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Things I wish I knew earlier when I start coding.
I wish I knew a lot, but 25 things come to mind.
Full Disclosure: I've put the most important things in this blog that I feel most Important to know when you are newbies in this are. I would appreciate it if you read the full Blog and hope you'll enjoy it.
Learn by doing. The only way to get better at programming is to actually code. Don't let analysis paralysis stop you from getting started.
Programming is different from studying for exams. Memorization is not so important.
Cheating is perfectly acceptable. I use Google to solve most problems, and so do most programmers.
Ignoring the problem is a bad strategy, I made endless changes to my code and hoped it would work out of the box. The problem with this approach is that one problem overlaps another, making it difficult to figure out what went wrong.
Self-study is really difficult. Talking about code and collaborating with other aspiring developers is a better way to learn for most people.
Release your emotions. On my way to the programmer, I get an error message. If failure is an integral part of the process, you must be willing to make mistakes in order to grow.
You don't need 5 monitors. Contrary to what Hollywood says, you don't need a crazy external monitor setup to be a programmer. The computer you currently own is probably good enough to get you started programming. Don't waste your money.
There is a big difference between upper and lower case. It takes a while to get used to noticing subtle differences between similar symbols, and it can be quite frustrating until you get used to it. At first I tried to figure out the "why" of all the problems I encountered. This is not required. Computers are very complex, there is a lot to learn, and we cannot understand everything. All right.
Pair the program as often as possible. There is no faster way to learn programming.
Changing buggy code is part of the process. I thought the code I wrote had to be perfect. However, it's normal to improve your code.
There is a right way to ask for help. Everyone has to get help somewhere.
- Conveys too much visible detail.
- Please explain exactly what you think should happen.
- Please explain exactly what is actually happening.
- Please explain why you think we should work differently.
- As you go through this process, you often find a solution without even asking for help. You can see the problem holistically.
You don't have to be a math genius. Not being a "mathematician" doesn't mean you can't be a programmer.
Always celebrate small victories, Building something with code is really cool. I would never have gotten to where I am if I hadn't stepped back and admired the amazing things I've built.
Meetings are incredibly valuable. It was pretty scary at first until I felt comfortable participating in these. But when I did, I realized that there are a lot of developers like me.
Avoid merge conflicts and you'll be happier. Merge conflicts are nasty. So when I realized I could sneak features in front of my teammates, I was super excited.
It's okay to admit you don't know. When you get your first programming job, you may have a tendency to "fake it until you get it right". No. no one thinks you know everything right away
I wake up in the morning thinking about code. And when it happens, it's really cool.
It's okay to make big mistakes. I once made a mistake that damages whole project file and I have to start working on it from beginning. In doing so, I learned the most important lesson of my programming career.
The algorithm is like looking up names in a phone book. The algorithm is a stepwise approach with only one correct next step. An easier way to think about it is the strategy you use to find a specific name in your phone book.
Never feel ready to code full-time. Imposter syndrome is real. Remember that not knowing everything is normal. The most important thing is to understand that you can find out what you don't know.
Programmers never stop learning. New technologies are emerging all the time, so successful programmers are those who continually learn and evolve their craft.
Make computers think like humans. Too many people have the impression that they have to think like computers. it's actually the opposite.
Programming is about using the right tools for the job at hand. A variety of open source libraries, tools and frameworks are available. So you need to expand your developer toolkit and understand which tools are right for each problem you encounter.
It's common to give up right before a change. Learning to code (especially until you can change jobs) is hard work. It takes time and a lot of discipline, but it is possible. Too many people make the mistake of putting in enough effort to get there. I also watch a YouTube video of Miss. Colleen Schnettler's journy, she runs one of the biggest freelancing agencies around the globe. Click Here is you want to see that video too.
Learning to program is not easy. But that's why it's worth it. Looking back, I'm actually very happy because I was so sober at first. The fact that I knew so little at the time gave me the motivation to critically question everything I learned later.
So ya that's all that I can give you on this topic, hope you found it helpful and start your programming journey. Next blog will be about which Language is preferable in order to start your journey. Stay Tuned.....!