Hey everyone! I'd love to hear from those of you who have been in my shoes. How many hours a day did you dedicate to studying programming theory when you were just starting out? Personally, I struggle to study theory for more than an hour a day, and I'm finding it tough to apply what I learn since I don't feel ready to tackle real projects yet.
5 Answers
It’s less about the hours you study and more about grasping the concepts. When I was starting, I spent around 15-20 minutes daily browsing documentation and coding. I focused on understanding enough to apply it practically—like building simple websites. It’s about learning the basics and growing from there.
Good to know! I’m 26 and just getting into this, so any tips are appreciated!
I honestly didn't spend time on theory at all. I jumped straight into projects because I felt that the best way to learn is by solving real problems. When something didn't work, I'd hit the books to find a solution. The idea is to start a project and learn the needed theory along the way. You can’t wait to be 'ready' to start; just dive in!
Thanks for the tip! I’ve been hesitant about projects, but I'll give it a shot.
That makes sense! I felt overwhelmed too, how did you manage to just get started?
You'll get more from building than sitting down with theory. I started with web tutorials and gradually enjoyed it more as I created things. Every small project is a stepping stone, and reading tutorials is just to get the wheels turning. Don’t expect to memorize everything before starting, just keep building and improving as you go!
That sounds encouraging! I enjoy coding but struggle with theory—definitely need to focus on building.
From my experience, just coding and applying what you learn is the most effective way to go. You can’t study theory forever; at some point, you have to get your hands dirty. Tutorials are great, but you learn more when you actually build. Start simple and don’t be afraid to experiment.
I guess that's true! I feel like I read too much and act too little.
Thanks, I’ve been hesitant to jump into projects!
Honestly, I didn’t really study 'theory' at all as a beginner. I just code. I think a lot of people get stuck trying to learn everything before starting, but you really just need to start coding something—anything! Get familiar with basic concepts and go from there, learning as you build.
Agreed! I believe more in doing. I hope to start my first project soon!
That’s exactly where I’m at! Looking forward to just building.
I started learning HTML and JS too! Gonna take your advice and focus on applying what I learn.