12 Pieces of Programming Advice that Saved Me Big Time as a Programmer

Summary

The article provides 12 key pieces of programming advice aimed at helping beginners navigate common challenges and improve their coding skills efficiently.

Abstract

The article "12 Pieces of Programming Advice that Saved Me Big Time as a Programmer" emphasizes the importance of self-directed learning and practical application in programming. It advises beginners to utilize Google for problem-solving, familiarize themselves with design patterns early on, and learn from others' code without plagiarizing. The choice of programming language is deemed less critical than understanding core programming concepts, and frameworks should be approached with caution until one has a solid foundation in programming. Starting with a straightforward language like JavaScript is recommended for grasping basic constructs before moving on to more complex interfaces or languages. A well-rounded programmer should also have a grasp of HTML, CSS, SQL, and computer hardware to understand the logic operations that underpin programming languages. The article suggests learning C to bridge the gap between high-level languages and assembly language. Enjoyment and a deep understanding of programming mechanisms are highlighted as crucial for success. The advice culminates in the practical approach of starting with a small project to learn necessary skills and expand one's knowledge incrementally.

Opinions

Google is an invaluable resource for solving common programming problems.
Early exposure to design patterns can enhance a beginner's understanding of programming structures.
Learning from others' code can be beneficial, provided it is studied and understood rather than copied without thought.
The essence of programming lies in understanding the logic and operations, not in the specific language used.
Frameworks can be a hindrance to learning programming fundamentals and should be introduced later in the learning process.
JavaScript is suggested as an initial language due to its simplicity and applicability to a wide range of projects.
HTML and CSS are important for web development but are not programming languages.
Knowledge of computer hardware and basic logic operations is essential for programming.

Advice that could save you, too.

There is so much programming advice out there. You’ve probably had enough reading or hearing them all, but the advice is always good, especially for beginners. So even if you’ve heard a lot, it’s still better to receive a few once in a while.

Google is your friend. It’s not often that you are the first and only person to have a specific problem.

Familiarize yourself with different patterns and actively look for opportunities to use them in the early days.

Let yourself be inspired by the code snippets of others, try to understand what they were thinking, and build it (don’t copy-paste, out of your head)

The language doesn’t matter. The main thing is that you can play. See it as a game and be sure to try everything you can think of. Worst case, you figure out what not to do and then understand why it wasn’t optimal.

Stay away from frameworks. You want to learn to program, not a framework that takes it away from you, namely a lot, and abstracts away the technical background. (Later it makes your work easier, but in the beginning, it’s like driving school with autopilot)

Start with a “normal” programming language, preferably JavaScript. You’ll learn how variables, branches, and loops work. You need that as a basis for every other language. No complex interfaces, a simple program for managing books, or anything. Term: 3 to 4 months.

HTML is a page description language, not a programming language. Easy to learn, easy to look up. The same applies to style sheets (CSS), which control the appearance of objects on a web page. Then a bit of SQL learning, and you’re good to go.

You need to study computer hardware because programming languages mainly depend on basic logic operations provided by the architecture of the computer itself.

Learn a programming language like C, which teaches you the general basics of high-level languages and the equivalent in assembly language so you can visualize the basic operations behind each line of code you write.

Have fun and focus on understanding the mechanisms (variables, functions/procedures, classes, objects, control structures, data structures, streams, databases, file access, etc.)

Learn the basics and then select implementable parts from your idea and expand on them bit by bit.

Find a project and teach yourself the necessary things. Something little.

In general, programming is one of the essential skills to acquire in the digital age. You can earn a lot of money by setting up your project. As a service provider, you can also charge reasonable fees with it.

My recommendation to everyone who wants to learn to program:

Create your vision! An app, a web app, a WordPress plug-in, a WordPress theme. Look for a problem and find a solution, and you are free faster than you can code.