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What is the best roadmap for learning programming?
I have only a little bit of knowledge in Python and I'm interested in building projects so that I can have a portfolio to showcase to employers. I don't want to rely on online tutorials in order to program my projects.
9 answers
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I think the best way to learn programming is to have a project or end-goal in mind, and work your way backward toward creating a solution to solve it. If you start out with theory, you might get bored and lose interest. However if you have an end-goal in mind, it will keep you focused on figuring out how to actually make it work. That's what most of programming is: figuring out how to get a machine to do what you want to solve some problem. You don't have to start creating something entirely new, but you could try to create your own version of something that is common. Through creating it, you will learn the fundamentals of programming and start down multiple tangential rabbit holes of learning. For example, some common starting projects might include a to-do list app, a calculator, a clone of twitter, etc.
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Kieran, take heart in knowing that setting out on a voyage to master programming, particularly with the ambition of crafting a portfolio to impress potential employers, calls for a well-organized strategy. This strategy should blend self-guided learning, practical application, and ongoing enhancement. While online tutorials are handy tools for beginners, it's crucial to pair them with hands-on projects and real-life applications to truly hone your programming skills and build a strong portfolio.
First off, hats off to you for taking the first step in learning Python. This versatile and beginner-friendly language is popular across various sectors, including web development, data science, and automation. Using your existing Python knowledge as a foundation, think about broadening your skills to include other sought-after programming languages and technologies relevant to your preferred field. Explore job listings and industry trends to pinpoint the programming languages and tools that employers in your target market value most.
Moving forward, Kieran, it's important to concentrate on creating projects that reflect your interests, career aspirations, and the skills you're eager to highlight. Kick off with small, manageable projects that let you put your Python learning into practice, and gradually tackle more complex ones as your confidence and expertise grow. Opt for projects that address real-world issues, contribute to open-source efforts, or showcase your creative and problem-solving skills. A diverse portfolio of projects will not only display your technical prowess but also your adaptability, ingenuity, and enthusiasm for programming.
To ensure you're not overly dependent on online tutorials, tap into other resources and learning techniques to deepen your grasp of programming concepts and methods. Invest in reliable books, textbooks, and online courses that delve into topics beyond Python basics, like data structures, algorithms, software development methodologies, and best practices. Join programming communities, participate in meetups, workshops, and hackathons, and seek advice and mentorship from seasoned developers or field professionals.
Moreover, Kieran, don't overlook the worth of hands-on experience and trial-and-error learning. Embrace freelance projects, internships, or volunteer roles that let you put your programming skills to the test in real-life situations and work with others in a team setting. Working on actual projects will not only boost your technical skills but also offer valuable experience in project management, communication, and teamwork, traits that employers highly appreciate.
Lastly, Kieran, it's vital to regularly evaluate and polish your portfolio based on feedback from peers, mentors, and industry experts. Consistently update your projects to show your evolution as a programmer and spotlight your most outstanding and relevant work. Bear in mind that mastering programming is a journey, and persistence, commitment, and a readiness to learn and adapt are the keys to success in this fast-paced and ever-changing field. By adhering to a structured plan, building a diverse portfolio of projects, and actively seeking opportunities to apply and enhance your programming skills, you'll be well-prepared to flaunt your abilities and secure your dream job in the software development realm.
First off, hats off to you for taking the first step in learning Python. This versatile and beginner-friendly language is popular across various sectors, including web development, data science, and automation. Using your existing Python knowledge as a foundation, think about broadening your skills to include other sought-after programming languages and technologies relevant to your preferred field. Explore job listings and industry trends to pinpoint the programming languages and tools that employers in your target market value most.
Moving forward, Kieran, it's important to concentrate on creating projects that reflect your interests, career aspirations, and the skills you're eager to highlight. Kick off with small, manageable projects that let you put your Python learning into practice, and gradually tackle more complex ones as your confidence and expertise grow. Opt for projects that address real-world issues, contribute to open-source efforts, or showcase your creative and problem-solving skills. A diverse portfolio of projects will not only display your technical prowess but also your adaptability, ingenuity, and enthusiasm for programming.
