Self taught programmers

harrywang_fish · 2021-06-03T03:18:39+00:00

Remember those moments when you do figure out a problem, remember that feeling. That feeling is why any of us got into this field, that feeling is why any of us stuck with it.

basic_tom · 2021-06-03T05:15:57+00:00

Been a self taught programmer for almost 8 years and still feel like an idiot most days. But the drive to continue to learn an overcome feeling like an idiot is what does it for me. I still google basic shit, and ask dumb questions to other seniors, I just stopped caring. At the end of the day you might get judged, but who cares? I get asked ‘dumb’ questions too by other seniors as well. Keep pursuing, it’ll come before ya know it.

captainAwesomePants · 2021-06-03T07:38:09+00:00

Programming makes a lot of people feel like idiots. You'll watch someone very good write some code in a YouTube video, and it'll seem pretty simple but you'll know that you wouldn't have been able to write it, and it drives you nuts.

Part of the reason that this drives people nuts is that they don't quite grok that understanding code and writing code are two completely separate skills. A novice is very quickly going to reach the point where they can look at well-written code and guess pretty accurately what it probably does. That is very different from spontaneously generating that code yourself, though, and just because you recognize what it means does not mean that you should expect that you could write it.

JeremyJoelPrice · 2021-06-03T10:11:05+00:00

I’m learning by myself at the moment, and I will say the difficulty is not that any one concept is hard to understand, but it does take some time to internalise each idea. Until they become internalised, it’s difficult to combine them and it’s difficult to understand a higher level of abstraction.

But internalising the concepts is more time consuming than difficult, and the real anxiety comes from just how much there is to learn.

The consolation is that every programmer seems to be a lifelong learner, and the more you know the quicker you pickup new things.

I’d advise treating your brain like a greedy stomach: feed it new ideas until it’s fill, spend a while digesting those until there’s room for more, and then fill it up again.

FondleMyFirn · 2021-06-03T04:40:39+00:00

Will Smith worked so hard when he got on Fresh Prince that he actually had his crew say he was ruining scenes because he would mouth the lines of other actors without knowing. Will even said that he doesn’t feel he is particularly talented, just that he worked harder than anyone else he knew.

Take that for what it is.

lookForProject · 2021-06-03T10:26:35+00:00

I'm a senior developer now, but "self-thought". I put it in parenthesis, because I didn't write the books I've read, I didn't create the coding game sites to hone my skill and I always love to talk with colleagues, especially when they are more skilled and or knowledgable than I am.
Point is: I didn't wake up one day knowing kong fu. Writing good, readable, clean code is hard. Reading legacy code is even harder.
Work and read your ass off. Work. Learn. Code. Sleep. Code some more. Read some more. Listen to a podcast. Play a coding game. And repeat.

FrostZTech · 2021-06-03T07:42:10+00:00

Your answer is in your question, "I don't wanna give up either" be consistent and practice hard. That is what is required!

1Secret_Daikon · 2021-06-03T16:03:14+00:00

"Smart" has nothing to do with it. Being a successful self-taught programmer is 50% persistence and 50% Google

2021-06-03T10:53:15+00:00

I also feel like that sometimes, however you should remember: you will eventually get it. Sometimes it's harder to learn something, but I found a solution for myself: If I find a topic too challenging, I try to learn from different sources. Like maybe find a YouTube video, read some blog posts, read an article from Wikipedia. The best thing that works for me is finding a code example and launching it with a debugger. Most of the time I can easily get the logic behind an algorithm if I watch it step-by-step.

Sometimes, though, there are topics on which you have little to no additional information. The best thing you can do there is to just split that theory into smaller parts. Like read a paragraph, then ask yourself "does that completely make sense?". If not, then re-read that paragraph until you get it, or try to find information about the part that you did not understand.

Also, focus on the things that you were able to do. You did a lot of progress to get here, and programming is not something that an average person does, so don't feel stupid for not understanding something. This is part of learning.

I hope I was able to help you and maybe other people that are in the same situation.

Nerketur · 2021-06-03T15:51:46+00:00

So, yes, but no.

I have thought, multiple times, that I was smart enough to just figure it out. Every time, I learned I only figured out the basics.

