Whether you're a computer science student, an aspiring self-taught developer, or a coding boot camp student, mastering the craft of programming is a never-ending struggle. However, depending on where you are in your learning process, chances are you will have picked up a few tips to help you out.
But much like anything else, learning to code can be overwhelming. So if you are struggling, this post has some tips to help you learn quicker and easier.
Do As You Learn
Much like with anything, the sooner you start doing something once you learn something, the easier it will be to retain this information. So a top tip is to do as you learn, as this will give you experience with getting to grips with your learning material and putting it into practice.
It is one thing doing the reading but an entirely different thing to put into practice. So as you approach new topics, implement them right away to give yourself the practice to help you retain the knowledge in real-time. After all, that is the point of learning to code, isn't it!
The Basics Are Important
It can be tempting to skip over the basics and then push yourself toward the more advanced topics and knowledge. However, you can't build a house without foundations, and the same applies here too. So pay attention to the basics, even if you think you know them. Because once you have the fundamentals in place, the rest will follow suit easier.
Ask for Help
Ask your tutor or your peers for help if you are struggling. There is no shame in admitting you cannot do something or struggling with certain aspects of learning how to code. Those who get regular feedback can identify any issues and gain real-time knowledge from those who are more experienced in coding and know what they are doing.
Use All The Resources Possible
Don't just rely on your coursework to teach yourself how to code. Use all of the available resources such as how-to guides on how to Convert char array to String in Java and more. Many developers like to share their findings and knowledge. You can pick up many tips and hints from joining online communities to engage with your peers or well-versed coders who have encountered any issues you might face and share their knowledge with you.
Experiment with Sample Code
It is not enough to read sample code to understand how it works. To gain a true understanding, you must run the code and experiment with it. Sample code is packaged for the reader with comments and instructions; however, it is challenging to replicate from scratch. Reading is not the same as understanding, and actually attempting to write the code yourself, or at the very least running it, will greatly speed up the learning process.
As with trying to learn anything new, it is important to remember that the rest will continue to develop once you have the basics in place. So practise in this case, really does make perfect!
Walter Guevara is a software engineer, startup founder and currently teaches programming for a coding bootcamp. He is currently building things that don't yet exist.
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