Hey everyone! I'm currently in high school and last year I made the common mistake of learning way too many programming languages at once. I jumped into web development before even understanding the fundamentals of how a computer operates. By the end of the year, I realized my actual programming abilities and problem-solving skills were far below average.
I devote a lot of my time to studying for college entrance exams, but my passion for programming is strong, so I want to use my free time to really solidify my knowledge. This time, I want to start from scratch, grasping how computers work at a low level before moving on. I'm currently reading "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold to get a grip on the basics like data storage, bits, and binary.
After finishing that, I'm considering diving into a low-level programming language or exploring operating systems, but I'm not sure which path to take. Any suggestions on a learning roadmap that outlines what areas I should focus on and in what order would be super helpful! I'm also interested in becoming a deep/machine learning engineer or a backend web developer, but I'm torn between the two.
5 Answers
If you're leaning towards machine learning engineering, be prepared for a lot of math and possibly pursuing a PhD. On the other hand, for backend web development, a bachelor's degree might suffice; you'll be spending more time coding than crunching numbers. My advice? Focus on building projects! New learners often find themselves lost in theory; having practical projects will solidify your understanding. Stick to one language until you're comfortable, then exploring lower-level languages for memory management can be beneficial later on.
If you want to pursue web development, I recommend learning both frontend and backend. You don't really need to dive deep into low-level programming for that. Just focus on the core concepts and build projects!
Here's a great resource to build your foundation: https://teachyourselfcs.com. It'll help you get organized in your learning!
I totally relate to your experience! Jumping between languages can be overwhelming. The Petzold book is a great start for understanding the inner workings of computers. Once you finish it, consider trying C or even Assembly to really understand the machine-level details. This hands-on approach can dramatically shift your perspective on all these high-level tools we usually use.
You're definitely on the right track! Simplify your journey: solid basics + consistent practice go a long way. After that book, I suggest learning C (or something low-level) followed by data structures and problem-solving. Once you're comfortable, return to Python for some hands-on projects. You don't need an in-depth understanding of operating systems right now; just grasp the basics and build things. Don't stress too much about choosing between ML and backend until you've created some projects.
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