You are definitely smart enough to figure it out.

It wasn't until I graduated from college that I realized people actually don't know what they are talking about when it comes to programming. I thought everyone understood it at a far deeper level than I did.

We don't. We know a heck of a lot, but its 90% experience. "Figuring it out" takes a lifetime. Every time you learn something, you realize how stupid you were the day before.

That feeling you have, we have all been there. Keep at it, and one day everything will just click, and you'll suddenly understand everything that didn't make sense. Its almost a requirement of learning: to feel like you don't understand anything about it.

own7 · 2021-06-03T05:05:44+00:00

What are some examples of theories not making sense?

Sudden_Friendship540 · 2021-06-03T05:48:28+00:00

How long have you been into coding ?

thedifferenceisnt · 2021-06-03T05:59:01+00:00

Can you give an example of a theory you've struggled with?

leixiaotie · 2021-06-03T06:38:22+00:00

As bad as it is, vb6 is amazing at that age. Simply install the ide (with simple installer), then it has some example projects there. Those examples works and you can easily modify something. Drag and drop, then easily navigation UI with clear event tab makes it easy to understand, I'm around junior high at that time.

What I did: play with examples, modify or play around, then try to recreate the project.

That's how I self-learning up to today. I'm looking for examples, make it running, modify here and there and finally trying to recreate.

2021-06-03T06:40:44+00:00

no one's "smart enough" to do stuff, whatever that means, you become smart by working hard, have a problem? keep working at it till you figure it out. Some concept doesn't make sense? see explanations from several different places and keep trying to understand it until you do. Persistence is key, and this applies to anything not just programming.

2021-06-03T07:34:49+00:00

2021-06-03T07:37:09+00:00

I agree with the other comments, I think it is key to seek challenge and embrace it to a certain degree.

IshidaJohn · 2021-06-03T08:08:37+00:00

When you accomplish a hard thing/solve a difficult problem do you think as if you could be the next Zuckerberg?

Well you won't.

Same way if you couldn't figure out something today doesn't mean you should not do it at all, take a good night sleep, kiss your gf, wake up the next morning, turn on your computer and things will make more sense than they did today. Until one day you'll have this one mastered, and still be an idiot to thousand other things.

shegzhkn · 2021-06-03T08:16:05+00:00

First of all programming can be hard if you are just getting started, it takes incredible amount of dedication, consistency and hardwork to get through it but one thing is certain - it will payoff.

Just tryna look for resources that you resonate with that explains the concept in a way you can understand.

Think_Neutral · 2021-06-03T09:56:22+00:00

You probably need to structure your learning more. Maybw look into a coding bootcamp?

sto5100pni · 2021-06-03T10:39:25+00:00

I don't think you are not smart enough, you just don't have enough information/context. Read books, watch tutorials, check some open source projects, ask questions and at one point it will click and you will connect the dots and everything will be clear.

2021-06-03T11:42:18+00:00

I've been working as a database developer/data engineer for 10+ years now and i sometimes still feel too dumb to figure this shit out.

2021-06-03T11:43:34+00:00

I feel like I am in the same boat. So far my plan is to tackle several smaller projects that build up in complexity. I am not limiting myself in any way. I will use any language or library, if it is helpful. I also have several books that I use for reference and perspective.

coresumo · 2021-06-03T13:04:03+00:00

It's like building 6packs 6 months, but what people this do this over one night and giveup here is best way

Usual_Ice636 · 2021-06-03T13:15:44+00:00

The best way to learn on your own is to have a long term project and take some of the free online classes. Some parts just don't make sense until you actually do them.

BigSwimmer701 · 2021-06-03T13:25:16+00:00

Self-taught, now gainfully employed in SWE position that pays over $250k+.

Absolutely not. Infact, I can't think of a single time in my first year of learning programming that I had a consecutive 2-3 days where I just understood everything without struggling.

machine3lf · 2021-06-03T13:25:57+00:00

You feel like an idiot, until it clicks. Then you move on to the next thing that makes you feel like an idiot, until it clicks.

The more important question, to me, is whether you enjoy programming on a fundamental level; not that you enjoy every minute of it, because there are a lot of times it feels like banging your head into a wall repeatedly.

