I'm currently in my second year of studying IT and I'm starting to feel frustrated. While my university courses cover the basics of programming, many classes don't focus on coding and often take up valuable time. The semesters are so short that we skim through multiple programming languages, and I finish my assignments but still feel like I'm just scratching the surface.
When I see what others in the programming community talk about, I realize there are so many terms and practices I don't know, and I feel disconnected from the real development world. I expected to feel more skilled by now.
I really want to get better, but I'm not sure what steps to take next. If anyone has been in a similar position, I'd love to hear how you improved your programming abilities. What did you do to enhance your skills beyond basic university work? Also, I'm looking for platforms to practice daily, possibly LeetCode or any alternatives you might suggest. I aim to build strong problem-solving habits and truly improve my skills. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
You might feel like those other classes aren’t related to coding, but they could actually be super useful in software development. Have you thought about the legal aspects of programming if you do client work? Consider working on personal projects or joining a coding club to collaborate. Hackathons can also be a great way to gain experience and skills that will help you in real-life situations. LeetCode is useful, but it won’t prepare you for every aspect of a software developer’s job.
Projects are key! Make a simple game or a guessing game to start—I think you’ll find it fun! If you run into problems, definitely come back here and ask for help. The more you code, the better you'll get.
It sounds like you're on the right track wanting to get more hands-on experience! I've spent a lot of time programming, and I found that doing projects is the best way to learn. Theory is important, but applying it in real projects really shows you what you know. Try starting a project that interests you—like a personal finance app or a simple game. Choose something that’s challenging but not overwhelming so you can learn along the way. And honestly, I think focusing on building projects is more beneficial than just practicing LeetCode questions, which are mainly for interviews.
Contributing to open source projects could really help you gain experience and learn from other team members. It's a great way to get practical knowledge and meet people in the community.
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