Ask HN: Where to start coding up a drawing app?
See my comment below for details.
I've found one video for creating a drawing app in JavaScript: https://youtu.be/0MkcQpXXlFM
I've repeatedly had Python recommended to me over the years as the first programming language I should learn. I'm happy to pursue JavaScript instead or another language if that would serve this goal better.
I've discovered MIT App Inventor and they do have drawing app tutorials. I completed the first Doodle app tutorial and synced it to my phone and tried the working demo on my phone.
If my app idea does what I want and does it well, I think I could sell it. In theory, MIT app inventor allows for that. In practice, it seems unlikely to me that this is really viable.
If you know how to take something from MIT app inventor and sell it via Google Play, I'm all ears. But I'm also doubtful I can even get the functionality I want via this Lego-for-apps system and I already know some HTML and CSS and I do a little website work for pay in the small town I live in. So I'm thinking it would make more sense to code it myself, both to get the functionality I desire and to own the code so I can potentially monetize it.
I'm looking for any ideas where to start. I'm fine with hearing "It's time for you to just start that free course that guy recommended to you back in March." (See below) But I'm a little leery of starting it only to discover it is yet another dead end and I've wasted a bunch of time that could have been better spent coding the app in a different language.
Back in March, someone from HN talked with me via Discord about learning to code and recommended a free Python course. Notes and link to course are here:
https://doreenlearnstocode.blogspot.com/2019/03/summary-of-d...
In March, I also learned my computer didn't have enough RAM. That has since been remedied.
In the process of applying for a thing around the same time, I also theoretically acquired free access to some initial coursework via a boot camp, assuming I can remember my login credentials.
(I'm medically handicapped and, as a consequence, I'm also dirt poor. So some things take me ages to arrange. If you recognize me, you don't need an explanation. If you don't, please let's just skip the irrelevant, invasive questions about why is everything taking me so ridiculously long and why the hell should anyone take me seriously. If you think replying to my question is a waste of your time, then I suggest you go all in on that opinion and skip replying entirely.)
This was added as a comment because it substantially exceeds the character limit for a text post.
The best approach really depends on how you want to draw, whether you prefer to hand-draw with tablet and stylus, or process/tweak/collage photos, or write code to generate graphics.
Regardless of the drawing approach, I recommend getting your preferred drawing pipeline worked out with existing tools, noting the shortcomings (or steps that take too long) and then coding up your own solution if you see value in that.
I have modest skill as an artist and I would like a tool that helps me more readily capture ideas as illustrations without needing to be a serious artist type.
I'm currently envisioning something that would kind of combine photo editing and hand drawing to accomplish that goal.