I have started my career as a trainee and prove my self and achieve all the milestone with good guidance and reach up to the project manager. In this journey, I understand all the procedure which make me a good developer, team leader, and a project manager.

Ross Edlin

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Is PHP Dead?

How much can I earn as a freelance web developer?

Despite AI’s progress in automating tasks and certain aspects of coding, it is far from replacing human programmers entirely. Coding continues to be a crucial skill that enhances comprehension, facilitates customization, enhances problem solving, and drives innovation, thus remaining a vital asset in today’s technology-driven world.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ai-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3352"/></figure>



In this article we will be learning the importance of Why Learn to Code if there is AI. So, let’s begin the journey.



Table of Content:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Introduction to AI</li>



<li>The role of Artificial Intelligence in Coding<ul><li>Automated Code Creation</li></ul><ul><li>Finding and Fixing Bugs</li></ul><ul><li>Code Refactoring</li></ul><ul><li>Automated testing</li></ul><ul><li>Natural language processing</li></ul><ul><li>Intelligent Code Search and Retrieval</li></ul><ul><li>Enhancing Code Efficiency</li></ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Intelligent Coding Assistant</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Why Learn to Code if there is AI?<ul><li>Understanding And Creativity</li></ul><ul><li>Customization</li></ul><ul><li>Troubleshooting and Debugging</li></ul><ul><li>Career Flexibility</li></ul><ul><li>Empowerment</li></ul><ul><li>Collaboration</li></ul>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Learning and Innovation</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Final Thought</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 - Introduction to AI</h2>



Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of Computer Science focused on making machines that can think and act like humans. This means teaching computers to learn from information, solve problems, and make decisions.



AI includes different technologies like machine learning, deep learning, understanding language, robots, and recognizing images.



It has greatly changed many fields by handling tasks that used to need human brain, such as understanding speech, processing language, making choices, and solving problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2 - The role of Artificial Intelligence in Coding</h2>



AI has greatly influenced the coding world by offering tools and technologies that support developers in different areas of software development.&nbsp; Here are some important ways AI contributes:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Automated Code Creation</h3>



AI-powered tools can automatically create code segments or entire programs based on simple instruction or descriptions. This automation speeds up the development and allows the developers to concentrate on more complex tasks.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Finding and Fixing Bugs</h3>



AI can automatically scan code for errors and security weaknesses. By recognizing unusual patterns, AI helps developers quickly find and fix problems.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Code Refactoring</h3>



AI supports code refactoring, which means rearranging code without changing its functionality. This process enhances code readability, maintainability, and performance. AI can recommend or automate these refactoring tasks to improve efficiency.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Automated testing</h3>



AI improves automated testing by generating test cases, executing tests, and analyzing the outcomes. AI powered tools can identify areas requiring additional testing and prioritize test cases according to their significance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Natural language processing</h3>



NLP allows AI systems to understand and work with human language. In programming, NLP can help by generating documentation, translating code comments, or providing natural language interface for coding environments.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Intelligent Code Search and Retrieval</h3>



AI improves code search and retrieval by understanding the context and intent behind developer queries, making it easier to locate relevant code snippets, libraries, or documentation more effectively.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Enhancing Code Efficiency</h3>



AI tools can evaluate and recommend improvement for code performance. This involves identifying inefficient pattern, suggesting more efficient algorithms, and suggesting changes to optimize resource use.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Intelligent Coding Assistant</h3>



AI-powered code completion tools like IntelliSense and GitHub Copilot assist developers by predicting next line of the code, suggesting functions, or offering complete solutions. This accelerates the coding process and minimizes errors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 - Why Learn to Code if there is AI?</h2>



It is a very interesting question: why learn to code if there is AI? Despite the capabilities of AI, learning to code remains valuable skill, for several compelling reasons:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Understanding And Creativity</h3>



Coding offers a thorough understanding of how digital systems operate. This foundational knowledge enables you to not only effectively utilize technology but also to troubleshoot, modify, and improve it in ways that pre-built AI tools cannot.



&nbsp;Programming let you bring creative ideas to life. Whether it’s developing a unique app, a game, or an innovation solution to the problem, coding allows you to implement your vision precisely and uniquely.



While AI offers powerful capabilities, coding provides deeper understanding of technology and the creative freedom to shape it according to your vision. This combination of knowledge and creativity improves your ability to leverage technology in a unique and impactful ways.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Customization</h3>



While AI tools usually offers general solutions, coding let you customize and adapt these tools to fit specific needs and preferences. With coding skills, you can create features and functionalities that are not present in standard AI solutions. This adaptability ensures that the solutions you developed are more closely aligned with your objectives.



Coding enables you to integrate an AI tool with other systems or technologies seamlessly. For example, you can integrate an AI tool with a custom-built database or interface to meet specialized needs. While AI tools provide valuable general solutions, coding empowers you to customize, integrate, and enhance these tools to fit specific needs and preferences.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Troubleshooting and Debugging</h3>



When software issues arise, coding knowledge allows you to diagnose and fix problems efficiently, minimizing downtime and frustrations. &nbsp;By Understanding the underlying code, you can identify where and why errors are occurring, which is crucial for troubleshooting complex issues that automated tools might not fully address.



Rather than relying on generalized fixes or workarounds provided by AI tools, you can directly modify the code to address the root cause of the issue.



Overall, coding Knowledge is essential for effective troubleshooting and debugging. It allows you to diagnose and fix problem efficiently, minimize downtime, optimize performance and improve existing system. This capability ensures that software remains reliable, efficient, and resilient against issues.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Career Flexibility</h3>



Coding skills are in demand across many industries, providing numerous career paths and job roles, from software development to data analysis, resulting in competitive salaries. The tech industry continues to grow, ensuring a steady demand for the skilled programmers. In a technology-driven world, coding skills provide job security and open doors to high-paying jobs. Tech roles like software developer, data scientists and cybersecurity experts often receive high pay due to their specialized field.



Coders can work in numerous roles including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Software Developers</li>



<li>Web Developers</li>



<li>Data Scientists</li>



<li>AI Engineer</li>



<li>Game Developers</li>



<li>Cybersecurity Experts</li>
</ul>



This versatility allows the individuals to find a niche that suits their interest. Coders enjoy industry flexibility, that allows them to work in a tech company or any field of their interest as programmer are needed in almost every industry.



Overall, coding offers numerous financial benefits, from high earning potential and job stability to opportunities for entrepreneurial success and financial independence.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Empowerment</h3>



Learning to code enables you to develop your own solutions and projects from scratch. This autonomy means you can create customized applications, tools, or websites tailored to your specific needs or ideas, without depending exclusively on pre-existing tools or external developers.



