How iLoveCoding Started

Back in 2012, the startup craze was high, and I decided to launch a technology startup out of Chicago, where I live. I joined and graduated from Founders Institute. Since I am a web guy, I decided to forget mobile, my startup would be a web-based startup. Back then, every startup was using Ruby on Rails to develop their web-app. I thought if it worked for others, it would work for me - Typical mindset of a newbie. Since I didn't know any better.

Being a control freak that I was back then, I had to learn Ruby on Rails (RoR) on my own. Having no background in Ruby or Rails, I had to read books, do tutorials and get a hang of the language and framework. I also hired a few Rails Developers from Pakistan and started coding up my app. I told my developers that they would do the coding, and at the same time, they would also have to show me a little bit on what they were doing. I must say, the learning curve is pretty steep. Every feature I wanted to build for my app was a research project. It was not fun.

The Ultimate Practical Resource to Build Web Apps

Finally, I discovered this website Railscasts.com. I was in heaven. Railscasts.com has small video screencasts in which Ryan Bates, the founder of Railscasts.com, would take you from nothing to building a small little feature in Rails. Screencasts about User Login, Content Protection, Accepting Payments, Creating News Feeds, Building a Search Feature, all were there. If I wanted to make a replica of Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, or Quora, I could build it out of my learning from RailsCasts.com; one tutorial at a time.

In theory that sounded good, but in reality, after almost a year of trying, I still didn't get a handle on RoR. My startup was built and was primarily built by the developers I hired.

(Un)fortunately, my startup didn't work out, and right at that time, I was starting to get interested in Front-End Development and Node.js. Historically JavaScript only ran on the browser, that meant that JavaScript was only good for creating front-end website features that ran on the browser. But with Node.js, JavaScript code could run on the computer without the need of a browser. This opened JavaScript to compete with all other programming languages imaginable. Now you could create, website backends, desktop applications, TV applications, smart-watch applications and even mobile applications with JavaScript.

My thought process was - why learn platform-specific languages such as PHP, Python, Ruby, C#, etc, when I can learn just ONE language to build apps for every platform. I came to the realization that JavaScript is the ONLY language that qualifies to do that. This realization made me go all in with JavaScript.

Finding Resources to Learn Full-Stack JavaScript

I googled hundreds of times in search of a website that would teach me JavaScript in a way that would make me confident and practically-able to build JavaScript apps. After months of frustrations and trying dozens of tutorials and courses I was still a wannabe programmer. I was looking for a "Railscasts.com for JavaScript" like resource, that could teach me how to practically build Modern Front-End Websites, Interactive User-Interfaces, and Backend APIs and Systems via JavaScript. I didn't find such a resource (and none exists till this day besides iLoveCoding - updated in 2019)

One night I was laying in my bed ready to fall asleep, and it dawned on me - what If there as a website similar to Railscasts but for JavaScript, that's what I would gladly pay money for. But there was nothing like it, I had spent months looking for a good resource and to no avail. I had to scratch my own itch, and at that night the concept and dream of iLoveCoding was born.

iLoveCoding is for JavaScript what RailsCasts is for Rails

iLoveCoding is the only resource on the Internet that specializes in teaching JavaScript in a way that makes you a Full-Stack JavaScript Developer.

At iLoveCoding, you will learn the nuts and bolts of JavaScript. jQuery, HTML & CSS, React, Working with API, Git, Databases, Node.js, Express.js and more. This together will make you a cohesive Front-End Developer. A good front-end developer can command a salary of $70,000 - $120,000 with the above skill set. As a beginner, you would be starting at a lower range. As you gain experience, your earning power will increase.

With Node.js, you will be able to build backend of websites and replace Ruby-on-Rails, PHP, or any other programming language you were using in the backend. Since Node.js is in high demand and also opens up the possibilities of JavaScript usage, this skill will serve you well financially as well as creatively.

iLoveCoding is complete

When I started iLoveCoding, my goal was to have one definitive source where students can get all the baseline knowledge, with plenty of practice projects. I am super happy that I accomplished my goal. With over 500 video lessons and dozens of practice projects, iLoveCoding Curriculum is complete.

iLoveCoding takes you from a complete beginner, teaching you HTML, CSS, Advanced JavaScript, Modern Front-End development, Back-end development, Code collaboration with Git, Working with Third-party APIs, Databases, mobile development and more.

See the complete iLoveCoding Curriculum, and if you want to a complete learning path, check out this course - The Perfect Path to becoming a Job-ready Developer.