I'm 17 years old and recently finished learning Python. Now I'm at a crossroads and not sure what to tackle next. I've tried solving problems on LeetCode but only managed to get through 3-5 questions because I feel like I don't know much about data structures and algorithms (DSA). Should I dive into DSA now, or would it be better to start learning HTML and CSS? I would really appreciate any suggestions on what to focus on and if you have recommendations for good DSA books in Python, that would be great!
5 Answers
Building a project is key! Try to integrate DSA concepts while you’re at it. Learning a new concept every day will not only sharpen your logic but also make tackling new programming languages a lot smoother in the future!
It's awesome that you've finished learning Python! But rather than jumping straight into something new, why not build a project with what you already know? It'll help reinforce your understanding. Once you've put something together, you can then consider diving into DSA.
I personally recommend getting into C++ after Python. C++ provides a strong foundation and helps with understanding language semantics that is valuable across others as well. It was my first language, and I found it made everything else easier to grasp!
If you decide to go for DSA, there are some great Python resources available. Books like "Grokking Algorithms" and "Python Data Structures and Algorithms" are fantastic to get you started!
Why not jump into open source? Find a project on GitHub that interests you and start contributing. You can tackle small issues or help with documentation. It will force you to read other people's code and learn quickly while helping you understand version control too!
That sounds like a solid approach! C++ is known for its complexity but can really deepen your understanding of programming concepts.