Having a coding background helps you make well-informed decisions about technology choices and implementations. This includes designing, developing, testing, and deploying your solution, which empower you to bring your vision to life without depending on others.



Overall, learning to code enhances your empowerment by allowing you to independently develop solutions, customize tools, make informed technology choices, and efficiently manage projects. This autonomy not only focuses creativity and innovation but also provides greater control and cost-efficiency in leveraging technology.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Collaboration</h3>



Coding knowledge improves communication with technical teams, allowing you to articulate ideas more clearly and comprehend technical limitations. Being able to contribute to coding projects strengthens teamwork and collaboration in tech-driven environment. This reduces misunderstanding and ensures that your vision is accurately conveyed to developers, engineer, and other tech professionals.



In summary, coding knowledge significantly enhances collaboration by improving communication with technical teams, understanding technical constraints, and actively participating in development.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Learning and Innovation</h3>



As technology evolves rapidly, coding encourages continuous learning and adaption to new languages, frameworks, and methodologies. Coding serves as a gateway to innovation, enabling you to experiment with new technologies and approaches, driving progress in various fields.



This ongoing education helps you remain relevant and proficient in an ever-changing field. Whether it’s adopting a new language, leveraging a novel framework or exploring emerging tools, your ability to code equips you to make the most of these advancements.



Coding encourages experimentation with new ideas and approaches. You can try out different algorithms, design patterns, and architectural solutions to find the best fit for your projects.



&nbsp;This ongoing engagement with coding helps you stay at the forefront of technological advancements and foster a culture of innovation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 - Final Thought</h2>



While AI offers powerful capabilities, coding gives you a fundamental understanding, creative freedom, and the flexibility necessary to use technology effectively. Learning to code equips you to with the ability to innovate, customize, troubleshoot, and collaborate, ensuring you stay relevant and skilled in a constantly evolving technological environments.

Why Learn to Code if there is AI?

Coding is the backbone of our modern world. It allows us to automate task, solve complex problems, and create tools that enhance our daily lives. As technology keeps advancing quickly, knowing how to code has become more important. Coding gives you a skill you need to succeed in this technology focused world. Whether you are looking to improve your career workspace, work on personal project, or pursue academic goals learning to code opens up a world of many opportunities and allows you to contribute to the future of technology.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/coding-1024x563.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3327"/></figure>



In this article we will be learning the importance of Why Learn to Code. So, let’s begin the journey.



Table of Contents



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>#1 - Rising Need for Programmers</li>



<li>#2 - Diverse Career Path and Opportunities</li>



<li>#3 - Boosting Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities </li>



<li>#4 - Shaping Tomorrow’s Innovations</li>



<li>#5 - Financial Benefits</li>



<li>#6 - Easy Accesses to Learning Tools and Resources</li>



<li>#7 - Final Thoughts</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 - Rising Need for Programmers</h2>



As the technology becomes more involved in everyday life and business, there will always be a need for a skilled programmer. Every industry depends on software application to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. All the Industries, which reply on very skilled programmers, are expanding rapidly, including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Artificial Intelligence</li>



<li>Machine Learning</li>



<li>Data Science</li>



<li>Cybersecurity</li>



<li>Blockchain</li>
</ul>



They help create new ideas and solve tricky problems to derive innovation. As a result, the demand for the programmer has skyrocketed.



Overall, the growing integration of technology into various aspects of life and business ensures a continual need for a skilled programmer to drive innovation and solve complex challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2 - Diverse Career Path and Opportunities</h2>



Coding Skills provides a diverse career path with numerous opportunities for professional growth, diverse career job roles and the ability to work in various industries. Coders can work in numerous roles including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Software Developers</li>



<li>Web Developers</li>



<li>Data Scientists</li>



<li>AI Engineer</li>



<li>Game Developers</li>



<li>Cybersecurity Experts</li>
</ul>



This versatility allows the individuals to find a niche that suits their interest. Coders enjoy industry flexibility, that allows them to work in a tech company or any field of their interest as programmer are needed in almost every industry.



Coding Skills provide the opportunity for freelance work and remote job. You can now work from home if you have coding skill.



Coders with innovative ideas can start their own software company. Additionally, the demand for skilled programmers remains high, which translates to job security and competitive salaries.



Overall, coding skills provides a versatile career path with numerous opportunities for professional growth, diverse job roles, and the ability to work in various industries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 - Boosting Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities</h2>



Coding helps you solves problems in an organized way, boost your creativity, and encourage you to keep learning and improving.



Coding requires breaking a problem into smaller manageable parts which fosters logical thinking. This process of breaking down is a valuable skill that can be applied to other area of your life.



Coders learn to design efficient algorithms enhancing their ability to find effective solution. It involves finding creative ways to solve the problem encouraging you to think out of box with different approaches.



Working on coding projects helps individuals improve their technical skills, boost confidence and sense of accomplishment. Coding allows for creative expression through the development of unique applications and games. It enhance the critical thinking and analytical as it involves systematic planning, debugging and problem-solving.



Overall, Coding cultivates a structured approach to problem solving, encourages creativity, and foster a mindset of continuous learning and improvement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 - Shaping tomorrow’s Innovations</h2>



Coding plays a crucial role in driving technological advancement and fostering innovation. It is the foundation upon which new tools, applications, and systems are built. Coding allows for the automation of repetitive tasks, making processes more efficient and reducing human error. Many of the latest innovation from smart home devices to virtual reality rely on complex coding to function that’s improves our quality of life. Coding provides the flexibility to create customize solutions tailored to specific needs, whether for businesses or individuals. Through coding, developers can address and solve complex problem, leading to the development of new technologies that can tackle global challenges.



Examples of groundbreaking technologies developed through coding:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Artificial Intelligence (AI)</li>



<li>Blockchain Technology</li>



<li>Internet of Things (IOT)</li>



<li>Autonomous Vehicle</li>



<li>Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)</li>



<li>Healthcare Technology</li>
</ul>



Coding is central to these advancements, deriving the creation and application of technologies that are changing our world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5 – Financial Benefits</h2>



Coding skills are in high demand in the job market, resulting in competitive salaries. Tech roles like software developer, data scientists and cybersecurity experts often receive high pay due to their specialized field.



The tech industry continues to grow, ensuring a steady demand for the skilled programmers. This means greater job security and numerous career opportunities across various sectors.



Many coders have started their own successful tech companies. For example, Mark Zuckerberg used his coding skills to create Facebook, turning it into multi-billion dollar company.



Some coders choose to work as freelancer, taking projects from clients worldwide. This enables them to earn a significant income.



