Given that programming is one of the popular industries with high demand and employment opportunities that pay well, many students are choosing tech-related majors in colleges, and some are taking online courses. Though each person’s objectives may differ, two questions frequently occupy aspiring programmers’ thoughts as they learn: ‘How long does it take to learn to program?’ and ‘How quickly can I learn to code?’ Of course, the answer depends on your time and effort in learning programming. However, it won’t hurt to follow some tips, right? So here are some tips for learning programming faster.
Learning Programming Faster
We look at:
- Master the Core Programming Concepts
- Read, Learn and Practice Code
- Train Yourself in Problem-Solving
- Join Coding Communities
- Try Writing Code on Paper
- Enrol in a Reliable Coding Course
Master the Core Programming Concepts
The first page of any book is usually skipped. Why? Usually, the first pages contain boring information. That might be true, but in the case of programming, the initial pages are the crucial ones.
In programming, the core concepts are usually the syntax of coding concepts, basic data structures, and some important rules. It is essential for programmers to master these concepts at the beginning itself, as in the long run, your definite knowledge of the basics will help you program better, shorter, and with fewer errors.
Another plus of mastering fundamentals is that almost every programming language has similar basics. The syntax and functions might differ; however, some concepts like loops, conditional statements, and punctuations are the same across every programming language. So learn your basics well.
Read, Learn and Practice Code
When learning code, most will usually glance and read about the code, its definition, purpose, and examples. Though that is good, it would be better to turn on your system and try out the concepts you have learned.
Coding is not about theory but about writing programs to create efficient applications. Hence why aspiring programmers need to try coding while learning; you can start by trying out the example programs and then playing with the code to execute different outputs.
As you do so, you will start to be more invested in trying out writing your programs and will get more comfortable with coding. Continuing this process will help you write code without the help of any book or the internet. Also, make sure you are not making the mistake of memorising the code while learning.
Train Yourself in Problem-Solving
When you become a programmer, most of the time, you will be spending your time-solving problems and errors rather than coding. You can’t even blame anyone when encountering errors since errors are a vital part of programming, and there is no programmer out there who can say that they have never faced errors while coding.
Errors are common, and some of them might take the programmer hours and days to solve. Sometimes you will be stuck in a frustrating cycle of solving one error only to face multiple mistakes, which is why a good sense of problem-solving is recommended and a necessary skill to recruit.
From basic to advanced, keep note of crucial features of functions. Then look on the internet and coding communities for common and unique problem cases and their solutions. You can also enrol in competitive coding websites to participate in programming competitions. Since you will be provided with tricky programs, you can use your competitive spirit to solve and learn.
Join Coding Communities
Coding communities are a haven for programmers. Here you can find all resources necessary for programming and get job opportunities. Websites like Stack Overflow, GitHub, Reddit, HackerNews, Code Institute and Hackernoon are some of the finest communities out there.
Generally, the latest news and features about different programming languages are shared in coding communities. Also, complex codes are shared with different solutions to help other programmers.
Suppose you face any problematic error while programming; you can share it on the platforms to get help from other programmers. Usually, you will get answers within minutes you post your doubts. Another plus point of coding communities is that they are always lively and can be a good place to relieve your stress during a break.
Try Writing Code on Paper
Though it might sound quite ridiculous, practising coding by writing on paper can help you learn and master programming faster than typing lines of code on a PC. Also, it increases your chances of getting hired.
During the interview rounds, the recruitment manager might ask you to solve a problem code in some firms. During those times, you will not be using a computer but a paper or whiteboard to write a solution, which is why it is necessary to try practising code on paper.
Another perk of writing code on paper is relying on yourself. You will think about a solution instead of jumping on google. So you enhance your creativity and problem-solving sense without the aid of other resources.
Enrol in a Reliable Coding Course
Many courses are available online. For example, this free coding course will teach you the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript after just one hour a day over five days. Enrol for free through the form at the bottom of this page and see what you’ll learn through this video.
Online courses are ideal for programmers because they cover everything. Your instructors will deftly lead you through the most recent features of the programming languages and provide concrete examples.
You may find that you quickly complete and master the programming as you learn from coding courses. Coding boot camps are even better than regular courses because they provide comprehensive programming training that may be completed in as little as six to twelve months. Additionally, the greatest way to obtain the most recent information about coding is through classes.
The Bottom Line
When you start learning, write down a list of milestones you are trying to achieve and then draw a schedule to invest time consistently in learning about programming. Also, ensure that your goal is not to know faster but better.