Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#11

Post by Jensson » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:29 PM UTC

I usually code standard library functions in it. So implementing functional stuff like map/reduce, implementing data structures like lists, implementing string utility functions etc.

The goal is to learn how to create abstractions and how control flow works, once you got that down you can think freely and just code whatever you need.

When learning a new API just implement some basic program in it, taking input in some way and creating output in some way. Like click button to display a text, or take command line argument and write a file saying hello world etc.

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#12

Post by brailsafe » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:30 PM UTC

I'm a frontend dev, but I don't learn anything new unless I already have an idea for it. Currently learning swift because I want to figure out how to many menubar apps and integrate with third-party apis.

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#13

Post by david422 » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:35 PM UTC

dmoy wrote: post #4

The thing that my job is requiring me to do. Trial by fire. But also after the 4th or 5th language and Nth framework, it gets much quicker to pick up new ones.

Yep, might as well just dive right in.

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#14

Post by ioseph » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:41 PM UTC

As a front end dev usually a design idea I want to propose to our UX team, or a prototype that will get thrown away.

For example, I had some ideas for adding interactions/animations to some charts and used it as a chance to try out Svelte

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#15

Post by runjake » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:41 PM UTC

I always like to port L0pht’s hphack.c as my first project.

It’s quick but it covers string handling including some weird stuff, sockets, and networking pretty well.

I even do this with GUI programming as it involves callbacks.

https://github.com/druid628/hpHack/blob/master/hphack.c

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#16

Post by jcpst » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:44 PM UTC

I’m a web developer, but I mostly work on foundational/common middlewares and libraries, and research distributed system patterns for API developers to use.

I have a CLI app that I make that calculates microtonal pitch lattices. In a lot of languages, it ends up being a few hundred lines. I’ve done it in Rust, Clojure, CL, Scheme, Python, C#…

As far as frameworks go, I’ll reach for one if I feel like I need one. With web frameworks, I’ll do a GET and POST route to get a feel for the mechanics.

After several years of going in deep on the JS hamster wheel, I’m kinda done with it. I’ll jump into a SPA framework if I need one.

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#17

Post by Cadwhisker » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:46 PM UTC

I start with a command-line parser which asks for a file and prints out information about the file (if it exists).

Then I move on to more complex parsing of text in the file.

I try to get this building cleanly and working on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#18

Post by heavyset_go » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:47 PM UTC

Something that I, or someone else, can and will use. Toy projects bore me, I like having something that actually solves real problems be the result of the time and effort I put into learning a thing.

Every once in a while, I'll think "it would be nice if I could do X" and that's perfect project material that will keep me motivated.

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#19

Post by jrvarela56 » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:48 PM UTC

I coded a form to log activities in a Google Sheet and some static pages with summaries. This was for learning Clojure while on paternity leave :D

Re: Ask HN: What do you code when learning a new language/framework?

#20

Post by eklitzke » Thu, Jul 14, 2022, 11:50 PM UTC

I'm a backend developer and one project I've written a simple HTTP server a few times in different languages. I like it because it's not too complicated but at the minimum you're exposed to the string processing and synchronous IO features of the language, and if you want you can do things like write an async server or multi-threaded server.