Innovators who develop popular apps like Instagram and WhatsApp can achieve significant financial success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#6 - Easy Accesses to Learning Tools and Resources</h2>



Numerous platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX offer a wide range of courses, from beginner to advance level. These courses cover a wide range of programming languages and topics making it easier for anyone to start learning. Websites such as Codecademy and freeCodeCamp provide interactive tutorials that guide learners through coding exercises and projects, helping them build practical skills.



Beginners can start learning coding language in following way:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Choose a beginner friendly programming language like Python or JavaScript as they are widely used languages and have ample of learning resources available online.</li>



<li>Utilize free resources such as YouTube to get hands-on experience from other learners.</li>



<li>Enroll in structured courses that can provide a structured learning path and access to mentors who can help guide beginners through the learning process.</li>



<li>Consistent practice is the key to mastering coding. Beginner should work on small projects, participate in coding challenges to enhance their skills.</li>



<li>Join coding communities as they allow beginners to ask questions, share knowledge and receive feedback.</li>
</ul>



With the wide variety of available learning tools and resources, anyone can begin their coding journey and acquire the skill necessary to thrive in the tech industry.



Overall, coding offers numerous financial benefits, from high earning potential and job stability to opportunities for entrepreneurial success and financial independence.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#7 - Final Thoughts</h2>



To conclude, coding is a crucial skill for today’s tech focused world. It helps problem solving, open up many job opportunities and derives new technology. There’s a high demand for programmers across different fields and they often enjoy good pay and job security. Additionally, with plenty of online courses, tutorials, and coding bootcamps available, it’s easier than ever for beginners to start learning.



Now is a great time to start learning to code. With abundant resources and opportunities for personal and career growth, there’s no better moment to dive in. Take on the challenge, explore the possibilities, and see how your coding skills can lead to exciting experiences in tech industry.

Why Learn to Code?

I built a payment page in 4 MINUTES, using Laravel, Stripe and PHP!

Are you looking at Programming PHP for the first time and looking for advice on whether to invest in a MacBook Pro?



I get it, there's soooo much information out there, it can be overwhelming.



First things first, relax, you're in the right place. Sit back, grab a drink, some tea and biscuits or whisky and enjoy the ride.



My name is <a href="/about/">Ross,</a> I've been writing PHP for over 10 years and worked with companies such as <a href="https://www.baxter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baxter,</a> a Fortune 500 company building Medical Grade Software which is <a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA</a> approved and e-commerce software for <a href="https://www.fiveguys.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FiveGuys,</a> the burger chain with over <a href="https://www.fiveguys.com/fans/the-five-guys-story/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1500 stores</a> worldwide.



In this article, I'm going to walk you through why I use a MacBook Pro and why I think it's the BEST for Programming PHP code.



<div class="wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents"><h2>Table of contents</h2><ul><li><a href="#h-1-unix-based-os" data-level="2">#1 - Unix Based OS</a></li><li><a href="#h-2-native-terminal-shell-support" data-level="2">#2 - Native Terminal / Shell Support</a></li><li><a href="#h-3-safari-support" data-level="2">#3 - Safari Support</a></li><li><a href="#h-4-windows-vs-macbook-pro" data-level="2">#4 - Windows vs. MacBook Pro</a><ul><li><a href="#h-crlf" data-level="3">CRLF</a></li><li><a href="#h-viruses" data-level="3">Viruses</a></li><li><a href="#h-registry" data-level="3">Registry</a></li><li><a href="#h-bootcamp" data-level="3">Bootcamp</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#block-abb0aaa2-7f36-4366-972d-9e934bc57fa6" data-level="2">#5 - Linux vs. MacBook Pro</a></li><li><a href="#h-6-the-negatives" data-level="2">#6 - The Negatives</a><ul><li><a href="#h-the-price" data-level="3">The price.</a></li><li><a href="#h-the-apple-way" data-level="3">The Apple Way</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#h-7-final-thoughts" data-level="2">#7 - Final Thoughts</a></li></ul></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-unix-based-os">#1 - Unix Based OS</h2>



MacBook Pro uses a Unix based OS.



Why is this important when Programming PHP?



Because most developers will use PHP on Linux based OS like Ubuntu or Debian and <a href="https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/unix-vs-linux/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Linux is based upon Unix.</a> So that means nearly all the commands are exactly the same when using each OS.



A good example is cd (Change Directory). On both Mac and all Linux flavours it's cd, whereas on Windows it's dir.



Let’s say in a different world, you’re developing on a Windows machine and of course, you’re running your website on a LAMP stack, so it’s Linux based.



It's irritating when you keep flipping between the two operating systems, typing the wrong command while you're in the flow, only to remember, wrong OS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-native-terminal-shell-support">#2 - Native Terminal / Shell Support</h2>



Additionally, because a MacBook Pro uses a Unix based operating system, it supports terminal and shell, natively, this is huge when programming PHP!



Gone are the days of having to learn two scripting languages, batch and shell.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batch_file" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Batch being the Windows scripting language.</a></li>



<li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_script" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shell being the Linux scripting language.</a></li>
</ul>



When you build your website, you usually need to have a few scripts to build initialise the site or manage some migrations. Whatever you want to do....



You can perfect that script in one language.



Shell.



In addition, you also have a package manager similar to <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/APT_(software)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">APT in Ubuntu</a> and <a href="https://wiki.centos.org/PackageManagement/Yum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yum in CentOS.</a>



Homebrew.



Homebrew is Mac OS X’s unofficial but very well supported package manager.



Installing composer, NPM, NodeJS, wget and all the other wonderful commands you wish you could easily setup on a windows machine are a single command away on Mac OS X.



On top of all that, you can easily setup Docker, Vagrant, Kubernetes, etc easily.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-safari-support">#3 - Safari Support</h2>



This is critical.



As a web developer, you need to test your website on all browsers!



Safari is used by 19.24% of the entire world according to <a href="https://gs.statcounter.com/">stat counter</a>, as of November 2020.



Unfortunately, Apple are dicks on this one.



They have stopped officially supporting Safari for Windows and have never supported Linux.



So the only way to test Safari is to own a Mac.



I don’t why they have done this, maybe you can tell me in the <a href="#comments">comments</a> down below.



I’d love to know!



Yes... You can download <a href="https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/68836/where-can-i-download-safari-for-windows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">older versions of Safari.</a>



However, as a web developer, you’re supposed to test your website on a device as close to the end user as possible. End users are usually using the most recent version because of auto updates.



Which kind of defeats the point.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-windows-vs-macbook-pro">#4 - Windows vs. MacBook Pro</h2>



From 14 years old, I wrote all of my PHP code on a Windows machine, starting with Windows 98, then XP, then 7 and finally Windows 10.



Avoiding those god awful operating systems called Windows Vista &amp; Windows 8.