To ensure you're not overly dependent on online tutorials, tap into other resources and learning techniques to deepen your grasp of programming concepts and methods. Invest in reliable books, textbooks, and online courses that delve into topics beyond Python basics, like data structures, algorithms, software development methodologies, and best practices. Join programming communities, participate in meetups, workshops, and hackathons, and seek advice and mentorship from seasoned developers or field professionals.
Moreover, Kieran, don't overlook the worth of hands-on experience and trial-and-error learning. Embrace freelance projects, internships, or volunteer roles that let you put your programming skills to the test in real-life situations and work with others in a team setting. Working on actual projects will not only boost your technical skills but also offer valuable experience in project management, communication, and teamwork, traits that employers highly appreciate.
Lastly, Kieran, it's vital to regularly evaluate and polish your portfolio based on feedback from peers, mentors, and industry experts. Consistently update your projects to show your evolution as a programmer and spotlight your most outstanding and relevant work. Bear in mind that mastering programming is a journey, and persistence, commitment, and a readiness to learn and adapt are the keys to success in this fast-paced and ever-changing field. By adhering to a structured plan, building a diverse portfolio of projects, and actively seeking opportunities to apply and enhance your programming skills, you'll be well-prepared to flaunt your abilities and secure your dream job in the software development realm.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Kieran
Updated
ALEJANDRA’s Answer
Building a solid foundation in programming and creating projects to showcase your skills is a great way to advance your career in software development. Here's a roadmap for learning programming and building projects without relying solely on online tutorials:
Solidify Fundamentals: Ensure you have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of programming, including variables, data types, control structures (if statements, loops), functions, and basic algorithms. Since you already have some knowledge in Python, continue to practice and reinforce these concepts.
Learn Data Structures and Algorithms: Familiarize yourself with common data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming). Understanding data structures and algorithms is essential for solving complex problems and writing efficient code.
Practice Problem Solving: Solve coding challenges and problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal. These platforms offer a wide range of coding problems that will help you sharpen your problem-solving skills and prepare for technical interviews.
Build Small Projects: Start by building small projects to apply what you've learned and gain practical experience. Choose projects that interest you and align with your career goals. Examples could include a simple web application, a data analysis tool, a command-line utility, or a mobile app.
Contribute to Open Source: Consider contributing to open-source projects on platforms like GitHub. Contributing to open-source projects allows you to collaborate with others, gain real-world experience, and showcase your coding skills to potential employers.
Work on Larger Projects: As you gain confidence and experience, challenge yourself by working on larger and more complex projects. Break down projects into smaller, manageable tasks, and focus on one aspect at a time. This will help you stay organized and make steady progress.
Create a Portfolio: Build a portfolio website to showcase your projects, skills, and achievements to potential employers. Include project descriptions, screenshots, code samples, and links to live demos or GitHub repositories. A well-curated portfolio demonstrates your abilities and passion for programming.
Network and Seek Feedback: Connect with other developers, join online communities, and attend tech meetups or hackathons. Networking can help you learn from others, get feedback on your projects, and discover new opportunities in the tech industry.
Stay Curious and Keep Learning: The tech industry evolves rapidly, so stay curious and continue learning new technologies, frameworks, and programming languages. Stay updated with industry trends, follow blogs, read books, and take online courses to expand your knowledge and skills.
Prepare for Technical Interviews: Practice coding interviews by solving coding problems, reviewing common interview questions, and participating in mock interviews. Prepare for technical interviews by studying data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving strategies.
By following this roadmap and actively working on projects, you'll not only strengthen your programming skills but also build a compelling portfolio that showcases your abilities to potential employers. Remember to stay persistent, keep challenging yourself, and enjoy the journey of learning and creating.
Solidify Fundamentals: Ensure you have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of programming, including variables, data types, control structures (if statements, loops), functions, and basic algorithms. Since you already have some knowledge in Python, continue to practice and reinforce these concepts.
