What are the most effective tips for learning programming languages on your own?

Once you've identified your purpose for learning a programming language, it's essential to consider your prior experience and familiarity with programming concepts. If you're a beginner, you might want to start with a language that has a gentle learning curve and a supportive community. Python is often recommended for beginners due to its readability, simplicity, and versatility. On the other hand, if you have a background in programming and are looking to delve into lower-level system operations, languages like C or C++ might be more suitable.

To start learning a new programming language, start with a "Hello World" application. It sounds cliche, but instant gratification will spur you on to learn more of the language. Find videos, find books online or real books on the language, find tutorials, and then determine what YOU want to code next. Get your hands on an open-source program in that language, and try to decipher how others perform certain tasks. Make changes, and see the results. Consult StackOverflow for certain issues you can't figure out. Explore.

In the modern age of technology, seeking GPT and AI mentors is increasingly important to reinforce your programming learning. Learning a programming language on your own can be challenging but achievable. Choose a language, set goals, and work on basics using resources such as Codecademy, Udacity, and Coursera Practice regularly and read code written by experienced developers, join online communities, and contribute to open-source projects to gain real-world experience. GPT and AI techs can act as your pair programming partner in mastering programming languages and developing problem-solving and algorithmic thinking skills. In addition, websites like Rosetta Code and Project Euler provide code examples and algorithmic problems to work on.

Resist the urge to pick the newest or most fashionable language out there. Be practical. There’s a couple of reasons for that. First, if you pick a brand new language, there’s no guarantee the language is going to mature over time. It may be abandoned just as your product reaches maturity, leaving you in a bind. Second, newer languages aren’t as well supported in cloud ecosystems, so deployment may be more difficult than you want. Third, remember, you’re building something for a client, not for your own geeky interests. It’s fun to learn new languages. But at the end of the day, if you don’t serve your customers well, you’ll lack the capital to keep going. In short, be practical and customer-oriented.

Cheat sheet to learn a programming language on your own more effectively. # Justify yourself for why you choose a specific language # Understand the language origin, current updates, market trends, Developer salary range, Companies that prefers this for programming more etc. # Have a solid foundation on the basics using plentiful online & offline resources # Use online editors to learn the concepts thoroughly with ample examples # Use coding platforms to apply the basics what you grasped so far for a hands-on experience # Participate in hackathon, coding challenges etc. to resolve a business problem practically for a firsthand experience as well as to exhibit your knowledge

Reading (or viewing a video) is important to start, but nothing is as powerful as actually doing it. Follow a guide to install a development environment of your choice and follow some basic tutorials. When in trouble, use the help of ChatGPT, Bart or alike. They can explain basic questions very well and provide examples you can try out.

Last year I learnt IaC. Here is how I did it. IaC = Infrastructure As Code. 1. Pick the right tools for my needs. I started with Terraform, then learnt packer etc. 2. I like to go hands on as soon as possible. Minimal reading about syntax/other things & quickly dive into action. It could be the first Hello World & onto a good Proof of concept. 3. Learning from errors. Initially during learning, you see a lot of errors. Consider them as a blessing in disguise. Read about these errors & learn from them. Why they occour & how to resolve. 4. Document your learning & share with the community when you are comfortable. 5. Learn from others. A lot of ppl share wisdom on channels like LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs & Slack/Discord communities.

Find enjoyment in what you learn. Learning is a life-long venture that should be equally relevant and fun. It is not a full misconception that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. Oh you will work, the difference is mental balance, and doing something you like (and getting paid for it). So find a fun way to learn something you like... Like GO for instance.

Learning a new language is my preferred (opiniated) way so I like to use collections of exercises to quickly start coding. There are a lot of good pointers available over the Internet (excercism or 99 problems). In the same spirit I like to use & create koans. Koans are a very nice approach consisting in learning a new programming language or library while using unit tests.