PHP is not bad on a Windows machine, but it’s irritating and often time-consuming to solve really tiny issues that shouldn’t really be an issue.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crlf">CRLF</h3>



One issue you only get on a Windows machine is the annoying CRLF issue.



For those who don’t know, this is the line endings for text files, including your code. On Windows all lines end with \crlf and on Linux &amp; Unix it’s \lf.



<script src="https://gist.github.com/rossedlin/93db751923b71a013b90b89c3a9161d7.js"></script>



This causes an enormous problem in teams who use different operating systems.



When you download the code onto a Windows machine, it automatically changes every one of the potential 10,000 files in the code base, to use \crlf line endings.



Meaning every file has now changed on every line.



Good luck comparing code changes when everything has changed.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viruses">Viruses</h3>



Windows is known for getting viruses, which are basically none existent on a MacBook Pro.



You won’t wake up one morning finding your MacBook Pro full of viruses, you won’t have to install heavy virus protection software which slows your machine down.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-registry">Registry</h3>



The Windows Registry is essentially the main configuration for the entire operating system.



It’s a flawed design because of one major point.



Anyone can <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/370022/windows-registry-demystified-what-you-can-do-with-it/">change the contents</a>.



That’s what viruses sometimes do when they attack your system, they mess around with the registry and reconfigure your machine.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bootcamp">Bootcamp</h3>



Worst-case scenario, if you have a MacBook Pro and you do need to use a Windows Machine.



Mac OS X supports <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201468">dual booting to Windows</a>, officially.



Once installed, all you need to do is shutdown your machine and boot it up holding the alt key, it’ll offer you the dual boot options and you can select Windows.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-abb0aaa2-7f36-4366-972d-9e934bc57fa6">#5 - Linux vs. MacBook Pro</h2>



If you’re strictly talking about Programming PHP, then honestly, Linux is the best.



My personal preference is <a href="https://ubuntu.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ubuntu.</a>



But, a MacBook Pro does a lot outside of just programming PHP that you will find essential in a business environment.



I spent a year of my life solely using Ubuntu 18.04 as my main operating system, day to day at work.



The primary reason it’s so good is because most web servers that run a PHP website, use a Linux flavour to host the website.



Ubuntu being one of them.



If I was to rank strictly on PHP...



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ubuntu would be a 10/10.</li>



<li>Mac would be 9/10.</li>



<li>Windows would be a 6/10.</li>
</ul>



However...



Try using simple things like Skype for Business or Microsoft Word and you immediately run into problems.



The number of times I had to pull out my phone just to have a business meeting because my laptop does not support Skype for Business was irritating.



The worst part was the embarrassment of not being able to share my screen and having to explain in a meeting of 20 very high up executives that I don’t have Skype for Business on my laptop was embarrassing.



Adobe is another huge issue on Linux, it’s just not supported either! Imagine as a web developer and not being able to use Adobe Photoshop…



This is devastating for anyone in the industry!



Photoshop is the industry standard photo editing software.



Imagine a client you’re working with, sends you a PSD file (Photoshop file) and you can’t open it.



You have to call them back and ask for it to be sent in a different version…



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>It’s embarrassing</li>



<li>It wastes time</li>



<li>Annoys the client</li>



<li>Potentially loses a client</li>
</ul>



This is the primary reason I bit the bullet and purchased a MacBook Pro, because I wanted the best of both worlds.



Something the industry supports and works extremely well when programming PHP.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-the-negatives">#6 - The Negatives</h2>



I like to be honest in my life, and so I'm going to point out a few negatives with buying a MacBook Pro.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-price">The price.</h3>



Oh my is it expensive.



I knew the day I went down the path of buying my first MacBook Pro it would be a costly endeavour.



I shelled out £2,400 ($3256 USD).



Admittedly I bought the most expensive one in the shop, the 15 inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and a bigger storage drive.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-apple-way">The Apple Way</h3>



This is a love hate thing, for me.



Apple controls everything about their products and there is little you can do to change it.



Unlike the PC which allows for simple changes or huge changes.



However, because of this, everything works first time on a MacBook Pro. So essentially, you’re trading the freedom to customise your operating system with the benefit of it working 99% of the time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-final-thoughts">#7 - Final Thoughts</h2>



I personally love my MacBook Pro and would never consider trading it back for a Windows Machine.



It might of cost me in a couple of areas, my wallet being one but it was well worth it in the long run.



I’d love to hear what you think!



What do you use?



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Windows?</li>



<li>Mac?</li>



<li>Linux?</li>
</ul>



I look forward to hearing your thoughts.



Ross

Why I use a MacBook Pro for PHP Programming

Vietnam is a wonderful country with beautiful landscape, a warm climate, stunning beaches and very low cost of living. But is Vietnam good for Digital Nomads?



On the face of it, most people would say, yes! But like all places, it's not perfect.



As someone who's lived in both <a href="/blog/digital-nomad-chiang-mai/">Chiang Mai, Thailand</a> and now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.



I can definitely answer this.



<div class="wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents"><h2>Table of contents</h2><ul><li><a href="#h-cost-of-living" data-level="2">Cost of Living</a><ul><li><a href="#h-overall-this-is-what-i-spend-money-on-per-month" data-level="3">Overall, this is what I spend money on per month.</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#h-the-hustle-bustle" data-level="2">The Hustle &amp; Bustle</a></li><li><a href="#h-internet-wifi" data-level="2">Internet &amp; WiFI</a></li><li><a href="#h-visa" data-level="2">VISA</a></li><li><a href="#h-where-to-find-the-community" data-level="2">Where to find the Community</a></li><li><a href="#h-transportation" data-level="2">Transportation</a><ul><li><a href="#h-grab" data-level="3">Grab</a></li><li><a href="#h-renting-a-bike" data-level="3">Renting a bike</a><ul><li><a href="#h-the-extra-mile" data-level="4">The Extra Mile</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#h-buying-a-bike" data-level="3">Buying a bike</a><ul><li><a href="#h-be-aware-of-medical-insurance-on-bikes" data-level="4">Be aware of medical insurance on bikes.</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li><a href="#h-conclusion" data-level="2">Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cost-of-living">Cost of Living</h2>



Vietnam is good for Digital Nomads for many reasons.



Foremost is the cost of living, Vietnam is famed for its low cost of living, everyone knows this.



Personally, I live a very nice life with a $1,400 monthly budget. I know of certain friends who live for much less at around $750 per month.



But I like a little luxury.



I live in <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/qzkNQTqtt2uJFNBG6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Sunrise City View, District 7.</a> My place costs me 10.5 million VND ($453.14 USD) per month, plus bills which is usually around 1 million VND ($43.16 USD).



I have a really nice pool with a BBQ area which you can book for private events.



A modern gym, with table tennis, table football and big open areas for activities.



