Programming is a skill that requires constant learning and improvement. As a programmer, it is essential to stay updated with the latest technologies and coding practices to remain relevant in the ever-evolving tech industry. I will show you a guide on the path to becoming a better programmer. I will trying to share tips, resources, and external links to help you improve your programming skills and stay ahead of the game.
Start with the Basics
To become a better programmer, it is important to start with the basics. The basics include understanding programming languages, syntax, and data structures. You can start by learning a programming language such as JavaScript. Most newbies get stuck with JavaScript before finding their feet and some believe they can’t learn it. I won’t dwell on this today, I will write something about it another day.
There are many resources available online, including free courses, tutorials, and videos. One great resource to start with is W3school, which provides interactive online courses on various programming languages. It’s a great place to start as we use it a lot too. Sometimes, it’s good for them to play around before getting them started, elitePath students would understand what I mean.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Once you have learned the syntax, data structures and basics, it is crucial to practice regularly to improve your skills. This is where you close the gap but some people do not want to practice and want to see results. This is why JavaScript seems like a nut to crack even though just required more practice.
Practice can include building small projects, solving coding challenges, or contributing to open-source projects.
One great website for coding challenges is HackerRank, “HackerRank is a tech company that focuses on competitive programming challenges for both consumers and businesses, where developers compete by trying to program according to provided specifications.
HackerRank’s programming challenges can be solved in a variety of programming languages and span multiple computer science domains.” which provides coding challenges in various programming languages. You can try this out… good luck.
Read Code
Reading other people’s code is an excellent way to learn new techniques and best practices. StackOverflow is your best friend, I had to create an account with them and was dedicating an hour to go through the codes of other people.
You can read code from open-source projects on websites like GitHub or contribute to open-source projects to gain experience and exposure.
Also from programming books, I used to read Head First Books which provide examples and explanations of programming concepts and techniques. You will love it, I used to have the free versions of it, but I’m not sure I can find it, It’s some years back.
Join a Community
Joining a community of programmers is an excellent way to learn from others, share your knowledge, and get feedback on your work. Your classroom is a community, you should interact with other students. Follow each on social media, like, retweet and share posts.
You can join online communities like Stack Overflow, Reddit, or GitHub. You can also join local programming meetups or attend programming conferences to meet other programmers and learn about the latest technologies and trends.
Learn from Others
Learning from other programmers is an excellent way to improve your skills. Start by learning from your classmates that are ahead of you, and do not be shy to ask them questions.
You can also learn from experienced programmers by reading their blogs, watching their videos, or attending their webinars. Follow them on social media platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn to stay updated with their latest work and insights. You still don’t like to be online?
Stay Updated
The tech industry is constantly evolving, and it is essential to stay updated with the latest technologies and coding practices. You can stay updated by following programming news websites like TechCrunch or reading programming blogs like Hacker Noon.
You can also follow programming influencers on social media to stay updated with the latest trends and insights, mostly on Twitter.
