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To Learn How to Program, It Has To Fulfill A Need

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Re: To Learn How to Program, It Has To Fulfill A Need

#2

Post by short_circut »

I absolutely agree. If it doesn't fulfill some need then it doesn't get used. If it doesn't get used I never practice it or get better and thus forget it. This is why everytime I have a problem best solved by python I have to relearn it.

With out a problem you don't explore.

Re: To Learn How to Program, It Has To Fulfill A Need

#5

Post by djblue2009 »

Aardwolf wrote: post #3

Heh, in my case when I started to learn how to program, the need was "having fun" I guess.

That's a valid point. Did you start programming at an early age? I only ask because I'm coming from the perspective of picking up programming a little later in life (well, after graduating college). I think as we get older and we get preoccupied with career, friends, etc - it's a little harder to stick with new skills or hobbies just for fun.

Re: To Learn How to Program, It Has To Fulfill A Need

#6

Post by Aardwolf »

djblue2009 wrote: post #5
Aardwolf wrote: post #3

Heh, in my case when I started to learn how to program, the need was "having fun" I guess.

That's a valid point. Did you start programming at an early age? I only ask because I'm coming from the perspective of picking up programming a little later in life (well, after graduating college). I think as we get older and we get preoccupied with career, friends, etc - it's a little harder to stick with new skills or hobbies just for fun.

Yes, I started when I was 12 or so. In QBasic. When I discovered you could make graphics with it, the fun just did not stop. Somehow I managed to make a space shooter game by modifying the code of "gorillas.bas".

Re: To Learn How to Program, It Has To Fulfill A Need

#7

Post by djblue2009 »

thoughtpalette wrote: post #4

Ambition & Passion are great drivers as well. In the end, you should love what you do.

I agree to some degree. I think ambition is absolutely necessary, but I think passion is something that can be developed over time. I've had some false starts in trying to learn how to program and each time I did have some thoughts that maybe I'm not "passionate" about programming. But I found that my passion, appreciate, love, etc for programming grew when I stuck with it, got better and realized what all I could do with it. Maybe this was the case for me because programming just didn't click for me in the beginning. I'd argue that we don't just have predisposed passions, but rather passions develop as we go beyond the surface level of our interests.
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