Downstairs you have lots of restaurants, a legit massage centre and shopping for groceries.



Day to day I spend about 450K VND on general food eating at nice places, with decent Wi-Fi, good AC and where the staff don't mind me staying for 4-5 hours while I work.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Song-Bistro-Cafe-1024x683.jpg" alt="Song Bistro &amp; Cafe" class="wp-image-2618"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Song Bistro &amp; Cafe</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overall-this-is-what-i-spend-money-on-per-month">Overall, this is what I spend money on per month.</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>10.5m VND - Rent</li>



<li>1m VND - Bills</li>



<li>13.5m VND - Food &amp; Daily life</li>



<li>2m VND - VISA</li>



<li>1.5m VND - Medical Insurance</li>



<li>3m VND - Other</li>
</ul>



Totalling 31.5m VND ($1359.43 USD) per month.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hustle-bustle">The Hustle &amp; Bustle</h2>



What makes Vietnam truly a place to live as a Digital Nomad is the hustle and bustle.



In Vietnam, you are surrounded by people who are hardworking, always striving to improve their habits, make more money and take their lives to the next level.



You often hear the saying... You are the average of your 5 closest friends.



So if you surround yourself with hardworking, successful people. You will ultimately become successful yourself.



Their habits will reflect upon you, you will be influenced by them. Vietnam has this in spades.



You will often hear about people working from 8am - 8pm, Monday - Friday. Only to come into the office for Saturday morning.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Asian-Working-in-Office-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2621"/></figure>



As someone who comes from the UK and is much more used to 9am - 5:30pm.



It's inspiring... and a little terrifying.



Overall, I have found it makes me step up; it motivates me and pushes me to the next level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-internet-wifi">Internet &amp; WiFI</h2>



At first glance, most people would say the internet is really fast in Vietnam. In my apartment I can safely get 80mb up and down, which is pretty decent.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Speed-Test-at-Sunrise-Friday-Evening-1024x478.png" alt="Speed Test on Friday Evening from my Home" class="wp-image-2654"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Speed Test on Friday Evening from my Home</figcaption></figure>



But the problem for a Digital Nomad in Vietnam is a little harder to understand.



You have a big difference between Domestic Internet speeds and International speeds.



Unfortunately for Vietnam, they do not have a large capacity for international data.



You know those <a href="https://www.submarinecablemap.com/">undersea cables</a> that join the world together?



The entire of Vietnam has 7 cables, with the 3 for Ho Chi Minh City listed below.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Asia Africa Europe-1</li>



<li>Asia-America Gateway</li>



<li>Tata TGN-Intra Asia</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vietnam-Submarine-Cable-Map-1024x606.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2627"/></figure>



The result of this means most providers in Vietnam need to limit your speed for any connection outside of Vietnam.



Simply because you just don't have enough bandwidth for everyone. And the limit can be VERY slow sometimes, we're talking 2mb.



Compared to Singapore which has over 20 cables and a population of under 6 million.



vs.



7 cables with nearly 96 million population in Vietnam. You get the idea.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Singapore-Submarine-Cable-Map-1024x581.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2628"/></figure>



For me, this poses a problem late in the evening times. At 4pm Vietnam time, Europe is waking up so the communication between the 2 continents, increases.



Most of the time, it's NOT an enormous problem, it's more annoying, it's only an enormous problem when a cable goes down.



Which happens occasionally, twice just this year...



And when it does, it can be a few days to a few weeks to get fixed. So... forget sending large files to America or Europe in the evening times when a cable is down.



Remember, you require someone to dive to the bottom of the ocean, just to fix it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visa">VISA</h2>



One of the big pains as a Digital Nomad is the entire issue around VISA's, that's where Vietnam comes in.



In other countries, you get your stamp or short term VISA for 3 months.



Awesome!



But...



Sometimes, the day you land and the day your VISA expires doesn't quite match up with your LIFE plan.



I remember having to skip out on Songkran in Thailand due to my VISA expiring 1 day before the festival (I'd already extended it).



A pain in the butt.



Vietnam currently offers you to extend your VISA as many times as you like, as long as you have a sponsor.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Passport-Stamps-1024x683.jpg" alt="Passport Stamps" class="wp-image-2656"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Passport Stamps</figcaption></figure>



Fortunately, many agencies will handle all of this for you.



I personally recommend <a href="https://snvi.com.vn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jane SNVI</a>, they're a dedicated Vietnamese VISA expert company in <a href="https://g.page/jane-snvi-hcmc?share" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.</a>



I have used them every time I needed my VISA extending.



They pick it up from my apartment, sort it out, and deliver it back about 1 week later.



The cost varies from time to time, but my last VISA extension for 1 month was $70 USD. A 3 month VISA extension can be much more expensive at over $300 USD, so I often just go by monthly. And I've been here for nearly one year and have not left the country.



For the latest pricing, <a href="https://snvi.com.vn/vietnam-visa-fees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">check here.</a>



This allows me to focus on what I want to focus on, instead of having to worry about VISA runs or leaving the country every 2-3 months.



A small caveat is I'm living here in 2020, so it's peak COVID-19 season, Vietnam is offering FREE VISA extension if you landed in Vietnam from the 1st March 2020, however I was in Vietnam before that date.



So with everything VISA related, it all can change at any point.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-to-find-the-community">Where to find the Community</h2>



I've often heard that it's hard to find a digital nomad scene in Vietnam.



I personally live in Ho Chi Minh City and would wholeheartedly disagree. I'm living here while covid-19 is in full swing and I've met lots of people making money online.



District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City has a sizeable community of foreigners. Specifically, in Thao Dien.



When I say... Foreigners. I don't mean Digital Nomads.



Thao Dien houses all types, Expats, English Teachers, Digital Nomads and the more wealthy locals.



Most Digital Nomad's, don't go to digital nomad specific meetups, they go to marketing meetups, networking events and general meetups for successful people.



And at these events you also have local business owners, sales representatives of big companies in Ho Chi Minh City, expats from all over the world, etc.



Thao Dien does house The Hive, a pretty nice co-working space which you will find Digital Nomads, as well as many other successful people.



But... That's the point.



It's NOT a digital nomad community, it's a community of varied successful people or people striving to be successful.



So I ask you...



Does that matter? What are you looking for?



Me? I'd say... Success.



And I'm talking genuine success, not those <a href="/digital-nomad/digital-nomad-scam/">scams</a> you hear about.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transportation">Transportation</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grab">Grab</h3>



On my first full month in Vietnam, I purely used grab to get around.



And... I used a whopping £115 ($154.06 USD)!



The thing is, when it's a couple dollars for a ride, you quickly forget the mounting cost. You get a grab to go see your friends; you move location, then get a grab home.



