When Angela Flynn began her final year as a psychology student, she never imagined she’d soon be celebrating the launch of her very own iOS app. With no prior experience in programming or app development, the idea seemed out of reach. Yet today, Angela is the creator of “Cleaning Challenges,” an app that’s making a splash in the App Store.
Download her app through the App Store.
A Curiosity Ignited
Angela has always loved learning new things. The world of app development intrigued her, but it felt like uncharted territory. “I knew absolutely nothing about app development. I didn’t even know which language to use,” she recalls. The tech landscape seemed overwhelming, filled with unknowns she couldn’t begin to navigate.
Despite her commitment to psychology, Angela found herself wishing she’d pursued an IT degree instead. She felt a gap between her interests and her studies but didn’t know how to bridge it. The desire to create something tangible kept nudging at her, but the path forward was unclear.
Discovering a Guide
Everything changed when Angela stumbled upon a YouTube tutorial by CodeWithChris. It was a simple war card game tutorial, but it opened a door. “That first video introduced me to CWC, and it just clicked,” she says. She had tried other online courses on platforms like Udemy but often found herself stuck and discouraged.
CodeWithChris was different. The lessons taught her to break down problems into smaller, manageable parts. “If you’re stuck, break it down. Search for solutions. Break it down more,” Angela explains. This approach transformed the way she thought about learning to code.
Overcoming Doubts
One of the most impactful aspects of the course was its focus on mindset. Angela appreciated how Chris addressed the psychological challenges of programming. “Being able to get back to it after you’ve lost almost all confidence is a really good skill to learn,” she reflects. The encouragement to pause and recognize her progress kept her motivated when things got tough.
The course also provided practical resources beyond coding. References to tools for designing apps, creating artwork, and building websites were invaluable. Angela found herself returning to lessons multiple times, each pass revealing new insights or clarifying concepts she hadn’t fully grasped before.
Building ‘Cleaning Challenges’
With newfound confidence, Angela set out to build her own app. “I enrolled in the course hoping to publish an app. When I enrolled, I knew I had no idea how to do that, and I wasn’t entirely confident I would be able to do it, but I wanted to give it a shot,” she says.
The result was Cleaning Challenges, an app that introduces a new way to approach cleaning tasks. With the app, you can turn your chores into a game, where you can complete challenges, earn rewards, and eventually have fun and feel satisfied transforming your space.
With Cleaning Challenges, Angela utilized her background in psychology to identify a problem and introduce a gamified experience to a commonly frustrating task, which then encourages people to do their chores while having fun.
A New Outlook
Angela’s journey didn’t just lead to an app; it transformed her perspective. She realized that programming is an ongoing learning process. “Technology changes, and when you’re developing apps, you’ll always be learning and improving,” she notes. Accepting that there isn’t a final destination in coding made the journey more enjoyable.
Now, Angela is excited about the future. “I am confident I can make other apps now. It’s not ‘if’, but more ‘when’,” she says with a smile. She no longer feels limited when she can’t find a particular type of app in the App Store. Instead, she sees an opportunity to create it herself.
Her immediate goal is to develop more apps. “I want to get ten up on the App Store, and then I’ll start focusing on the ones that have generated the most attention,” she explains. The strategies she learned from CodeWithChris continue to guide her planning.
Advice for Fellow Aspiring Developers
For anyone considering learning app development without prior experience, Angela has encouraging words. “This course will be perfect for you! It starts off really easy to understand—you just follow along, and you can redo bits you don’t understand until they make sense,” she advises. The comprehensive nature of the course covers everything from coding basics to publishing your app.
To those who might feel like giving up, Angela emphasizes the importance of perseverance. “When you feel like giving up, I’d encourage you to break down the problem into something smaller. And if that doesn’t work, break it down smaller again,” she suggests. She also highlights the benefit of considering alternative approaches when stuck.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Reflecting on her journey, Angela is grateful for the support and guidance she found with CodeWithChris. “I like how Chris encourages you throughout the lessons, inviting us to stop for a little self-reflection to appreciate just how far we’ve come,” she says. This encouragement was a key factor in her ability to overcome obstacles.
Angela’s story is a testament to what’s possible when curiosity meets the right resources. She started with doubts and ended with a published app and a new career path. Her experience shows that you don’t need a background in tech to succeed in app development—you just need the willingness to learn and the right guidance.
Embark on Your Own Journey
If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own app but felt intimidated by the process, Angela’s journey might be the inspiration you need. With dedication and the support of CodeWithChris, the world of app development becomes accessible and achievable.
Ready to start your own app development journey? Check out CodeWithChris and CWC+ and discover where your curiosity can take you.