Learn Data Structures and Algorithms: Familiarize yourself with common data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming). Understanding data structures and algorithms is essential for solving complex problems and writing efficient code.
Practice Problem Solving: Solve coding challenges and problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal. These platforms offer a wide range of coding problems that will help you sharpen your problem-solving skills and prepare for technical interviews.
Build Small Projects: Start by building small projects to apply what you've learned and gain practical experience. Choose projects that interest you and align with your career goals. Examples could include a simple web application, a data analysis tool, a command-line utility, or a mobile app.
Contribute to Open Source: Consider contributing to open-source projects on platforms like GitHub. Contributing to open-source projects allows you to collaborate with others, gain real-world experience, and showcase your coding skills to potential employers.
Work on Larger Projects: As you gain confidence and experience, challenge yourself by working on larger and more complex projects. Break down projects into smaller, manageable tasks, and focus on one aspect at a time. This will help you stay organized and make steady progress.
Create a Portfolio: Build a portfolio website to showcase your projects, skills, and achievements to potential employers. Include project descriptions, screenshots, code samples, and links to live demos or GitHub repositories. A well-curated portfolio demonstrates your abilities and passion for programming.
Network and Seek Feedback: Connect with other developers, join online communities, and attend tech meetups or hackathons. Networking can help you learn from others, get feedback on your projects, and discover new opportunities in the tech industry.
Stay Curious and Keep Learning: The tech industry evolves rapidly, so stay curious and continue learning new technologies, frameworks, and programming languages. Stay updated with industry trends, follow blogs, read books, and take online courses to expand your knowledge and skills.
Prepare for Technical Interviews: Practice coding interviews by solving coding problems, reviewing common interview questions, and participating in mock interviews. Prepare for technical interviews by studying data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving strategies.
By following this roadmap and actively working on projects, you'll not only strengthen your programming skills but also build a compelling portfolio that showcases your abilities to potential employers. Remember to stay persistent, keep challenging yourself, and enjoy the journey of learning and creating.
Updated
Luke’s Answer
Always chase curiosity. So long as you actually build _something_ and it's important to you (in any capacity) then it'll fill out your résumé with unique projects (as per your concern), you can give enthusiastic and/or detailed walkthroughs of what you did, and —most importantly — you'll learn and/or further new skills as you go.
Just remember that it's okay to not (always) build the next-best-thing. It's okay to build "stupid" things that you don't necessarily want to show off. But as long as you're 1) building something at all; 2) enjoying (parts of?) it; and 3) carry some/most of these projects over a "finish line", then you'll be in great shape. Learning how to learn, how to develop, and how to deliver projects are all "muscles" that need training.
And so if you keep this up long enough, which should be easy if you're actually chasing your own interests & motivations, then before long, you'll have a collection of projects that are meaningful to you but helped propel yourself leaps and bounds forward, while *also* showing your interviewer that you can be a motivated self-starter with the ability to take projects from idea to delivery.
Just remember that it's okay to not (always) build the next-best-thing. It's okay to build "stupid" things that you don't necessarily want to show off. But as long as you're 1) building something at all; 2) enjoying (parts of?) it; and 3) carry some/most of these projects over a "finish line", then you'll be in great shape. Learning how to learn, how to develop, and how to deliver projects are all "muscles" that need training.
And so if you keep this up long enough, which should be easy if you're actually chasing your own interests & motivations, then before long, you'll have a collection of projects that are meaningful to you but helped propel yourself leaps and bounds forward, while *also* showing your interviewer that you can be a motivated self-starter with the ability to take projects from idea to delivery.
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Rafael Alfonso’s Answer
From my brief journey, I've found that diving into theoretical readings or signing up for online courses without a clear goal can become a bit monotonous and isn't particularly inspiring. Remember, technology was created to solve problems and be of service in various fields! So, I'd recommend taking a look around your life and identifying areas that could use a little improvement. Then, see if technology could lend a helping hand.