I've found that I really enjoy learning about new languages from Large Language Model (LLM) generative AI systems. Assuming the model is capable of processing the language in question, the ability to learn by asking questions can be an absolute game changer. The information is tailored specifically to the learner and their unique experience, pace, and other needs, solving a broad and critical issue when it comes to education. Whether the learner prefers examples, exercises, abstract information, something else, or a combination of these, the LLM will adapt. It is important to supplement this with some more standard sources of information, as LLMs can "hallucinate" and make errors.

Having an outcome that is time bound is very important. However ensure that you are not setting too aggressive a timeline. Since learning this new language will be in addition to your regular daily routine, be prepared to give up sone thing else out of your routine. For me it was giving up an hour every night that I used to spend on watching Sports center. Of course, there is nothing wrong with watching sports center, but I made a conscious decision to forego this hour with ESPN and invest that time in learning a new language. Remember you cannot add an hour to your day, it has to cone out of your routine. Prioritize your daily routine and find the time. If you are not able to, perhaps it is not the right time for a new language.

In my personal experience, I have found that following a structured and realistic plan is essential. Having a plan in place not only helps you stay organized but also allows you to set achievable goals. Start by outlining the topics you want to cover and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and keep you on track. Additionally, make sure to allocate dedicated time for learning each day or week, depending on your schedule. This consistency is key to building a strong foundation and progressing steadily. By following a structured and realistic plan, you'll maximize your learning potential and confidently navigate the vast world of programming languages.

Totally agree, that's why everywhere serious online material proposes such plan with a dedicated time slot for learning every day (2 hours is quite good).

By personal experience, I like to have an initial hands on approach before starting a structured approach. This will give you a basic knowledge of the language to begin with. Personal preference will steer you towards the approach that is best for you, be it video courses or a book.

Choosing the right resources to learn a programming language hinges on your learning style and goals. For visual and interactive learners, video courses on platforms like Coursera or Udemy are ideal. Those who prefer self-paced, in-depth study might gravitate towards comprehensive books or official documentation. Online forums and communities, like Stack Overflow, are invaluable for practical problem-solving and real-world scenarios. It's crucial to select resources that are up-to-date, highly regarded, and align with your specific learning objectives and preferences.

Write code regularly, even if it's just for a few minutes each day. The more you practice, the better you will become. Solve coding challenges and exercises. There are many websites and apps that offer coding challenges and exercises. These can be a great way to practice your skills and learn new concepts. Build small projects. Once you have a basic understanding of a language, start building small projects. This will help you apply your knowledge and learn new skills.

In my experience, try to solve the problem your way. We can have multiple solution of same problems. Find a problem, solve it your way. Then find out how others solve this problem. Try to optimise your solution after each learning. This exercise will keep you motivated and create a habit of learning new solutions.

While practicing, I've noticed that when I want to learn some new language or technology, it suits me to start with a boilerplate project; it already contains some code and provides a working application "out of the box". Then, I like to fiddle with code and see how I can modify the code, and expand the functionalities, and quite often I get additional ideas. I think writing the application from scratch requires a bit more knowledge, be it syntax or framework specifics.

Among all recommendations about software engineering, practicing is the top one. The reason is everything starts with designing your code, then continues with writing your code and finally testing it for test cases that will find logic and implementation issues in your code. When you practice, you improve your design, coding, and testing. During implementation you find design issues. During testing you find design and implementation issues. By practicing you strengthen your design and implementation skills. There are modern techniques like test driven development. These methods don't change the importance of practicing. By practicing you develop your style, build your libraries, and prepare your path to become professional developer.

Practicing extensively is crucial in mastering a programming language. It's not just about following tutorials but also about applying the concepts to real-world problems. Creating personal projects or automating everyday tasks can provide practical experience. For example, using Python for data analysis or web scraping can offer tangible insights into its applications. Diving into community forums, contributing to open-source projects, or even teaching others can also deepen your understanding and reveal new aspects of the language. Remember, the more you code, the more proficient you become.

