Labourer returns to code after 23 years!
I'm Joe a 43 year old frame builder with a thirst for learning and building (whether its with metal or code I'm all in). Since hitting my forties my body is struggling with the daily 9 to 5 hardship of manufacturing so I decided to jump back into something I haven't done in 22 years, code...
Coding has changed dramatically since I was last in the space. And with the emergence of AI it meant I can get up to speed and use it as leverage a lot easier. My goal is simple, to make high quality products to create a better life for me and my family. A life that doesn't involve not seeing my family in the morning, driving over 2 hours a day and destroying my body. I have loved my time in manufacturing, but now is the time to make that change. I want to show the world that anyone can make a living by building SaaS and APPS whatever their background or age. It's my impossible mission. And its one I will complete.... Thanks for reading!
Love this. Coming back after 20+ years is a huge move — and your “build things that actually work” mindset from manufacturing is a real advantage.
If you want to keep momentum, a simple loop helps a lot: ship something tiny weekly, talk to 3–5 potential users, iterate.
Curious: what’s your first product idea (and who is it for)? And what’s your plan for distribution once you ship v1?
Coding has changed a lot, but the mindset of building things that actually work never goes out of style. Your motivation is clear, and that counts for more than any stack or framework.
22 years away and jumping back in at 43 with a family depending on it — that's not a side project, that's a real bet. the manufacturing background is actually an edge most devs don't have: you already know what it means to build something that has to work, not just something that looks good in a demo. good luck with it
that's cool Joe! How come you gave up code 20 years ago?