The First Line of Code: How I Turned My Tech Knowledge Into a Blog That Helped Thousands

The First Line of Code: How I Turned My Tech Knowledge Into a Blog That Helped Thousands

BY [WAQAR ALI]

I still remember the night I stared at a blank WordPress editor, fingers hovering nervously over the keyboard. I had been working in tech for three years, solving tough backend issues, debugging JavaScript nightmares, and learning something new every week. But none of it had seen the light of day outside my GitHub repo or office Slack.

That night changed everything.

Starting a tech blog wasn’t something I planned. It was born out of frustration—frustration with Google searches that didn’t quite solve my problem, and forums filled with jargon but no clarity. I thought, “If I can’t find an easy explanation, why not write one myself?”

Why a Tech Blog?

Let me be clear—starting a tech blog is not about becoming an influencer or raking in ad dollars (although that can happen). It’s about three things:

Clarifying your own understanding: When you write about tech topics, you’re forced to simplify and structure your thoughts.

Helping others: Someone out there is facing the same bug, error, or confusion you just solved.

Building credibility: Your blog becomes a portfolio. It shows what you know and how you think.

Step 1: Pick a Niche, But Keep It Real

My first mistake was trying to blog about everything. One day it was React hooks, the next it was Linux commands. It was chaotic—and unhelpful to readers.

Instead, I narrowed my focus: JavaScript for backend developers. It’s what I was working on daily, and I had tons of lessons to share. Pick a niche that matches your daily work or current learning. You’ll always have something to write about.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platform

I started with WordPress, moved to Medium, then finally self-hosted my blog using Ghost. Each has pros and cons:

WordPress: Great for beginners and flexible, but can feel bloated.

Medium: Easy to use and built-in audience, but hard to control branding.

Ghost or Jekyll + GitHub Pages: Clean and fast for tech-savvy users, but needs more setup.

Don’t overthink it. Pick a platform that gets you writing now. You can always migrate later.

Step 3: Write What You Needed to Know Last Week

The secret to never running out of content? Write tutorials, guides, or thought pieces about things you just learned or fixed.

Here are a few of my early blog titles:

“What I Wish I Knew About Promises in JavaScript”

“A Simple Guide to REST API Error Handling”

“Why Your Fetch Requests Fail in Production (and How to Fix It)”

Every one of those came from real pain points—and those posts got the most traffic.

Step 4: Use Simple Language and Real Examples

One of the biggest mistakes tech bloggers make is trying to sound smart. Don't. Your job is to be clear, not impressive.

Use:

Code snippets that work.

Screenshots or diagrams when needed.

Step-by-step instructions.

Analogies that simplify complex ideas (e.g., explain APIs as restaurant menus).

Step 5: Share, Engage, and Keep Going

When I published my first blog post, no one read it. I almost gave up. But then I shared it on:

Reddit (subreddits like r/learnprogramming and r/webdev)

Twitter (now X)

Dev.to

LinkedIn

Gradually, people began to comment, ask questions, and even suggest blog topics. The key is consistency and engagement. Reply to comments. Ask your readers what they want to learn. Be part of the community.

Bonus Tip: Add Your Personality

Your blog isn’t Stack Overflow. Inject humor, tell mini-stories, share your thought process. Make readers feel like they’re learning from a smart friend—not a textbook.

Final Thoughts

Starting a tech blog is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s opened doors—freelance gigs, speaking invitations, and a network of curious, kind, and brilliant people. But more importantly, it made me a better developer and a better learner.

So if you're sitting on a pile of tech knowledge, no matter how “basic” you think it is—share it. Someone out there is searching for exactly what you’ve already figured out.

And who knows? That first blog post might just change your career.