I'm currently enrolled in a Robotics & AI program, but I haven't started formal programming classes yet. I'm trying to learn programming on my own while juggling college work. My aim is to go beyond just completing tutorials; I want to develop real problem-solving skills and the logical thinking necessary to approach programming challenges. For those of you who have learned programming independently or while following a different academic path, what strategies did you find helpful in advancing from basic tutorials to thinking like a programmer?
5 Answers
I think it really doesn't matter if you're a CS major or not. The key is to build something all by yourself. If a project feels too ambitious, start smaller but ensure you're doing it independently. It’s completely normal to evolve from simple projects to more complex ones over time, so just keep at it and iterate as you go!
Check out platforms like LeetCode for practicing coding problems. But honestly, focus on building real projects instead of just solving problems. Real projects teach you full solutions and how to tackle challenges creatively. Start simple and gradually increase the complexity of your projects.
Forget just doing tutorials. The real learning comes from doing projects. Whether it’s automating a tedious task or venturing into a new area of development, push yourself to create something original. This is what will set you apart later on!
The best advice I can give is to practice as much as you can. A combination of reading resources and hands-on projects works wonders. I recommend checking out books like *Think Like A Programmer* and *The Pragmatic Programmer*. And remember, build stuff! Automate annoying tasks in your life or create small tools that you actually find useful. Theory is nice, but jobs often care about your ability to ship code.
If you're looking for structured learning, the CS50 course from Harvard is fantastic! It's free, online, and self-paced. The instructor does a great job of breaking down complex concepts. Even if you don’t finish the course, you’ll learn a ton. It's what helped me decide on computer science as my major!
Exactly! Starting with manageable projects helps in building confidence and skills. It's all about the practice and learning from each project.