Being actively involved in various aspects of life will naturally lead you to ask important questions about technology, like: How can I accomplish this? How can I make it better? How can I speed things up? and so on...
I urge you to explore and pinpoint what truly matters to you! This is the best way to chart your course in programming. :)
Being actively involved in various aspects of life will naturally lead you to ask important questions about technology, like: How can I accomplish this? How can I make it better? How can I speed things up? and so on...
I urge you to explore and pinpoint what truly matters to you! This is the best way to chart your course in programming. :)
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Chris’s Answer
One of the most effective ways to enhance your coding skills with Python is by embarking on a project that tackles a real-world problem. Here’s why:
Motivation and Purpose:
* When you work on a project that directly addresses a need within your family or community, you’ll find intrinsic motivation. Solving a tangible problem gives your coding journey purpose and meaning.
* Imagine creating an app that helps local businesses manage their inventory or a website that connects volunteers with local charities. These projects serve a purpose beyond just learning to code—they make a difference.
Engagement and Learning:
* Building something practical keeps you engaged. You’ll encounter challenges, learn new concepts, and apply your knowledge in context.
* As you encounter roadblocks (and trust me, you will!), you’ll research, debug, and iterate. This process is where true learning happens. It’s like leveling up in a game—you gain experience points with each hurdle you overcome.
Portfolio Showcase:
* A project that solves a real problem becomes a shining star in your portfolio. When you apply for internships, college admissions, or jobs, having a functional project demonstrates your skills far better than a list of courses or certificates.
* Employers and educators love seeing practical applications. It shows that you’re not just a theoretical coder but someone who can create value.
So, pick a problem close to your heart—whether it’s automating a tedious task for your family, creating an educational tool for classmates, or building an app that benefits your community. Remember, the journey matters as much as the destination -- have fun!
Motivation and Purpose:
* When you work on a project that directly addresses a need within your family or community, you’ll find intrinsic motivation. Solving a tangible problem gives your coding journey purpose and meaning.
* Imagine creating an app that helps local businesses manage their inventory or a website that connects volunteers with local charities. These projects serve a purpose beyond just learning to code—they make a difference.
Engagement and Learning:
* Building something practical keeps you engaged. You’ll encounter challenges, learn new concepts, and apply your knowledge in context.
* As you encounter roadblocks (and trust me, you will!), you’ll research, debug, and iterate. This process is where true learning happens. It’s like leveling up in a game—you gain experience points with each hurdle you overcome.
Portfolio Showcase:
* A project that solves a real problem becomes a shining star in your portfolio. When you apply for internships, college admissions, or jobs, having a functional project demonstrates your skills far better than a list of courses or certificates.
* Employers and educators love seeing practical applications. It shows that you’re not just a theoretical coder but someone who can create value.
So, pick a problem close to your heart—whether it’s automating a tedious task for your family, creating an educational tool for classmates, or building an app that benefits your community. Remember, the journey matters as much as the destination -- have fun!
Updated
Moiz’s Answer
To boost your career, it's crucial to establish a firm base in programming and develop projects that demonstrate your abilities. Here's a guide to help you reach your objectives:
Master the Basics: Given your familiarity with Python, begin by reinforcing your grasp of fundamental concepts. This includes variables, data types, loops, conditionals, functions, and object-oriented programming.
Explore Various Languages and Technologies: Python is a fantastic starting point, but don't limit yourself. Explore other programming languages and technologies that align with your interests and career ambitions. You might want to try your hand at web development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, or delve into data science with R or SQL.
Engage in Project-Based Learning: Apply your programming knowledge to real-world situations by embarking on projects that pique your interest and align with your career goals. Whether it's constructing a web application, crafting a game, developing a mobile app, or analyzing data, projects will not only enhance your abilities but also provide concrete examples for your portfolio.
Push Your Boundaries: Don't shy away from projects that stretch your capabilities and introduce you to new concepts or technologies. View challenges as chances for growth and skill enhancement.
