Ask HN: Do you have a process or a framework to learn specific skills quickly?

- read, read, read about the topic at hand. I find that finding a good book on the topic gives me a baseline of information even if I do not understand or retain it all.

- use the information. Play and build what I am learning about.

- as I work through day to day issues and find things I will probably need in the future, I save them as a page in a zettlekasten using vimwiki. Writing these things down is new for me and it has already paid off when answering questions.

There is no secret sauce nor magical technique to learning, memorizing, regurgitating information. Only repeatedly doing the thing is how you learn. And as always, "Use it or loose it" applies.

On the other hand I am happy to share what has been very successful method for me learning Python AND researching solutions for my scripting projects: Jupyter Notebooks.

Notebooks use Markdown which lets you cleanly collect links.

Code cells let you test code samples.

The success of Notebooks in my process has lead me to adopt Markdown in all of my personal notes (text-based).

A quick note on this last point—-a friend of mine recently commented they are developing on a Mac and using Notes app. I have a Apple laptop, so I’m familiar with Notes app.

There are just too many details making Notes app unsuitable to detail here. So, hear me now, and believe me later. Don’t use it. (except for convenience of notes between iPhone and other Mac products).

1. Remove time barriers. Understand that there are 24 hours in a day and that time is all your once removed from sleep, family, commute, and so forth. Understanding this may triple or quadruple your availability to learn.

2. Know your goal/mission/end state. This goal can be wrong, but at this point that correctness is irrelevant. This goal is where you need to be at the end of quick learning and you can pivot as necessary later.

3. Gather assets. Your team (if you need a team) should already be formed at this point. Gather your people, all necessary training materials, and a training location. The point is to cram together. Working with people like this slows your learning speed by about 20% but increases your comprehension by more than 40% and extends your focus further into fatigue. Remember rule 1 above.

4. Rehearse. Read and review all supporting materials. Frequently discuss things in the team openly. Practice and mind meld. With enough iteration the subject matter should transform from knowledge to muscle memory. Practice practice practice.

5. Eat. Focus on foods high in protein and fats to help with concentration. Eat good meals and have healthy snacks available while learning. Starchy snacks are a bad choice. Things like nuts, meat products, and fatty vegetables are better. Snacks also give you something to do while you study to help ward off drowsiness.

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This is the pattern we use in the military. Having gone through numerous military schools and 5 deployments you do this so much the process itself becomes muscle memory. The idea is you have no idea what the actual technical requirements are until you get there but you have a vague idea of the skills needed. Buckle down, get pluses up, and keep an open mind.