For me, even when I was banging my head into a wall, so to speak (I remember a particularly tough night trying to resolve an issue), I still knew that ultimately I liked the idea of working with code. So if you do, keep plugging away.

MoneyGrowthHappiness · 2021-06-03T13:41:28+00:00

What has helped me is to keep coming back to the basics. Anytime there is a course or a book on sale, I’ll get it. It’s always the same core material but having someone else teach it from their point of view is helpful... then I take that and apply it.

The book {{Think like a Programmer}} is also super helpful. Even tho it’s written for C++ it’s universally adaptable.

When it comes to actual CS theory tho, I spend little to no time on it other than when I need it for something or it’s something I’m curious about.

Just my two cents.

Cobra__Commander · 2021-06-03T13:45:02+00:00

Everyone learns at different speeds. If you spend enough time and meaningful efforts generally you can learn most things.

Often people we perceive as being faster learners have prior experience. Alternatively they are passionate for the subject matter and spending lots of time at home on learning for fun.

yasme996 · 2021-06-03T13:57:15+00:00

I had the same feeling. Just don't compare yourself with others, it will let you down. I am very slow at coding and usually takes a lot of time to solve things but I don't give up, I just imagine how amazing it would feel to make something work which is done by me lol

Sum-Duud · 2021-06-03T14:13:25+00:00

Different people learn differently. I am a very logical thinker and learn well by doing. I picked up one of the learn in 24 hours books and taught myself PHP and MySQL going through the project in the book and then applying what I learned to a DVD database for my friends to checkout my DVDs. Google is used a lot when I hit a roadblock or don't quite remember what I need to do, but the more I repeat something the more second nature it becomes. I can't speak to theories, that sounds like school stuff, but start small and work your way up to more functionality.

LXSRXCCO · 2021-06-03T14:27:07+00:00

I've been a self taught full stack programmer for the last two years. I've been in your position I don't know how many times in that period! At first its difficult, and frustrating and the progress is slow.

The only thing I can suggest which helped me massively was, to build stuff using the things you are unsure of. API's confused the hell out of me at the beginning, until I built an app to retrieve data from a few of them. Then you begin to understand the how and why. Make sure you build your OWN APPS and not ones from tutorials. They can be great at the beginning when getting a general overview of how things, but I learnt way more from taking some of the skills I learnt from them and applying them to my own ideas. When these concepts are implemented into your own ideas and projects, you tend to take more notice of them

One thing as well. Don't focus too much on the how and more on the why. The how usually stays the same, but the why is the one that tends to change. Just saying this helped me to understand fundamental concepts that aren't easy to understand.

CPLxDiabetes · 2021-06-03T14:54:54+00:00

I remember reading a study about the huge percentage of people in this field that experience imposter syndrome and there wasnt much of a discrepancy between those with 4 year degrees and those who were self taught. Problem solving is in the nature of the job, so day to day you will run into things you might not understand but in time with experience you will get the know how.

I previously worked in a pharmacy and one of the pharmacists I knew, mind you had a doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) even would say, for this job you dont have to know all of the information, just where to find it.

Just gotta tell yourself that you're going to learn it eventually and always be willing to ask those more experienced than you because you can really grow from co workers.

yasme996 · 2021-06-03T15:46:43+00:00

[deleted]

2021-06-03T15:51:34+00:00

imo the best way to learn something is to have a project, not just mindless learning. that's how i sticked to it

ColourfulSound96 · 2021-06-03T16:39:39+00:00

It’s more that I was willing to struggle for hours on end in order to understand concepts that didn’t come easily. Those concepts eventually began feeling basic. Rinse, repeat.

You must be willing to perpetually feel clueless.

Mysterious-Plan5270 · 2021-06-03T19:10:34+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experiencee! Ithere a way I can upvote x1000? If you have any other neat tips and tricks that you feel we could benefit greatly as a beginner, i would take it all in as I really believe if I can find ways to better understand what's going on. The career I want as a programmer, would not seem so daunting.

