Let’s say I want to learn
how to cook. You will probably recommend a book of recipes you like. This would
be great if I just want to make a particular type of food. All I would do is to
repeat the steps in those recipes and enjoy the results. But that will be a
terrible answer if I have greater aspirations. That's if i want to really
impress my friends, to do something new or unique. To be an
"improvisational cook," I need to understand what's going on in the
minds of those recipe authors. I need to understand the practice, not just
theory.
The best way to learn how to
program is by doing it. It's easy to spend hours reading about syntax, but
computer languages like human languages require you to use them in order to
understand them. Don't just rely on eBooks and tutorials. Start by doing simple
projects. For instance if you're learning HTML / CSS you can play with
JavaScript and get a simple div to move around on the page when you click on
something. Then work your way up to more complex ones.
For example, write a simple
to do list with HTML form elements. You have to learn Data Object Model (DOM)
manipulation to properly handle when the user interacts with the page. In some
institutions and organizations, they start by teaching how to make a fun game.
Sometimes they teach you how to build simple apps like digital clock.
The other way to this is to
make your mind solve a real problem. If you want to use computers to solve
problems, the hardest thing you need to learn is not the "computer"
part: it's solving problems. Once you've crafted a real solution, making the
computer do it will not be the problem. The challenges come from thinking not
typing with the computer.
In essence learning
programming can be fun if you practice and practice more than you read and
secondly if you practice by trying to solve a problem. You can also read our
posts on areas you can build a tech startup around to have more
insights on solving real problem with technology.
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