As a beginner programmer wanting to create projects, like a terminal text editor that handles file input/output, string editing, and displaying contents, I'm curious about the best way to learn these skills. Should I rely on tutorials to understand the process, or can I dive into a project by breaking it down into manageable parts? I also have other projects in mind, like a virtual machine or a game, but I'm unsure how to get started and feel overwhelmed by the prerequisite knowledge I may be lacking.
4 Answers
Often, course materials come with exercises or challenges. Complete those first! Then, think about what you can create using the tools you already understand. Starting with simpler projects like creating "more" and then "less" can help build your confidence.
Avoid tutorials if you can; they can lead you into 'tutorial hell' where you struggle to break away and work independently. Focus on dividing your project into small, achievable tasks. Once you’ve mastered those, you can steadily build up your understanding.
That sounds like the plan! I guess I'll have to just start building and see how it goes.
For your terminal text editor, consider using the "curses" library to control display and get comfortable with keyboard input. Start simple by replicating command line tools like "type" or "cat" to get used to handling input and output. It’s a good progression before you tackle more complex tasks like building your text editor.
Thanks for the advice! But how do I know which steps to take first? It feels like I'm missing some foundational knowledge.
That's normal! Just focus on practicing what you know and gradually implement new features as you learn more.
Start by identifying what skills you need for your project. If you want to make a game, figure out how to display a window and work from there. Break down the overall goal into smaller, manageable tasks that you can research and learn about individually. Choose a framework or library, read the documentation, and piece everything together as you go. It's all about small steps!
Exactly, 'divide and conquer' is the way to go!