I just wrapped up my freshman year of college for computer science and honestly feel lost when it comes to coding. I struggled a lot in my classes and can't even recall the Python we were taught. They told me in high school I wouldn't need to worry about coding until college, but it seems that's not true for me. Hearing my classmates talk about their programming projects and getting paid for them really stressed me out. I want to make the most of my summer to improve my coding skills, but I'm not sure where to begin. I've heard about bootcamps and The Odin Project, but I'm looking for more suggestions. What are the best ways to learn coding effectively before the next semester starts?
5 Answers
You might want to check out Scrimba's "Frontend Development Specialization" on Coursera. I found it super helpful for grasping key concepts in coding!
Try learning by doing instead of just studying theory. Building something tangible, like a Tetris clone in Python, gives you more practical experience and you’ll learn a lot in the process!
I'd recommend not only relying on bootcamps but also making use of the resources your school provides. Seek out tutoring, office hours, and study groups over the summer—it can really advance your understanding.
Look into CS50X, Codecademy, or Microsoft Learn. They offer great resources to build foundational skills. If you're into game development, Unity has plenty of documentation and tutorials too. Just working on projects you enjoy can significantly boost your learning!
Building projects is essential! To really get good at programming, you need to embrace being bad at it first. Start small—try making a simple text-based game. I did this during my first summer and learned a ton. It pushed me to explore new concepts, and by the time I started college, I felt ready for the challenges. Passion and perseverance are key!
Absolutely! After you get comfortable with basics, consider making a simple game. I created a text-based combat game, which helped me learn a lot of important programming concepts.