Having other developers reviewing your code when working on the same project not only improves the quality of the code but is an effective way of learning

Learning is more fun when you are amidst like-minded peers or community. Throwing challenges at each other in the group increases the enthusiasm to solve it. A feedback from mentor could help in understanding the tricks of the trade.

Joining a solid community will do wonders for your mental health and will boost you along. I joined the 100Devs community originally to just be a better programmer for career growth, but I found an authentic, caring community that understood everyone's struggle is different. So find a community that best fits your needs and be ready to bring a spirit of contribution. When your headspace is right, everything else will follow.

Leveraging community support is a powerful strategy in learning programming. Engaging in forums like Stack Overflow or GitHub provides a platform for feedback and problem-solving insights. Participating in hackathons or coding challenges accelerates learning through real-world applications and collaboration. Such interactions not only clarify doubts but also expose you to diverse coding styles and techniques. Remember, programming is as much about learning from others as it is about individual practice. Embracing community wisdom can greatly enhance your coding journey and keep you updated with the latest trends and best practices.

La meilleure manière d'approfondir ses connaissances en un langage esr de l'enseigner :-). Je suis enseignante et développeuse à la fois. Ce que j'ai constaté est qu'à chaque fois que je prépare un nouveau cours sur un langage ou librairie ou un framework, j'apprends beaucoup de choses que je ne connaissais pas en juste développant

A great way to do this is by starting new small projects. It's important that you finish these projects try using new techniques so you better understand them. Help others on stackoverflow. This way you are really test your knowledge.

Staying updated, experimenting with new technologies, and being open to changes are crucial for those working or aspiring to work in the field. I've been in the programming universe for almost 30 years, starting with xBase language (Clipper Summer 87) and Assembly. I went through C, C++, Delphi, PHP, Java, JavaScript, among many others, and today I use half a dozen languages in my daily work. Therefore, I emphasize the importance of having a solid foundation in programming logic because, with that, learning the syntax of languages becomes easy.

Continuous learning and exploration are fundamental in programming. As technology evolves, so do programming languages, with new features and best practices emerging regularly. Staying updated with the latest trends and expanding your knowledge base is essential. Challenging yourself with diverse projects and problems enhances your adaptability and problem-solving skills. This approach not only deepens mastery over the language but also keeps the learning process engaging and rewarding. Embracing lifelong learning in programming is key to not just proficiency, but also to discovering the joy and creativity in coding.

The most effective way to learn a programming language is by diving right into it. Start by selecting a language that interests you. Immerse yourself in the basics through reading or video tutorials, whatever suits your style. But here's the crucial part: build a complete project from the ground up. Whether it's a product, an extension, or a SaaS solution, creating something that solves a real problem is invaluable. As you progress, you'll inevitably face challenges. These obstacles are opportunities in disguise, leading you to explore solutions and deepen your understanding. This hands-on, project-based approach is the cornerstone of truly mastering a programming language. Lastly, share your journey with others on social media. :)

Don't isolate yourself from the real world: do a project for somebody. Try to formulate a problem for a client and do something for it. Even if it is for free or for a small pay. Commucating with clients is a separate skill. And the most important thing: how from client's requirements to arrive to a real world solution. My first real world project (loong time ago) started as a program to draw the curves of simple mathematical functions on the computer screen. And developed into a nice tool for experiments for mathematics in tghe high school. It also helped, that the maths teacher was a very attractive lady.

If you want to keep and retain how to write code, start building things that you like or want. It’s easier to learn something if you enjoy doing it.

Set clear goals/roadmap: Define what you want to achieve with the language you're learning. Start with basics: Master the fundamentals before diving into complex topics. Practice regularly: Consistent practice is key to retaining knowledge. Build sample projects: Apply what you learn by working on real-world projects. Join coding communities: Engage with peers to share knowledge and seek help.

You should enjoy the process. While it's good to have a plan, don't beat yourself if you cannot perfectly follow your own plan. Don't be ashamed about your process.