Team Up with Others: Collaborate with your peers or contribute to open-source projects for experience in larger, more intricate projects. Working in a team will improve your communication, teamwork, and project management skills - qualities employers highly appreciate.
Record Your Projects: Document your journey as you undertake projects, noting the process, hurdles, and solutions. Maintain a portfolio that includes descriptions, code samples, screenshots, and links to live demos or repositories. This portfolio will act as a showcase of your abilities and achievements for potential employers.
Welcome Feedback and Improve: Be open to feedback from peers, mentors, or online communities. Use this constructive criticism to enhance your projects and hone your skills. Remember, continuous improvement is all about iteration.
Maintain Consistency and Determination: The journey to master programming requires regular effort and determination. Allocate specific time each day or week to practice coding and work on your projects. Celebrate your progress and achievements along the way.
Remember, there's no universal blueprint for learning programming. Tailor your learning path based on your interests, goals, and learning style. Stay eager, stay driven, and don't hesitate to explore new technologies and challenges. With commitment and resilience, you'll establish a robust base in programming and create remarkable projects to exhibit to employers.
If you ever need guidance or support, feel free to ask. I'm here to assist you in your programming journey!
Master the Basics: Given your familiarity with Python, begin by reinforcing your grasp of fundamental concepts. This includes variables, data types, loops, conditionals, functions, and object-oriented programming.
Explore Various Languages and Technologies: Python is a fantastic starting point, but don't limit yourself. Explore other programming languages and technologies that align with your interests and career ambitions. You might want to try your hand at web development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, or delve into data science with R or SQL.
Engage in Project-Based Learning: Apply your programming knowledge to real-world situations by embarking on projects that pique your interest and align with your career goals. Whether it's constructing a web application, crafting a game, developing a mobile app, or analyzing data, projects will not only enhance your abilities but also provide concrete examples for your portfolio.
Push Your Boundaries: Don't shy away from projects that stretch your capabilities and introduce you to new concepts or technologies. View challenges as chances for growth and skill enhancement.
Team Up with Others: Collaborate with your peers or contribute to open-source projects for experience in larger, more intricate projects. Working in a team will improve your communication, teamwork, and project management skills - qualities employers highly appreciate.
Record Your Projects: Document your journey as you undertake projects, noting the process, hurdles, and solutions. Maintain a portfolio that includes descriptions, code samples, screenshots, and links to live demos or repositories. This portfolio will act as a showcase of your abilities and achievements for potential employers.
Welcome Feedback and Improve: Be open to feedback from peers, mentors, or online communities. Use this constructive criticism to enhance your projects and hone your skills. Remember, continuous improvement is all about iteration.
Maintain Consistency and Determination: The journey to master programming requires regular effort and determination. Allocate specific time each day or week to practice coding and work on your projects. Celebrate your progress and achievements along the way.
Remember, there's no universal blueprint for learning programming. Tailor your learning path based on your interests, goals, and learning style. Stay eager, stay driven, and don't hesitate to explore new technologies and challenges. With commitment and resilience, you'll establish a robust base in programming and create remarkable projects to exhibit to employers.
If you ever need guidance or support, feel free to ask. I'm here to assist you in your programming journey!
Updated
Romir’s Answer
Hey there, Kieren! Let's kick off by fortifying your basics. Make sure you're comfortable with the core concepts of programming, like variables, data types, loops, conditionals, and functions. Given that you're already familiar with Python, it's a perfect place to begin. But remember, it's also useful to delve into other programming languages depending on what your project needs. For instance, if web development piques your interest, getting a grip on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will be a great asset.
Once you've got the basics down, the most effective way to master programming is by getting your hands dirty. Initiate with minor projects that pique your interest and slowly raise the bar. This practical approach lets you put your learning to the test and gain hands-on experience. While you're at it, think about teaming up and contributing to open-source projects. This not only gives you invaluable experience but also lets you work on real-life projects, learn from seasoned developers, and flaunt your contributions to potential employers.
