I'm a university student facing a long commute of about two hours each way, once or twice a week, on a train. I want to make the most of this time by learning Python or C++, but I can only use my phone since my laptop is too bulky to bring along. I have the basics down, but I'm looking for suggestions on how to effectively study or practice programming during my commute. Any advice?
4 Answers
How about listening to podcasts? They won't teach you specific technical skills, but they can enhance your general understanding of software engineering and soft skills. Some good ones I found include 'Modern Software Engineering' and 'The Pragmatic Engineer.' They’re insightful and perfect for a commute.
Yes! Podcasts are a fantastic way to make use of commute time.
I'd recommend focusing on theory rather than trying to code on your phone. It can be pretty challenging to program on a train, so reading notes or textbooks related to your courses—like data structures, algorithms, or networking—could be more beneficial. It's a great way to solidify your understanding without needing a laptop.
That sounds good! Any specific books or resources you suggest?
Thanks for the tip! I'll look into some textbooks.
Reading books, documentation, or interesting open-source projects is a great approach. While I get that programming on a laptop would be ideal, if that's not possible, leverage the time for reading! I personally used my commute to understand concepts deeply instead of writing code.
Can you recommend any particular documentation or articles?
Absolutely! Official docs are a goldmine for learning.
I use an app called QPython 3L on my phone, which lets me run Python scripts and has an interactive mode. You can also watch Udemy courses or YouTube videos during your trip. I highly suggest checking out Raymond Hettinger's talks—they're really informative and can give you deeper insights into Python.
Awesome! I’ll check out QPython and those talks, thanks!
Definitely give it a shot; it’s been super helpful for me!
Great idea! I’ll add podcasts to my learning list.