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Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

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Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#21

Post by noahc »

mtran wrote: post #14
noahc wrote: post #3

1. Pick a Language 2. Find a beginners guide to said language. 3. Start building stuff. You need to start building stuff. The only time I've ever learned to code was when I was trying to build something. Reading books, taking algorithm classes, etc never did anything for me. Give me a real world problem and turn me loose. That's how I learn best, and I expect most people do too.

How do you pick a language? I've heard soooo many different perspectives on this. I just started fooling around w/Ruby because the tools were easy and fun to use... but since I'm just getting started I'm wide open for suggestions.

That sounds like a perfect reason to choose ruby.

Your choice of language is almost irrelevant when first starting out as long as you pick something like php, python, or ruby. As the languages get more exotic or lower level they can become increasingly more difficult to learn.

Run with Ruby and enjoy!

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#22

Post by noahc »

greglockwood wrote: post #11

There is an identical ask thread to this that I just posted an answer to, so I will crosspost my answer from there: If you want to do front end web dev, learn these languages in this order: HTML - http://www.w3schools.com/html/ CSS - http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp Javascript - http://eloquentjavascript.net/contents.html And then pick one of the following two: PHP - http://www.tuxradar.com/practicalphp or Ra…

Just to clarify RoR is a framework, and PHP is a language. Each language has many frameworks to choose from. You need to learn Ruby before learning Ruby on Rails. Each framework allows for rapid development of websites or web apps, and should be learned separately from the language they support.

If you want to learn how to code backend stuff pick either python, ruby or php.

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#23

Post by mtran »

noahc wrote: post #21
mtran wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you pick a language? I've heard soooo many different perspectives on this. I just started fooling around w/Ruby because the tools were easy and fun to use... but since I'm just getting started I'm wide open for suggestions.

That sounds like a perfect reason to choose ruby. Your choice of language is almost irrelevant when first starting out as long as you pick something like php, python, or ruby. As the languages get more exotic or lower level they can become increasingly more difficult to learn. Run with Ruby and enjoy!

Thanks for the reinforcement - it is a little daunting to wonder how far you should go down a given path w/out knowing much about the other options... this is a great way to sort some of that out. Thanks again!

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#24

Post by wmboy »

emilepetrone wrote: post #9

I quit my job and learned to code over the last 8 months or so. The main thing- write code everyday. A little, a lot. Just start spinning that wheel. You'll learn a bit here and there. But the big advances come after a few weeks when you piece together the little concepts. I started with Python & Google App Engine. I would recommend this to anyone. You don't have to worry about the server and can just pay attention t…

Here's the progress blog - http://www.proudn00b.com/ (mentioned in a similar thread today).

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#25

Post by mtran »

wmboy wrote: post #24
emilepetrone wrote: post #9

I quit my job and learned to code over the last 8 months or so. The main thing- write code everyday. A little, a lot. Just start spinning that wheel. You'll learn a bit here and there. But the big advances come after a few weeks when you piece together the little concepts. I started with Python & Google App Engine. I would recommend this to anyone. You don't have to worry about the server and can just pay attention t…

Here's the progress blog - http://www.proudn00b.com/ (mentioned in a similar thread today).

Just checked it out! How great - loved your "about" ... "to take control of my destiny"... are you by yourself in SF?

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#26

Post by mtran »

noahc wrote: post #22
greglockwood wrote: post #11

There is an identical ask thread to this that I just posted an answer to, so I will crosspost my answer from there: If you want to do front end web dev, learn these languages in this order: HTML - http://www.w3schools.com/html/ CSS - http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp Javascript - http://eloquentjavascript.net/contents.html And then pick one of the following two: PHP - http://www.tuxradar.com/practicalphp or Ra…

Just to clarify RoR is a framework, and PHP is a language. Each language has many frameworks to choose from. You need to learn Ruby before learning Ruby on Rails. Each framework allows for rapid development of websites or web apps, and should be learned separately from the language they support. If you want to learn how to code backend stuff pick either python, ruby or php.

Thanks for clarifying this. I'm sure it sounds oversimplified to non-beginners but I didn't fully get the difference until I tried out Code School's Rails for Zombies and they directed me to "Tryruby.org" 1st.

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#27

Post by thesethings »

mtran wrote: post #13
emilepetrone wrote: post #9

I quit my job and learned to code over the last 8 months or so. The main thing- write code everyday. A little, a lot. Just start spinning that wheel. You'll learn a bit here and there. But the big advances come after a few weeks when you piece together the little concepts. I started with Python & Google App Engine. I would recommend this to anyone. You don't have to worry about the server and can just pay attention t…

We are taking a similar leap - totally changing gears and rearranging everything to go after it. Thanks so much for the resources; I'd love to stay in touch and will check out your profile. Do you know how long this stream will be saved? Will I need to archive it myself or will I be able to access it indefinitely? (<30 days on HN and learning every day!)

Threads are not deleted, though they can get hard to find. Definitely save the URL, but don't worry about copy and pasting the contents.

Another great HN tool is http://searchyc.com. You can search submission submission titles, comments, and get feeds for most types of things.

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#28

Post by mtran »

thesethings wrote: post #27
mtran wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are taking a similar leap - totally changing gears and rearranging everything to go after it. Thanks so much for the resources; I'd love to stay in touch and will check out your profile. Do you know how long this stream will be saved? Will I need to archive it myself or will I be able to access it indefinitely? (<30 days on HN and learning every day!)

Threads are not deleted, though they can get hard to find. Definitely save the URL, but don't worry about copy and pasting the contents. Another great HN tool is http://searchyc.com . You can search submission submission titles, comments, and get feeds for most types of things.

Great. I'm saving all of the links in my Evernote but am wondering if I'll be able to find people in the future through my comments/submissions/threads or if I should save them too! Thanks for your help!

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#29

Post by thesethings »

mtran wrote: post #28
thesethings wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Threads are not deleted, though they can get hard to find. Definitely save the URL, but don't worry about copy and pasting the contents. Another great HN tool is http://searchyc.com . You can search submission submission titles, comments, and get feeds for most types of things.

Great. I'm saving all of the links in my Evernote but am wondering if I'll be able to find people in the future through my comments/submissions/threads or if I should save them too! Thanks for your help!

Yes, you can find people you've interacted with on HN by browsing Threads (top nav) and Next -> Next -> Nexting through your history. Though the URL of each deep page is not permanent, the threads/history do not disappear and you can always browse your history.

URLs of threads/parent/child comments are permanent.

Re: Ask HN: How should a beginner learn to code?

#30

Post by jrsmith1279 »

mtran wrote: post #20
jrsmith1279 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lynda.com has some good training. I'm finding their Ruby on Rails 3 Essential Training to be very easy to follow. I have been programming in PHP for the last 3 years, so I do have some experience with programming, but I think this training would be just fine for beginners as well. It is $25 a month for a basic account and you might find that a little high, but I think it's worth it for the amount of training that you…

I will check this out. I've been amazed at the affordability of available resources and think $25 a month is very reasonable. It's also great to find so many people who are generous with their time and expertise and willing to offer some direction. I love this place! Thanks a bunch for sharing your resources!

Yeah HN is definitely a great community. It's not a bunch of people being snobby and rude like you would find with traditional forums. I've only been a member of HN for about a week, but I'm addicted because of the positive attitudes that the majority of the members have.

By the way, I'm also loving RoR. I went through some training on it a couple of years ago, but I was already set on PHP and didn't take it seriously. Now that I'm actually learning RoR I can't believe I wasted my time with PHP all of these years. I'm not going to say I hate PHP, but RoR makes things so much easier in comparison.

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