I'm curious about the resources you all used when you first started learning programming. I want to know what helped you build or develop your own projects. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! (My previous post got deleted, so I'm trying again.)
5 Answers
Books were my go-to at first since the internet wasn’t as prevalent. But nowadays, I’d suggest sticking to official documentation and platforms like YouTube, FreeCodeCamp, and Codecademy until you're comfortable tackling more complex challenges with sites like LeetCode or Codewars.
I really found using official documentation invaluable for understanding how functions work. FreeCodeCamp was also a great way to practice coding. It's amazing to see your own projects come together with the help of these resources!
Back in my day, I relied heavily on W3Schools and PHP docs. Learning to read documentation is a crucial skill for any programmer. I've noticed some folks suggest using AI for coding help, but I've got to say, I think it's best to build your skills rather than depending on AI-generated code, especially if you're new to web development. You need to understand the quality of what's being produced to truly learn.
I still remember using the Commodore 64 user manual when I started programming! It's nostalgic to think about all the resources we had back then, from manuals to BBSes. Today, there's just so much more accessible content online.
I started with The Odin Project, which is fantastic for web development. It guides you through everything you need as a beginner and has lots of hands-on projects to reinforce skills.
Have you tried Scrimba? I've seen the MDN docs recommend it for beginners!