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Programming Tips For a Newbie

I started programming an year ago [so you might think y I am an newbie] it all started with QuickBASIC and as a schoolboy I don't have a lot of time to code. I used to write it on paper in school and try it back home. But it is no longer a convenient thing with HTML/External CSS/External JavaScript and Python And with exams approaching I am getting even more squzeed for time. My question is, how am I supposed to get better at coding with the limited amount of time that I can spend into practicing how to code? For those of you who have to handle work or exams, how do you manage your time for coding?

1st Sep 2019, 11:58 AM
CommonsenseWasTaken
CommonsenseWasTaken - avatar
27 Answers
+ 21
Hey guys, that's actually a very good question. I'm a dad working from home and taking care of the kids part time so as you can imagine my time is very limited. What learning time patterns would you recommend as an experienced programmer?
1st Sep 2019, 4:29 PM
Jax
Jax - avatar
+ 20
A little retrospect from a busy person. 4 years ago. I decided to go for my associate's in Computer Science at my local community college. At the time I was 34 with 1 kid and one on the way. I also worked a full time job 40-48 hours a week. I have a bachelors degree with honors in CS and 3 kids at the moment. Time management really means that you have to optimize your learning. If you feel like you're struggling to learn based on time, you have to realize that rushing your learning will only cost you more time down the road. If you rush through topics without fully understanding them... you'll find yourself spending g that exact same amount of time reviewing old information that you should have mastered before moving on. I've made so many mistakes as a beginner in school due to the constant feeling of being behind or needing to learn the next topic. Take it slow. Practice small portions daily. Get your self to the point where you can explain the topic in confidence and code it on paper...it helpa.
2nd Sep 2019, 1:11 AM
Damian Depuy
Damian Depuy - avatar
+ 14
I did say consistency is the key, if you you dedicate 30min or even an hour and you stick to it you be surprised how far you come in a short while. You can start with html and css and the more you design things the more mortivated youre to come back. P.S: still there are people who wanna code and got time for it but still find it hard to sit down and write codes.
3rd Sep 2019, 7:50 AM
BlackRose Mike
BlackRose Mike - avatar
+ 12
Programming or coding is not all about learning any language but it is all about solving problem I think without attemping problems and giving thoughts on solutions u will not able to become a good programmer.... The more u try the more u will get ultimately ur problem solving ability will become more faster it is never ending process u can't say when u will become fully coder/programmer ..... And the q remain abt time... Then if u r passionate to become coder u will definitely take out time for it and at end u will become like every single sec thinking abt code
1st Sep 2019, 6:01 PM
Sgk101
Sgk101 - avatar
+ 11
Time management in coding is hard because you don't know how long you need for debugging. Also you have new ideas and want to implement them. So you can't manage your time exactly. The things you can do is: - setting a reachable goal - getting as most time as possible. - learning your programming language. Then you're faster in writing. If you comment your code you can understanding it after weeks, months you're not looking at it. This is saving much time.
1st Sep 2019, 8:02 PM
Coding Agent
Coding Agent - avatar
+ 11
Easy answer: go with your life, try to solve real life problems by analytic thinking... If you think you have solved 10 problems a day, I mean any problem, try to implement your most interested solved problem of 10... You can find problems anywhere, like in class, or in the form of game, or in the form of conversation, or in the form of love towards to something... But in end you should have fun while expressing it through a computer language that's it.... Don't try to implement everything, but most personal liked ones... All the best.... Still you have to spend time on learning a computer language, best way don't remember everything, but build yourself a cookbook, but take slowly, like 2 years or so.... Don't push yourself to learn everything in short time, even though you are capable of ...
2nd Sep 2019, 4:03 AM
Ve Sudhakaran
+ 10
I think with whatever minimal time you have try setting a slightly harder goal in programming than what you previously achieved. Small increments like this over a year or so will help you improve and ensure there is just the right amount of repetition that's a good balance between practicing what you know and becoming more advanced.
1st Sep 2019, 10:05 PM
Sonic
Sonic - avatar
+ 8
Hatsy Rei Yes that's what I want even though it isn't possible... something like time management for a programmer of sorts
1st Sep 2019, 12:21 PM
CommonsenseWasTaken
CommonsenseWasTaken - avatar
+ 8
I'm in quite the same situation. I've got the following advice for you: 1. Use SoloLearn and take some challenges every day. It'll keep your brain focused on reading codes. 2. Find a YouTube channel in your mother language and try to get some input there. English is good. But sometimes you need some information without getting lost in translation...
