I understand how to code… To an extent. I know syntax and can solve problems given a set of tools (such as source code, functions, etc). I’ve made mods and basic programs (literally and figuratively), but I’ve never messed with internet stuff other than networking and mostly on the hardware side.
I don’t expect to make anything that will catch on, but maybe I can make a perfectly adapted thing for my own personal use. Would it be a good learning experience, or would jumping from modding and making, like, a DnD character sheet generator into making a front end for a website/service be a bit of an undertaking?
It’ll be a lot more involved than you think it will be. You’ll need to pick and learn the language of the device you want to create the app for and then learn the API of making calls to Lemmy instances. You then also need to have a idea of intuitive app design.
Not impossible and if you want to learn, I suggest you dive in with a simple goal. Get a post to load. Then get several. Then get them from different communities and build from there.
You will definitely learn some things if you keep at it. Good luck, friend!