purple UI boxes.

How do you stop chasing shiny tools? I wasted weeks trying to connect ____'s API before accepting that sometimes a screenshot and duct tape code is enough.

Update: Three local businesses actually use this mess. Still can’t believe I get paid to code now. What’s your “good enough” shipping threshold?

3 Likes
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First of all, Congrats on getting paid for code that tracks forklift parts. That is just super cool, and amazing!

Second, shiny tools are fun and it’s tough to stop chasing them, but as long as the chase is forward progress toward learning - kudos!

Keep going, keep coding, continue to have these great stories, and we will always be cheering you on along the way!