Getting started with Java :"Avoid These 10 Deadly Mistakes on Your Learning Journey"

Mistake No. 1: The Illusion of Learning

Here’s what happens when you try to learn to code the ordinary way. All of us are used to study by reading books: the thicker the book, the more knowledge you will get, right? Sorry, this is not the case for programming.

A lack of practice in coding is fatal. Just start coding. Start from the first day of your study and practice every single day. You won’t learn to box or dance by watching videos. And you won’t get confident in coding unless you make it your daily habit.

Well, my main advice is to do it the right way:

1. Get the right syllabus. If you have an adviser (a tutor or a programmer friend), that’s the best scenario. If you don’t have a syllabus, and you can’t or don’t want to take offline courses, search for a good online course, one or two at most, and go ahead. Independent reviews/ratings will help you choose the right courses, and later in this article, I give some examples of good free courses.
2. Consistency is the key to successful learning. Code every day, or every other day at the very least.
3. Of your time, 75 percent or more must be dedicated to practice and 25 percent or less to theory.

Mistake No. 2: Being Too Proud to Ask for Help

Do you know what a professional software developer does when they aren’t successful in trying to solve a task with possible solutions they already know? They go to Stack Overflow to ask others on the forum. Why don’t you, my dear Java beginner, do the same?

Mistake No. 3: Not Checking Your Solutions the Right Way

The earlier you learn to test your code properly, the faster you become a better coder. Learning unit testing is a very useful skill to have, but not for a complete rookie. You know, proper unit testing is a kind of superpower!

The first step to mastering your own code review is to think in a “what if?” way and try different data sets. It is not easy to consider all cases, but you collect precious experience with every “what if” at the right moment.

However, I must admit that in recent years, some really nice programming courses and platforms have appeared, equipped with automatic code review. They simplify your first coding steps significantly and give you a chance to concentrate your attention on the tasks.

Mistake No. 4: Reading Too Much Theory and Not Practicing Enough

Imagine а 2-year-old little guy who is trying to talk. However, his mommy and daddy don’t let him do it, because he is too little and knows nothing about the subject. They decide to explain grammar rules to him first and hire a speech therapist (the sooner the better!). Well, after all these measures, they let him try. Well, I guess there would be more speechless people with such an approach!

**Things to be noted:

1. To master any practical activity, you should practice it!
2. Programming is a practical activity.

Mistake No. 5: Infrequent Practice

Do you know the most destructive and irrational way to develop practical skills? I can describe it with only one word—“sometimes.” Learning how to code is kind of like climbing an icy hill. If you stop, you will slide back very fast and probably even roll head long down. It’s the same story with your coding skills. When you stop coding, you start to lose the skill surprisingly quickly.

Learning that way wastes a lot of your time. Stop torturing yourself, and practice coding regularly. By that, I mean at least three times a week—or, even better, every day.

Mistake No. 6: Choosing Tasks That Are too Difficult

Well, this is the flip side of Mistake. Some students are ready to spend hundreds of hours solving one task, which is just too tough for them right now. I believe that solving a lot of simple problems for beginners is better than solving one difficult task, at least for the first two or three months of their learning.

I suggest you leave your tough task(s) for later, and go ahead and solve the others. You can always come back to the difficult task later. Maybe you’ll find it is not as tough as it seemed to be?

Mistake No. 7: Losing Your Motivation

“I don’t understand the topic … I am not good enough for programming. I should give up and try something else.” Sounds familiar, eh?

Every—I mean it—every beginner programming student lost their motivation at least once. It happened to me many times. Way too often, in fact. All my teammates, as well as all my successful students, experienced this as well.

Remember this when it hits you again. If your lack of motivation seems serious, try to change the topic you’re learning right now. And don’t forget: Almost anyone can code. It is not easy to learn, but it is definitely possible.

Mistake No. 8: Giving Up or Trying to Solve Your Task too Quickly

“I tried to solve the task once and didn’t get the right answer. I should ask Google … or my tutor … or that software developer I met recently.”

Stop, stop, stop. You haven’t even tried yet!

Of course, it is hard to estimate the right time to ask for help. However, first ask yourself why you want to get help right now. Probably, it is just your laziness or that you want to go through the task faster. If that is the case, don’t do it. This is your learning we are talking about here, not a speed competition.

Mistake No. 9: Learning Java all alone

With so many online tools and sources for successful learning, you can easily become a self-educated programmer. One thing that’s missing is real communication. Your education would be much more effective if you join the community as soon as possible.

Mistake No. 10: Thinking there will be the day when you know everything

Listen to more experienced colleagues as a junior developer and never stop learning. Programming is a profession in a field with constant upgrades, new features, and technologies, which you need to grasp to stay a sought-after specialist.

Face Java Challenges With Confidence

You are not alone. All beginner Java students face challenges on their way to mastering software development. It’s okay to make mistakes; you’re still learning!

If you are stuck in your studies, perhaps you are faced with one of the problems I mentioned above. Remember, they all have an easy solution. Keep this in mind, and practice the right way.

Stop worrying, and start coding!