Moreover, participating in programming meetups, workshops, and hackathons can offer chances to learn from the pros, connect with people who share your interests, and get a sneak peek into new technologies and trends. These events can be an excellent way to keep up-to-date and broaden your knowledge.
Lastly, make GenAI your secret weapon. For instance, if you're trying to decipher someone else's code and find any part of it puzzling, feed it into a GenAI tool to receive a step-by-step explanation of what each part does.
Best of luck on your programming adventure!
Once you've got the basics down, the most effective way to master programming is by getting your hands dirty. Initiate with minor projects that pique your interest and slowly raise the bar. This practical approach lets you put your learning to the test and gain hands-on experience. While you're at it, think about teaming up and contributing to open-source projects. This not only gives you invaluable experience but also lets you work on real-life projects, learn from seasoned developers, and flaunt your contributions to potential employers.
Moreover, participating in programming meetups, workshops, and hackathons can offer chances to learn from the pros, connect with people who share your interests, and get a sneak peek into new technologies and trends. These events can be an excellent way to keep up-to-date and broaden your knowledge.
Lastly, make GenAI your secret weapon. For instance, if you're trying to decipher someone else's code and find any part of it puzzling, feed it into a GenAI tool to receive a step-by-step explanation of what each part does.
Best of luck on your programming adventure!
Updated
Lee’s Answer
Hi Kieran!
Programming is a great skill to learn and Python is also a good place to start.
Building projects from scratch is super fun because you can customize it. But it's hard to start when you don't have much knowledge.
Maybe first learn some fundamentals. Online courses may be boring, but they are good sources. Learn about the basics of every language, like variables and loops. You can do this in Python.
Afterwards, I suggest finding a website that will walk you through a project, so you have a foundation to build on. Try going on realpython.com and finding an interesting project at your skill level. I suggest you do this because doing a project will
1. help you understand how to start a project,
2. show you what you can do with programming,
3. be something you can start with, and then you can add your own code to it once you're done the tutorial!
Projects will also encourage you to learn how to Google. You'll look up specific things you want to add to your project that the tutorial didn't cover. Knowing how to Google is a fundamental skill in computer programming.
After doing the project, you'll have a better idea of what you want to build and how to build it. Try looking stuff up to figure out how to do it. Any project you do on your own time will look great for a portfolio! Try to make something that means something to you and will potentially help you in your own life.
While making projects, keep in mind there are more complicated topics to learn, such as data structures, algorithms, etc. You can take online courses for these, but I would recommend you take classes for this, because they can be tough to understand. You can take a peek at LeetCode questions to understand the importance of data structures and algorithms.
Good luck on your journey!
Programming is a great skill to learn and Python is also a good place to start.
Building projects from scratch is super fun because you can customize it. But it's hard to start when you don't have much knowledge.
Maybe first learn some fundamentals. Online courses may be boring, but they are good sources. Learn about the basics of every language, like variables and loops. You can do this in Python.
Afterwards, I suggest finding a website that will walk you through a project, so you have a foundation to build on. Try going on realpython.com and finding an interesting project at your skill level. I suggest you do this because doing a project will
1. help you understand how to start a project,
2. show you what you can do with programming,
3. be something you can start with, and then you can add your own code to it once you're done the tutorial!
Projects will also encourage you to learn how to Google. You'll look up specific things you want to add to your project that the tutorial didn't cover. Knowing how to Google is a fundamental skill in computer programming.
After doing the project, you'll have a better idea of what you want to build and how to build it. Try looking stuff up to figure out how to do it. Any project you do on your own time will look great for a portfolio! Try to make something that means something to you and will potentially help you in your own life.
While making projects, keep in mind there are more complicated topics to learn, such as data structures, algorithms, etc. You can take online courses for these, but I would recommend you take classes for this, because they can be tough to understand. You can take a peek at LeetCode questions to understand the importance of data structures and algorithms.
Good luck on your journey!
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