I'm just starting to learn Python and I'm curious about the journey to understanding programming. For those of you who have experience, how long did it take for your first programming language to really 'click' for you? Any specific moments or experiences that helped you grasp it better?
11 Answers
Interestingly enough, it clicked almost immediately for me! I remember being so impressed when we first learned how to make Python print simple things. It felt incredible to tell the machine what to do!
The concept of polymorphism took a while to sink in for me, too! Want me to explain it?
I'd love to hear more about that!
For me, it never really clicked in a sudden way; it was more of a gradual solidification over time. Just keep practicing and it’ll come together!
I was exposed to basic programming at 6, then C++, so there wasn't a specific moment where it didn't click. Some advanced concepts took time, but I always figured there was a way to solve problems by checking my reference materials.
I think a big moment for understanding programming happens when you try a different language. It makes you realize that it's not just about the language but the underlying logic! Just like knowing how to use an axe without really mastering it.
My understanding grew with a lot of little 'aha' moments rather than any big revelations. The key was just to keep coding and learning!
For me, it took about 4 or 5 years into my first job before everything started making sense.
I really got my head around it after going through a dozen amazing tutorials by Jeffrey Way. Those made a huge difference in my understanding!
I only really started to understand Python when I began using it for work as an in-house lawyer. My background included a basic Python class, but now that I’m dealing with a lot of documents, learning scripting has clarified a lot for me!
It started to make sense when I moved past tutorials and began experimenting directly in my IDE. Tutorial hell can really bog you down!
It really clicked for me after I built a parser and compiler in college along with some discrete mathematics. Once I did that, I felt comfortable learning any language. I've worked in over 10 languages!
That’s interesting! I’ve also worked with a bunch of languages, and I find that diving into lexical analysis brings out the beauty in programming. Have you ever tried Prolog? It's such a unique paradigm, and while I find imperative and functional languages easy, Prolog was a fun challenge!
That's cool! I love how compiler writing can be such a game-changer in understanding code. I think the key is just to keep experimenting.
That sounds like such a cool experience! I can relate—seeing simple commands execute was mind-blowing!