2nd Sep 2019, 4:21 AM
Henry
Henry - avatar
+ 7
I think that the best way to learn programming is coding. You can use a programming environment(codeblocks,eclipse,etc), where you can practice. I believe that an hour of practice in programming environment is better than writing code on paper, because you get experience on solving errors and you realise the true purpose of programming. So, when you have free time i think you should coding, in order to learn programming faster!
2nd Sep 2019, 11:37 AM
Dimitris N. Kapoulas
Dimitris N. Kapoulas - avatar
+ 7
Keep Calm and Keep On Coding
3rd Sep 2019, 3:45 AM
★彡 Unoosha_17 彡★
★彡 Unoosha_17 彡★ - avatar
+ 4
My best practice is to be in a company for practice
1st Sep 2019, 10:47 PM
Jhon Abou
Jhon Abou - avatar
+ 4
I AM ALSO A noob who started this year on sololearn.But have been coding for two years.I am 13 What I did is set a time where I am ready and won't be disturbed.Like weekends,holidays. Also when I comeback home I do my homework till 16:00 coded and practiced till 18:00 then studied from there till 20:00 then at20:30 when to bed. here my schedule Might have a different schedule but this I prefer Cause I also go to a meeting on Thursday from 19:00 to 20:30 Buy here's my best
2nd Sep 2019, 8:27 PM
ACID
ACID - avatar
+ 4
1.  Learn by doing. Always play with the code while learning 2. Grasp the fundamentals for long-term benefits 3. Code by hand. It sharpens proficiency and you’ll need it to get a job 4. Ask for help. You’ll need it 5. Seek out more online resources. There’s a wealth of content 6. Don’t just read the sample code. Tinker with it! 7. Take breaks when debugging Conclusion: Keep Calm and Keep On Coding For more help:- https://www.codingdojo.com/blog/7-tips-learn-programming-faster
3rd Sep 2019, 7:10 AM
Prince Raj
Prince Raj - avatar
+ 3
I'm still at school too and I'm now in the last two years of making my "Abitur" (Germany). It will get very busy in the next few weeks for me. But I know that programming is really easy, once you start loving what you do and just do what you do. What do I mean by that? Simple. Just start a simple project at first. Simple but long project. Simple but challenging. With a project, you have a goal you can achieve and be proud of when you finished. With the long project, you have enough time to think about what it should be and spend a lot of the time on the same thing, than spending like half the time with coming up with program ideas. The challenging aspect is pretty obvious. If you don't have a challenge, you aren't learning as good as you could. Learning, especially in programming, comes with challenging yourself, pushing you further and learn to use things that bring you to you goal.
2nd Sep 2019, 4:53 AM
Niklas
Niklas - avatar
+ 3
Focus on one concept and get really good at it. Forget for that time everything else, don’t get discouraged by how much there is to learn, just focus on the thing you’re learning and try to be an expert at it and then move on to the next thing. Try to take small chunks, ie how do I create objects, what is semantic HTML markup, how do I use flexbox, what are the different loop types, etc. If you try to take on something all at once (say, an ENTIRE language) then you are going to get discouraged, and we dont want that because we need more good developers in the world, and that is what you’ll become.
2nd Sep 2019, 7:56 PM
Foobatboy
Foobatboy - avatar
+ 3
The best question nd answers I comented to follow this thread.
3rd Sep 2019, 8:45 AM
Moh Waleed Sharifi
+ 3
Same as you friend.. I also write codes on paper and compile them returning home..
3rd Sep 2019, 11:55 AM
Mahdee Mohammad
Mahdee Mohammad - avatar
+ 1
Practice & Practice coding programming languages. Goodluck.. 😏🤔🤔👍👍👍👍👍👐👐👐👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
2nd Sep 2019, 8:38 AM
ASIM FARHEEN
ASIM FARHEEN - avatar
+ 1
What i do is... -learn atleast a new thing for coding.I learn from here and watch videos on the related topic. -Do 5 challanges and spot my weaknesses and where to improve. -To become a programmer,you should be a computer.Your mind should give the output before you hit that run button.So do programming on your head! -Search for inspiration and look others code and try to understand these. -New programmers always do mistakes.So you should try to spot your mistakes or seek help. These whole process will take 1hour.
2nd Sep 2019, 4:38 PM
Sanzid Sadman
Sanzid Sadman - avatar