Ask HN: How do you approach learning new languages?

#1

Post by hwallace » Sun, Oct 14, 2012, 4:11 AM UTC

Recently when starting to learn a new programming language I became conscious of my thought process. I was looking at segments of code, and comparing the segment to performing the same process in a language I am more adept in.

Is if helpful when learning to program to relate different language's syntax to each other, or should you take each language individually(aside from the general logic)?

Re: Ask HN: How do you approach learning new languages?

#2

Post by jsmartonly » Sun, Oct 14, 2012, 9:12 AM UTC

Each language has been created in different context, trying to solve problem by using different approach.

Sure, they all need basic IF-ELSE, WHILE... But it is really helpful not to focus on too detail of technical side at the beginning. At high level, understand why author needs to create this language? Why the author did not select existing solutions at that time? This kind of "culture" background will help you understand language much deeper and avoid a lot of confusions.

I hope this will help.

Re: Ask HN: How do you approach learning new languages?

#3

Post by deveshz » Sun, Oct 14, 2012, 4:01 PM UTC

Though there are sites like CodeAcademy : http://codeacademy.com CodeSchool :http://codeschool.com LearnStreet : http://learnstreet.com which are providing good content for learning particular language. They are very basics.

Chose what you want to learn - if you want to learn building a product, understand what are the languages and frameworks you want to use and try learning their basics first. Then chose a Cookbook and see tutorials on the web (TutsPlus is a good place). Develop on your own. And keep solving the bugs. Construct for all languages are same.

Re: Ask HN: How do you approach learning new languages?

#4

Post by frou_dh » Sun, Oct 14, 2012, 4:35 PM UTC

I've personally found language books that spend chapter after chapter introducing syntax and standard library to be brutally boring, and never finish them.

There's a lot to be said for just having a project idea in mind and picking up knowledge on the fly as you try to hammer it out.

Re: Ask HN: How do you approach learning new languages?

#5

Post by pestaa » Sun, Oct 14, 2012, 6:37 PM UTC

frou_dh wrote: post #4

I've personally found language books that spend chapter after chapter introducing syntax and standard library to be brutally boring, and never finish them. There's a lot to be said for just having a project idea in mind and picking up knowledge on the fly as you try to hammer it out.

I find this especially true in the case of Haskell. When I tried to read "Real World Haskell" my brain melted halfway through.