I'm 13. I'm a Programmer. And I Built This for My Grandma

By Johanna Augusté

My name is Johanna Augusté, and I’m 13 years old from Canada. When I tell most people I'm a programmer, they seem surprised. But for me, coding has always been like solving a puzzle. This time, the puzzle was personal.

It all started with my mom and my grandma. They love playing card games like solitaire, especially Hearts. They wanted to find a simple, fun version they could play online without annoying ads. We looked, but everything we found was too complicated, filled with distracting ads, or just didn't work right. They were frustrated, and I felt like I could fix that.

I decided I wasn't just going to find a solution for them. I was going to build one.

My goal was simple: create a clean, easy-to-use website where my mom and grandma could play Hearts without any hassle. While the goal was simple, the process was not. Programming a card game means you have to account for all the rules. I had to figure out the logic for passing cards, the strategy for "shooting the moon," and how to make the computer opponents play like real people.

There were definitely nights when I got stuck on a bug or when the logic just wouldn't work. But I kept thinking about my family. I pictured them loading the website and just being able to play. That image motivated me to keep going, to find the mistake in the code, and to fix it.

The day I finally showed them the finished game was the best part of the whole journey. I sent them this link to the Hearts game, and held my breath. They loaded it, and they just... started playing. It worked. They loved it. Seeing the frustration disappear, and watching them just enjoy the game, was a better feeling than solving the most difficult bug.

I started this project just for my family, but it made me realize something important. Technology isn't just for massive companies or complex social media apps. It can be for making your mom and grandma smile. It can be for solving the small, everyday problems that you see right in front of you.

We’re always shown that success in technology means creating the next huge social network or a complicated tool for businesses. But the satisfaction I got from solving a problem for two people felt just as big. It showed me that the tools we learn, like coding, can have a direct, positive impact on the people we love. It's a different kind of success, one that feels very personal and real. You don't need a million users to validate your work when your family is your user base.

You don't have to wait until you are "grown up" to build something that matters. If you see a problem, and you have an idea, you can be the one to create the solution. Being 13, it’s easy to feel like you have to wait for permission, or wait until you have a degree or "enough experience." But the internet is full of resources. I taught myself a lot of what I needed just by searching for answers on YouTube and Google when I got stuck.

Your age doesn't define your ability to think or your ability to create. Your perspective is actually unique. I knew exactly what my mom and grandma needed because I listen to them. An adult developer might have over-engineered it, adding features they didn't want.

I hope my game helps other families find a fun way to play together, and I hope my story encourages other young creators to start building. So, if you’re a young person with an idea, don't dismiss it just because it seems small. Don't wait. Start with that small problem, the one that annoys you or your family. 

The first version won't be perfect, but you will learn so much just from the act of building it. That's what I did. I just wanted to make my mom and grandma happy, and in the process, I found a new sense of purpose for my skills.

Connect With Johanna

www.onlinecardgames.io