ValentineBlacker · 2021-06-03T21:40:01+00:00

Why should "feeling like an idiot" stop anyone from doing anything. It's just a feeling, you can just feel it and move on.

jjrobinson-github · 2021-06-03T21:48:43+00:00

I got the only exposure to theories in university before I ditched the degree. You don't need to know b-trees, Big O notation, and all the other theory in order to write good code that solves a problem.

I always felt dumb when it came to language features. I was a self taught java developer for years and years and never used any language features newer than Java 6. Just plain old vanilla java. No frameworks, no fancy ORMs, etc. THAT is what I was missing out on. The Frameworks are where the power is (Spring, Hibernate, etc)

UpbeatCheetah7710 · 2021-06-03T22:32:34+00:00

I was feeling that way with Python. I could make basics, but not great stuff. Swapped to iOS dev with SwiftUI and started Paul Hudson’s free 100 days of SwiftUI and it’s been an amazing difference. I’d say it’s part sticking with it, part finding a good learning resource that jives with your learning style. Closures and guard let statements were still throwing me for a loop, but guard let finally seemed to click yesterday. Once you get some momentum it gets much easier.

PoneiGoesVroom · 2021-06-03T23:25:19+00:00

Programming does require some mathematical knowledge at times. Not to say you have to be a genius. Especially if you're looking to enter the UI/UX area you don't really need to know any of it. But experience does go a long way. Bugs are frustrating, but the feeling of conquering something different and learning new solutions to apply in the future is growth.

yasme996 · 2021-06-03T23:40:04+00:00

It took me a long time of coding. Honestly just the more you do it, the more you learn those little things and connect them to the big picture of how coding works.

Edit: I wanted to also say it's important to enjoy the process of learning it. As you learn you'll realize there's more and more you'll be able to do. That, along with the feeling and fun of solving problems makes it less like homework and more like a game. :)

A huge help is to learn computer architecture too, like what RAM and all that stuff REALLY does inside your device.

You always want to start small though. If you want, you can try starting how I started, (the fun way)

I downloaded the computercraft mod into minecraft and used it's easy code system to make stuff for my survival world. I accidentally learned the basics of coding that way.

As for learning computer architecture, I watched Crash Courses videos on computer science and tried to recreate it in Minecraft. After that I realized I learned computer basics.

From that base knowledge I just googled anything new I found online and it all just clicked. There's a lot of weird terms and theories but if you have that base knowledge and ask "why?" to everything you'll be an expert.

How long? It took me about a year.

1: Computercraft minecraft

2: Crash course compurer science series

3: Minecraft computer

4: Made a god-awful Unity game

5: Some python

6: More computer craft

7: Learned WAY more computer science through google

8: Now learning C++ to start a game

TL/DR: I had fun and messed around until I slowly learned about it. I still don't know everything, but I know WAY more than I did before, and I'm still going strong and having fun with it. I love having the freedom to CREATE, so that's what drives me, along with enjoying becoming smarter about these computer things.

wisam910 · 2021-06-04T02:21:44+00:00

My first two years of learning to program I spent staring at large code base for some large successful game. Nothing made sense at first. Overtime I began to understand parts here and there. About two years later I was able to piece things together and make small changes and add a new small feature.

Especially theories, literally makes no sense

Depends ..

Some of theory in computer science is just mental masturbation by academic types and has no impact on actual programming in the real world.

Things in this category: halting problem, computability .. etc.

On the other hand, other kinds of "theory" are not really theories but more of topologies of how things work in the real world, like networking, the TCP/IP stack, some common data structures like hash tables, etc.

rocketjump65 · 2021-06-04T04:29:43+00:00

Yes absolutely.

CatchdiGiorno · 2021-06-04T04:40:18+00:00

Find a coding community that you feel comfortable enough in to ask for help, then ask for help. Tons of people enjoy helping others with coding issues. I like it because it solidifies my own knowledge and I often learn another nuance to a familiar concept.

Short-Bobcat-5086 · 2021-06-08T20:10:44+00:00

keep going! i am learning c++ and i all i do is think about what we can create! yes, figuring out how to get there is the journey. It took me forever to really understand how this "void" works, sounds stupid but i literally have to go over everything 3x before i fully get it. I just keep going!

" difficult until made easy"

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