You think... Oh's it's only 5-10 dollars a day...



Well 5 times by 30 is... 150 dollars.



Yup.



So I rented a bike.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-renting-a-bike">Renting a bike</h3>



First, I went to some locals, suggested by a couple of people I met on my first days here.



As much as I liked them, the quality of the bike was not up to my standard. Each one I visited had at least one significant problem.



Lights didn't work, breaks weren't strong enough.



Although I'm an experience rider... I was uncomfortable riding in Saigon traffic without a fully working bike.



So I found a western run company over in District 2.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-extra-mile"><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/1e85Hdx3s4TMirvD6">The Extra Mile</a></h4>



They offer a wide range of fully serviced bikes on a monthly fee.



You're looking at 2m VND ($86 USD) minimum. Which purely depends on the bike you rent.



At half what Grab was costing me and it meant I had full freedom... This was a significant saving.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buying-a-bike">Buying a bike</h3>



Eventually, though, I decided it was time to purchase my own bike.



I'd been hesitant so far because in Vietnam, the blue card which is the proof of ownership of the bike in Vietnam is rarely transferred into your name.



It's often left in the original owner's name and then sold many times over before landing in your hands.



At first, this concerned me.



Until I found a proper reputable company selling bikes called <a href="https://www.tigitmotorbikes.com/">Tigit Motorbikes.</a> They explained to me that this is normal.



Along with the blue card, I was given a contract in my name, stating that Tigit was selling me the bike and it was mine.



According to Tigit, this is normal practice in Vietnam because changing the blue card is difficult to impossible.



As long as I had the blue card with the contract, it was valid.



So I purchased a Honda Airblade for $450 USD which they converted to VND (10,487,516 VND) and I paid using <a href="https://transferwise.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TransferWise</a>.



It was a really nice purchase, a solid bike that 8 months later is still going strong, at the time of purchase it had approximately 20,000 kilometres on the clock which is very low considering the age of the bike.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-be-aware-of-medical-insurance-on-bikes">Be aware of medical insurance on bikes.</h4>



Most travel insurances or medical insurances require you to have a bike licence from your home country, for me that's the UK.



Without it, it does not cover you in any situation for bike accidents, ever!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



So all in all, Ho Chi Minh City &amp; Vietnam is a good place to live as a Digital Nomad.



I'd love to here what you think about Vietnam as a Digital Nomad, let me know in the comments your thoughts and if you have any questions, I'll endeavour to get back to you soon!



Until next time.



Ross

Is Vietnam good for Digital Nomads?

Are all digital nomad’s liars, scam artists and broke?



No, but… some are.



I'm a digital nomad myself, a successful freelancer, I make money online by making my clients happy.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Working-for-my-Client-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="Me working for my client at a coffee shop" class="wp-image-2580"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Me working for my client at a coffee shop (2017)</figcaption></figure>



But…



I won’t lie to you, you have a lot of rubbish out in the world. Many people are pretending they’re much more successful than they really are.



The number of times I’ve seen people acting like they are living the “life” only to “go home” 3 months later because they're broke is staggering.



Now... I have absolutely nothing against people risking everything and trying out the digital nomad life.



In fact...



I support people taking risks, being a digital nomad definitely gives you a lot of freedom.



What I don’t support is people pretending they are much more successful than they actually are and THEN convincing others to do the same thing.



It’s wrong.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-the-digital-nomad-scam">What is the Digital Nomad Scam?</h2>



The Digital Nomad Scam is a magic pill.



It goes like this.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li> Quit your job.</li>



<li> Move abroad to a super cheap country.</li>



<li> Setup an online business and profit.</li>
</ul>



They make it sound SUPER easy, they'll bang on about how cheap it is, the VALUE you will get from being in the environment.



All true.



It is very cheap in countries like Thailand, Vietnam.



I've lived in both so I can agree. You'll also meet lots of other digital nomads, some... Successful.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nomad-Summit-2019-scaled-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Nomad Summit 2019" class="wp-image-2582"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nomad Summit (2019)</figcaption></figure>



Above is the Nomad Summit, I'm in this crowd... Somewhere... and I met a LOT of successful digital nomads at this event.



BUT!



Most people at this event would agree that step 3 is NOT easy, making money online is HARD. And this is where they try to SELL you an online course telling you how to do it.



They offer a blueprint to making money online at a small investment of 300-500 USD. They'll convince you that you'll make your money back using the techniques they'll teach you.



90% of the time, it's a scam.



This is the Digital Nomad Scam. It is HOW they are making money themselves.



So... Is everyone doing it?



No.



I've personally purchased a few courses from people I trust because I've met them in person and seen their results, or because it was obvious they are successful.



The ones that do understand what they are doing, do not offer a magic pill but instead offer advice which requires significant work behind it.



If you're curious who I personally recommend, scroll down to the bottom or <a href="#recommend">click here.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-youtube-hype">The YouTube Hype</h2>



One of the big problems that supports the Digital Nomad Scam is all the YouTube Hype.



When I first landed in Chiang Mai, Thailand back in 2017 as a Digital Nomad, a huge part of that reason was because of all that YouTube Hype.



I believed a lot of it.



Yeah...



I wanted it so badly that I ignored certain signs, avoided reading certain blog posts which pointed out what I’m writing about years later.



To put it bluntly.



A lot of the YouTubers are not as successful as they appear. And... when I say, not as successful... I mean, they’re running off of savings.



They’re not even earning $1000 per month, which is what you need to live in Chiang Mai, Thailand.



And yet, all over YouTube, they’re encouraging people to move to Chiang Mai and live as a Digital Nomad just like them.



I followed one particular YouTuber for quite some time back in 2016.



Now... he never outright lied. But he implied more success through only showing success.



But in reality, the entire of 2016 in Chiang Mai, he was barely surviving. He was not earning $1000.



I know this because when I landed in 2017, I met a few people who knew him personally. They told me he was using his savings and didn’t have a stable job making money for most of 2016.



He even got fired for his first job remote job.



And yet…



He was telling people to move to Chiang Mai, encouraging people and acting like he was successful. I personally felt like he was lying to his audience.



Acting like he was living the dream.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drop-shipping">Drop Shipping</h2>



If you google the word, “Dropping Shipping” and look at some of the online courses selling the dream of going remote, setting up a drop shipping store and making money.



You’ll suddenly see all these drop shipping adverts on YouTube, Facebook, etc…



“Stop!!!”



“Listen to me, I’m not lying”



“Look at my figures”



I swear it's literally hundreds of people selling you Drop Shipping courses, trying to sell you the dream.



I’ve met successful Drop Shippers. When you look at their numbers, they’re only making about 5% profit.



