# From Mechanic to Tech: Building My First Website with AI

## From Under the Hood to Under the Hood (of the Internet)

For years, I’ve been a mechanic. I know my way around an engine, can diagnose a failing transmission by sound alone, and I’m pretty confident I can fix just about anything with four wheels. But lately, I’ve been feeling the pull toward something different—something that’s been on my mind every time I see the digital world expanding around us.

I want to break into tech.

Now, I’ll be honest: I don’t have a computer science degree. I haven’t spent years learning to code in a classroom. But what I *do* have is the same problem-solving mindset that’s helped me troubleshoot countless car issues, a curiosity to learn, and something that’s leveling the playing field for people like me—**AI**.

## Why I’m Making the Transition

The parallels between mechanics and tech are more similar than you might think. Both require:
– **Diagnostic thinking** – identifying problems and working through solutions systematically
– **Attention to detail** – one misplaced bolt or one wrong line of code can break everything
– **Continuous learning** – cars evolve, technology evolves, and you either keep up or get left behind

The difference? Tech doesn’t leave grease under your fingernails (though it might leave you debugging until 2 AM).

But seriously, I’m making this shift because I see where the world is heading. I want to build things that can reach people everywhere, not just the customers who pull into the shop. I want to create solutions, learn new skills, and prove that you don’t need a traditional tech background to make it in this industry.

## My First Real Project: Dachshund.Name

So here’s where things get real. I decided the best way to learn was to just *build something*.

I created Dachshund.name – a simple name generator for Dachshund owners looking for the perfect name for their pup.

**Why a Dachshund name generator?** Honestly, why not? It’s fun, it’s useful for a specific community, and it gave me a clear goal to work toward. Plus, I’ve always loved dachshunds.

### How I Built It (With AI as My Co-Pilot)

Here’s the truth: I used AI to help me build this site. Not because I’m looking for shortcuts, but because AI has become an incredible learning tool. It’s like having a mentor available 24/7 who can explain concepts, help debug issues, and guide you through problems.

Here’s what I learned building this project:

**1. Domain Setup & Hosting**
Getting a domain name, setting up hosting, understanding DNS – these were all new concepts for me. AI helped me understand what I needed and why, walking me through each step like a patient teacher.

**2. Front-End Development**
I learned about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript – the building blocks of websites. Every time I got stuck (which was often at first), I’d ask AI to explain what was happening and why. It’s like having a shop manual, but one that can answer your specific questions.

**3. User Experience**
I learned to think about how people would actually *use* the site. How do I make it intuitive? What features matter? It’s not that different from thinking about how a driver interacts with their vehicle, actually.

**4. Problem-Solving**
When something didn’t work (and trust me, plenty didn’t work at first), I had to debug it. That mechanic’s mindset kicked in: isolate the problem, test different solutions, figure out what’s causing the issue.

## What I’m Learning About AI and Tech

Using AI to learn tech isn’t about having the AI do everything for you. It’s about:
– **Understanding the fundamentals** so you know what questions to ask
– **Learning the “why” behind the code**, not just copying and pasting
– **Building practical projects** that force you to apply what you’re learning
– **Iterating and improving** – my first version wasn’t perfect, and that’s okay

## The Mechanic’s Advantage in Tech

Here’s something I’m realizing: being a mechanic has actually *prepared* me for tech in ways I didn’t expect.

**Systems thinking**: A car is a complex system of interconnected parts. A website or application is the same thing – just digital.

**Documentation skills**: Ever kept detailed service records? That’s basically what commenting your code is.

**Client communication**: Explaining technical problems to non-technical people? I’ve been doing that for years when customers ask what’s wrong with their car.

**Persistence**: Some problems take hours to solve. Whether it’s finding an electrical short or debugging code, you don’t give up until it works.

## What’s Next

This is just the beginning. Dachshund.Name is my first project, but it won’t be my last. I’m learning more every day, building more projects, and getting more comfortable with the tools and technologies that run our digital world.

My goals moving forward:
– Build more web applications with increasing complexity
– Learn back-end development and databases
– Understand APIs and how different services connect
– Eventually, land a job in tech where I can contribute real value

## For Anyone Else Thinking About Making a Career Change

If you’re reading this and you’re in a similar position – maybe you’re in a trade, maybe you’re in a completely different field, maybe you’re just curious about tech but feel like you’ve “missed the boat” – let me tell you: **you haven’t**.

The barrier to entry is lower than it’s ever been. The tools (like AI) are better than they’ve ever been. And the demand for people who can solve problems and build things is higher than it’s ever been.

You don’t need permission to start learning. You don’t need a degree to build something. You just need curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to be uncomfortable while you figure things out.

So yeah, I’m a mechanic learning tech. And I’m documenting the whole journey.

Check out Dachshund.name and let me know what you think. It’s simple, but it’s mine, and it’s proof that anyone can start building.

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**What about you? Are you making a career change? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your story.**