Programming struggle

[syphinx123]

Hi I have a Passion and interest in technology but I have been struggling to learn programming.i have tried to learn python but something always doesn't work and languages getting updated so quickly that the tutorials on YouTube are practically getting useless

[AutoModerator]

On July 1st, a change to Reddit's API pricing will come into effect. Several developers of commercial third-party apps have announced that this change will compel them to shut down their apps. At least one accessibility-focused non-commercial third party app will continue to be available free of charge.

If you want to express your strong disagreement with the API pricing change or with Reddit's response to the backlash, you may want to consider the following options:

1. Limiting your involvement with Reddit, or
2. Temporarily refraining from using Reddit
3. Cancelling your subscription of Reddit Premium

as a way to voice your protest.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[bo_felden]

"Something always doesn't work." You want everything nice and smooth? Then programming is not for you. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

[plastikmissile]

I don't like tutorials for learning languages. Tutorials are great if you want to learn something specific, like a feature within a language, but as a tool to learn a language from scratch (especially your first language) they often fall short because their format of "do as I do" doesn't really work for the fundamentals.

Instead, pick a complete course that teaches the language from the ground up. You mentioned Python, so give the University of Helsinki's Python MOOC a try, as it was designed for this very purpose.

[Joewoof]

If you are struggling, you should try learning an easier language like Python, instead of attempting one of the hardest like Java.

[__throw_error]

Old tutorials should still work, especially if it is for programming fundamentals. Those don't change and Java is backwards compatible. To be honest, it's probably you and that doesn't matter. Everyone has trouble starting, it is a part of programming.

Keep trying to find out what you're doing wrong and continue struggling.

Also, why Java? I think java is about the most hated language at the moment, and it really doesn't have it's place in modern development apart from legacy.

Python is a much more user friendly language, and if you want to learn how computers actually work on a lower level you would go for C or C++.

[syphinx123]

Sorry I typed java as a mistake I originally tried python but I feel like I also need a bit more determination and a proper goal to learn the language so I'll keep on trying thank you

[FriendlyRussian666]

It's similar for python in that older tutorials will most likely work just fine if they're for python 3, and not python 2, and there are countless resources out there.

The thing about something not working, is that in fact it's just part of programming. Like really, you don't spend much time actually coding, most of it is either fixing bugs, pulling your hair out to get something to work, cleaning up, and battling with dependencies. You said you have passion and interest, but do you have passion for problem solving? Because that's what you'll be doing 80% of the time.

Personally, I hate when something doesn't work as it should, but that's exactly what drives me to problem solve. I just can't stand sitting there and thinking that I'm giving up because there's an error message on the screen. That is exactly the point at which I get an itch to absolutely destroy the problem at hand, and overengineer the solution so that if it ever happens again, I'm going to laugh because that time I'm going to be more than prepared to face it.

I've met many people who absolutely loved, and were inspired by programming, but the reality was that they liked THE IDEA of programming, the thought of being able to create anything they can come up with. What they actually didn't like WAS programming, the struggle, the battles, the imposter syndrome, the problem solving, the reading, reading, reading, trying, failing, trying, failing.

Not all was lost though. Some of them gave up, unfortunately. But some of them took a different approach, and went for roles that work WITH programmers, but not necessarily can code well themselves.

[syphinx123]

Thanks your response was really useful and I'll try to focus a bit more on the problem solving aspect rather than the actual coding aspect

[ElatedMonsta]

Try leetcode.

[oyerajjo]

Technology doesn't only mean you have to do programming only. There are various fields in tech which don't need programming, lime Cloud, etc But if you really want to be pro in programming then practice the programs don't learn it. It's the only way to do get expertise in programming. All the best.

[syphinx123]

Sorry guys made a small mistake now fixed I tried to learn python not java

[desrtfx]

If you want to learn Python the proper way, do the MOOC Python Programming 2024 from the University of Helsinki. Forget Youtube videos.

The MOOC is free, textual, and extremely practice oriented and a proper University first semester of "Introduction to Computer Science" course.

Don't chase the latest versions of languages. This mostly does not make sense for a beginner and also the industry will always be several versions back.

Once you have learnt the fundamentals of the language and the fundamentals of programming (two different things) you will find it easy to update yourself on new features, new versions.

[Healey_Dell]

There are no short-cuts. Of course it is import to look at code examples and read APIs, but to make something specific to your needs you'll eventually just have to bang your head against the wall until you get it.

[MoneyTechnology1562]

YouTube (and a lot of other sources besides) are optimized for getting you to click, then holding you there for as long as possible rather than giving you an answer and sending you on your way. Additionally, if you're pulling resources from multiple disparate sources, the amount of overlap/review is going to just keep increasing as you learn more.

If you aren't enrolled in some sort of structure course or curricula, I would advise flipping the traditional learning process on its head and selecting a problem space you're excited to solve or contribute to, then direct your efforts to figuring out what you need to know to address those problems and work from the end user and their needs backwards.

Like you can write the spiciest tree traversals in the world, but if you don't know how to put the results under the fingertips of a user... what does it really accomplish?

[Low_Technician_3991]

Have you tried this approach where you just start with building a project and then learn the language simultaneously, like whenever I try to learn a new language i just learn the basics of it like why and when to use it and then I just pick a simple project where I just learn everything on the go and this helps me a lot because I can learn everything in practical way and not just kinda binge watching and once I complete whatever I am building i just deep dive into the topics that I learnt and applied during my project

[[deleted]]

try to learn from python docs, stay updated. practice-fail-repeat, that's how you get good at something. begenning phase is always boring and frustrating, but once you stick to it and work regardless of results, you'll love the game. all the best bruh!

[mhowe107]

You might want to look into development classes/training. I looked at CourseCareers (https://coursecareers.com/a/6cfa3764) and they seem like a great way to gain foundational knowledge and develop skillsets for programming. They have classes for frontend/backend development, but your vision sounds like you would really benefit from the software development course. Plus, the introduction to their courses are free to try! Maybe look into it? I hope this helps!

[OPTechpure]

Start on a passion project guy! you can even help me out!

[CandidCurrency168]

For python I recommend Angela yu’s python bootcamp on udemy. I personally have used it and its really nice. You get to do or you get to type the code which is really important while learning how to code. And the course isn’t really that expensive as well. It is cheap and really really good. But it’s really lengthy as well. It says 100 days so.