You hear the brag, $10,000 per month, profit.



To get that magic $10,000, you need to be grossing, $200,000 per month or $2,400,000 per year.



2.4 Million Dollars!



That’s not easy, not in the slightest.



I went to an event once in my early days of being a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai. The speaker asked the audience to raise their hands if they had a drop shipping store.



Half…



Half the room put up their hands. We had about 100 people at the event. It sounded impressive at first, but then I went and spoke to some of these people.



I asked one question.



How much are you making??



The most common answer was: “Oh… Uh… I’m not there yet, I’m still in the early stages” This became a pretty typical response from someone who’s trying but not yet succeeded.



I’m not saying they won’t succeed, but apart from the speaker, I didn’t meet anyone at the event who’d even made $1000 total, let alone $10,000 per month.



Yes, I know people have made drop shipping work… But these people worked their arse off, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week and treat it like a true business.



This isn’t the 4 hour work week.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-anyone-successful">Is anyone successful?</h2>



Yes!



A lot of people I’ve met over the years are very successful, me included.



But the truly successful and decent people will tell you it’s not easy. And often don’t brag about their success all over YouTube.



I work significant hours, following a good routine, getting up at 7am most weekdays and aim to be at my desk by 8:30 to 9am.



Often working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I exercise and eat healthy because I know I’m paid on results, not hours.



The difference is... I get to choose my clients, I get to choose my hours, I get to choose my work.



And so... I enjoy my work so I don’t mind working those hours.



The best part about my job is the freedom. I choose my work place, whether it's my home, a co-working space or a cafe.



Another country.



The choices are endless...



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="recommend">Who do I recommend?</h2>



So now I've got all the negative out the way, I will list 2 people below who I've personally worked with and purchased their courses.



These really work, they're not a magic pill and require significant work to see results.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tom-anna-from-adventure-in-you">Tom &amp; Anna from Adventure in you.</h3>



They’ve created a roadmap for building blogs called the <a href="https://www.bloggingfastlane.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Blogging Fast Lane.</a> Honestly, this is one of the most comprehensive online courses I seen.



Adventure in You has over half a million unique visitors per month.



I’ve personally used their course and had excellent results. But they will stress to you, it’s not easy, it’s not a quick fix. They give you a year plan... Yes... a year!



That’s how long they think it’ll take to see results in blogging. They focus on "value" and being "strategic" about what you write on your blog.



They're also very active in their Facebook Groups, often doing live stream events with Q&amp;A's and answering every question people post.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-course-creator-pro-from-parker-walbeck">Course Creator Pro from Parker Walbeck.</h3>



Parker teaches you how to <a href="https://www.coursecreatorpro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">create online courses</a> using knowledge from Full Time Film Maker.



He’s awesome.



His <a rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/pawalbeck" target="_blank">YouTube</a> channel has over 1 million subscribers, and he has tons of free content.



He's very active in their private Facebook group and many of his students have made significant money using the methods he teaches.



The other good thing is, Parker doesn't promote scam like methods, it's all long term, value based methods that require significant work.



Parker himself is an exceptional film maker and his first course, Full Time Film Maker shows people how to become a film maker.



He's also worked with countless big brands.



You only need to watch a few of his YouTube videos to know he's the real deal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



To finish this off.



Don't believe it unless you can see obvious results. Instagram pictures don't count.



I'm talking results from money side of things.



Have you met them in person and seen results directly? Have you been recommended by someone you truly trust?



Only then would I consider parting with my money.



I hope this insight has helped you to make better choices. Let me know in the comments if you've had a similar experience.



Until next time.



Ross

The Digital Nomad Scam

Quitting your job, leaving everything behind and becoming a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai, Thailand.



That was the dream. That… Was the plan.



But reality never quite meets what our dreams want.



This is my story, my first 6 months of what it's really like in to be a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai, Thailand.



It all started when I saw a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3TDEMftbD0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">video on YouTube by Riley Bennett,</a> the FBA guy as he is known.



It was the first time I heard about the term Digital Nomad and it blew my mind.



If you don't already know, a Digital Nomad is someone who works online using their laptop to earn money. They don't have a home base so can travel to other countries while still working and earning a full-time income.



It was scary, exciting and risky.



The hardest part was leaving my full time “comfortable” office job, knowing how much of a risk I was taking.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Lineten-Card-scaled-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="Lineten Card" class="wp-image-2561"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Goodbye Card by my Colleagues</figcaption></figure>



I was living in London, as a web developer, a Full Stack PHP Developer for a nice company call Lineten. This had been my home for 2 years, my colleagues which I was now leaving to go travelling abroad.



I had my family, my support network within 30 minutes from my home in London too.



And yet… All I yearned for was the dream of being able to work remotely…



To be able to travel the world… Experiencing exiting new places and meeting extraordinary people.



To become a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai.



Well…



It all started back in April 28th, 2017. That was the last day of working and living in London.



The day I quit.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Lineten-Desk-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2558"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My desk on the last day</figcaption></figure>



I spent a month with my family, seeing my friends before jet setting off with a one-way ticket to Chiang Mai, Thailand.



I had no income, no job, no support. All I had was my skills, my mind and a 6 month deadline.



£6000, that’s how much money I gave myself.



I locked away the rest, if I couldn’t do it in 6 months... Then I needed to have a serious re-think about the whole idea of being a digital nomad.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-day-one-as-a-digital-nomad-in-chiang-mai">Day One as a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://wp.codewithross.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/doi-suthep-view-chiang-mai-e1553755321460-scaled-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2272"/></figure>



On 31st May 2017, I flew to Thailand, landing in Bangkok first before changing plane and heading north to the mountains of Chiang Mai.



I still remember that night I landed, 3 and a half years later.



It was quiet when I arrived, most people were inside hiding from the recent rainfall that just covered the north, I’d not experienced Asian rain yet so I was in for treat shortly.



After a good sleep, I went out exploring and searching for other Digital Nomads in Chiang Mai.



Surprisingly, it took me a couple days to find them.



The usual place, Punspace seemed dead, even though it was Thursday. I think the rain encouraged a work from home attitude that day.



After 2 days, I heard about the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/nomadcoffee/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">local coffee club meetup happening.</a> It's on every week, which is fortunate for me.



I was determined to go, and it seeing as it's only a 25-minute walk, I decided to walk, a big mistake.



10 minutes into my walk, I experienced a full-blown monsoon.



I’d never experienced rain this hard, within 10 minutes the streets were 50cm deep in water and I was essentially swimming to my destination.



When I arrived, everyone was laughing at me, I was completely covered in water.



It was a wet welcome instead of the hopeful, warm welcome…



The event that was on that evening was all about making money on Udemy selling online courses.



