Hey everyone! I'm a newbie in computer science and have been teaching myself for about 8 months now. I've successfully picked up Python and SQL through Harvard's CS50 courses, and I learned Git and GitHub via YouTube videos. Recently, I started using Linux Mint as my main operating system to enhance my workflow and dive deeper into learning. I'm really enjoying the process so far! My ultimate goal is to become a backend developer or at least build a solid foundation in software engineering. That said, I'm looking for advice on what steps I should take next. How can I deepen my programming skills, better understand computer science concepts, and ensure I stay on the right track? Thanks a ton for your help!
7 Answers
Take a look at a university CS program's curriculum. You'll find valuable resources and structure for your studies. It's a great way to ensure you're covering important topics!
Focus on learning Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) or tools like Docker and Kubernetes. Integrating GitLab into your workflow can also be a great step to improve your skills!
Keep up the great work! Start building your own projects; that's where the real learning happens. I recommend branching out into system design and maybe a bit of front-end development too. It’ll give you a better perspective on how backend systems interact with front-end. Also, if you can spare $20/month, consider investing in GitHub Copilot. It can be really helpful as a coding reference, just remember to review its suggestions critically!
It's crucial to start working on real projects. Choose a technology that excites you, then build a simplified version of it. Since you’re familiar with Git, why not explore its history? Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, also invented Git! You could even try creating your simplified version for practice. And if you want a buddy to collaborate with, hit me up!
Check out app development for various marketplaces! I watched a video about it recently, and it highlighted how to find app ideas based on user needs. For instance, monday.com has sections for app devs where you can see what users want. It’s a great way to get project ideas and user feedback. Plus, you could even monetize your apps if you polish them well!
A fun project could be to create a Tetris web app where you track player history and high scores. It’ll challenge your coding skills and give you something cool to showcase!
Why not try building a full-stack application and deploying it? It'll help you learn continuous integration, Docker, secrets management, and so much more. You could host it on platforms like AWS, Azure, or Digital Ocean. It's a fantastic hands-on experience!
thnx❤️❤️