Technology has made learning easier. If you want to become a programmer, you no longer need to go to a traditional classroom to learn the skills. This is because you can teach yourself how to code from the comfort of your home. The internet has all the resources that you need to become a world-class coder. The good thing with this kind of learning is that you acquire the skills and experience at your own pace because you study at your own convenience without having to go through heavy traffic in the morning like the students that are enrolled in universities and colleges. All you need is a computer or a laptop that is connected to the internet. However, you will have to discipline yourself because no one will be there to supervise you. Below are some tips that can guide you when teaching yourself programming.
1. Start with Simplest Coding Languages
Although there are many coding languages, you must select one that you will use to get started. There are both simple and advanced languages. As a beginner, it’s advisable you start with simplest language because they will be much easier to understand. You should only start learning advanced coding languages after you perfect the basics. After all, you must start from somewhere. Taking a top-bottom approach will only complicate your life because some of the concepts in advanced languages will be hard to understand if you didn’t start with simplest languages. For instance, if you want to learn coding using Java, you should start by studying C, C++ and Visual Basic.
2. Use Free Online Resources
If you want to become a self taught programmer, you should take advantage of free online resources. The advantage of such resources is that they help you save money that you would have spent on tuition fees at some university. The online resources are available in the form of videos, articles and webinars. With these resources, you don’t need to buy expensive books because you can always refer to the articles and videos. Some of the free courses will even give you an opportunity to ask questions and interact with other coders as you learn programming concepts. Sometimes you might feel like skipping some chapters that are rather boring. Skipping is not recommended because it will affect your understanding of the course as you progress.
3. Practice what You Learn
Since you are not studying for the exam, you should aim to have all the concepts on your fingertips. You should actually practice everything you learn including the examples contained in the online notes. Practicing will help you in grasping the concepts for the long term. In fact, you should try coding the examples manually on a book and then try making it run on the computer. The advantage of coding manually is that it allows you to finish laying out everything without being distracted by errors that are usually experienced when drafting a code on the computer. You should actually try to develop other codes using the examples in the tutorials.
4. Find a Mentor
Some coding errors can weigh in so much on you. Since you don’t have access to any lecturers, it’s recommended you find a mentor so that he can be giving you counsel at such times. A mentor will actually shorten your learning curve. When looking for a mentor, you should choose a person that’s already ahead of you in terms of skills and experience. When you consult such an expert, you will be able to solve giant bugs at the blink of an eye.