I was particularly interested in this because of my 6 years experience, it’s something I could create a course on and actually know what I’m talking about.



However…



This is where reality started to hit me.



All my hopes and dreams about the whole digital nomad successes just hit me right in the face.



I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m proof of that nearly 4 years later.



But…



I realised quite quickly that more than half the people in the room had not made any money yet.



Not a single dollar.



I calculated that to live comfortably, you need about 1000 dollars per month and I didn’t meet anyone at this event who came close.



But I remained positive…



The speakers at the event are successful. They make money.



Well…



They did but not as much as I was hoping for.



The most successful of the three, spent 6 months making his online course, 6 months…



Udemy take 50% of a sale at $15 and the top guy had sold just under 1000 copies of his course.



He was being hailed as a megastar, the super successful digital nomad.



But it only took a quick calculation in my head to realise that he only made about $7000 for 6 months work.



Okay, okay…



I admit I’m being very critical here but after all the YouTube videos I’d seen about how successful everyone is in Chiang Mai and when I finally arrived, the super successful speaker of the event, that everyone is looking to for advice is in survival mode still.



I was rather irritated and it didn’t fill me with confidence about the whole Digital Nomad movement.



After some reflection, I realised that the speaker is just like me, a developer trying to make money. He’s done a good job and made a success of Udemy.



The problem was much bigger.



YouTube painted a rather pretty picture of Chiang Mai and the success of people here.



So when reality hit, it hit hard.



I had it good back in London, and Chiang Mai was not going to be the saviour of my life.



I had to be.



Alas, I persisted with my plan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-month-one-as-a-digital-nomad-in-chiang-mai">Month One as a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai</h2>



I spent the whole of the next month going out and meeting people, I quickly learned about Punspace weekly meetups on a Friday.



<a href="https://www.facebook.com/punspace">https://www.facebook.com/punspace</a>



Fortunately, Punspace seemed to attract a number of more successful digital nomads, more than half were developers like me.



Most were happy to give me advice on how to get started finding clients.



Essentially, I needed to work for free or extremely low prices on specific freelancing platforms, giving the best service possible in exchange for reviews.



This worked and after earning $5 for my first job, I had a 5 star review sitting on my profile.



I started to feel very positive about the whole digital nomad scene.



I had made my first dollar.



Now it was time to level up and make my first 100 dollars.



I had a couple more successes like this with 2 more reviews but again it was for small amounts of money.



I made $90 for a couple days work but then the review took about 2 months to come through.



At this point it was already the end of the first month and I’d made $100 total online.



Some people would see this as a success, but for me, it was not so impressive.



I was working like a slave and being paid peanuts, at least that’s how I felt.



4 years on though, I look back thinking how naïve I was, I jumped to another country and made $100 in my first month doing something that was essentially brand new.



I did pretty well!



But I’m pretty harsh on myself sometimes and often kept comparing myself to other much more successful digital nomads who made much more than me.



Comparison is the thief of joy - Theodore Roosevelt



All in all, the advice I was getting from people at Punspace was working, but you just need to have more patience... Which can be difficult when you have a hard deadline of 6 months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-month-two-as-a-digital-nomad-in-chiang-mai">Month Two as a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai</h2>



Month 2 was purely travel as a friend came to visit, so I’ll skip this month, mostly.



I'll say this... By the end of it, I was seriously starting to feel the pressure of it all.



2 months gone, 4 left and I'd made $100. I was going to need to change things up if I'm going to make it.



Failure was NOT an option to me.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-month-three-to-five-as-a-digital-nomad-in-chiang-mai">Month Three to Five, as a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai</h2>



Fortunately, this is where things started to turn around and be more positive.



I had the fortune to meet a guy name Phil, although we didn’t hit off on a friendship level, I think at the time he took a little pity on me because he could see my desire for success but didn’t know how to achieve it remotely on a significant level.



He connected me with another very successful developer called Tanveer who I invited to lunch, I’m glad he accepted.



When I met Tanveer, he seemed really down to earth and was glad to explain his process for finding clients.



He was like me 2 years previously, a developer, hungry for success but hadn’t found any remote work.



Tanveer fortunately found a resource which he used to great effect which guided him towards success.



<a href="https://freelancetowin.com/">Freelance To Win</a>



Freelance to Win, is a website dedicated to helping people just like me succeed on UpWork or other Freelancing platforms.



I was hopeful because Tanveer said he followed it and executed what Freelance to Win told him to do closely.



With patience and persistence, Tanveer succeed using the guide.



So…



I did the same.



Freelance to win basically told me a few main points.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Focus purely on solving your client’s pain, find it, understand it and cure it.</li>



<li>Trust is a huge issue, so you need to stand out, using pictures, videos and portfolios.</li>



<li>Be a specialist, don’t be a generalist.</li>



<li>Learn the process of hiring freelancers yourself, what you see first and what triggers you to click.</li>



<li>Upsell, upsell, upsell.</li>
</ul>



Once I adapted what Freelance to Win told me, I saw a 10x increase in my responses.



And within 2.5 months I did it!



A client paying me $30 per hour and offering me a consistent 20 hours per week of work, indefinitely.



$2400 per month.



And I had my free time to explore other options in my life.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Blogging.</li>



<li>YouTube.</li>
</ul>



Anything I wanted…



Unfortunate... The worst thing that could possibly happen… Happened.



It was like climbing to the top of the mountain, you’d just got to the top and achieved your ultimate goal…



And then someone pushes you off and you go tumbling all the way to the bottom.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-i-had-a-bike-accident">I had a bike accident.</h2>



It changed the entire direction of my life, which took 14 months to recover.



At the time of it happening, I had worked for my client for 1 week, a successful week, but alas.



It was only a week, so my reputation was not strong enough.



He was good to me but unfortunately, it just didn’t work out because of the accident.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



So, all in all, being a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai was a great experience, you can definitely succeed and I’m proof of that.



I achieved the goal, within 4.5 months of being in Chiang Mai with the first 2 months just experiencing Chiang Mai and Thailand for all it’s glory.



So really, with focus, I got my client within 2.5 months.



It was just really unfortunate that 6 weeks before my deadline I ended up in hospital.



Sitting in the hospital, losing my client and money running out.



I accepted I was going home.



So I tried to enjoy the remaining days of Chiang Mai after all the hospital experience ended, it was tough but I tried to enjoy it.



And then on the 21th December 2017, I landed back in the UK, the darkest day of my life.



Figuratively and literally.



Having success ripped away from me after all my hard work and it not being my own fault, I was angry and depressed.



But seeing as I succeeded the first time, I decided I would return one day.



Let me know in the comments if you're interesting in hearing what happened after I returned a year later!



Hope to hear from you.



Ross

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