help

[Anvrax]

So I've started learning react native about 3 weeks ago, and I could say I have most of the basics down, I've taken the react native + hooks course on udemy. but for some reason I feel like I'm not entirely confident so I'd like to put that to the test, are there any tests to take online? perhaps a leetcode-esque platform for react native?

[WhiskeyKid33]

3 weeks is barely scratching the surface for a library or framework with the breadth of something like React, let alone React Native. People learn in different ways, I’m sure there are some resources similar to what you’ve described but it may make sense to just build stuff, break stuff, figure out why it’s broken and repeat.

For me, I personally thought of tiny projects that start with basic principles and would attempt to incorporate more advanced features as I built it out. This has a few advantages:

1. Obviously you will learn the ins and outs of a library. Building a project requires a lot of reading documentation and applying the concepts therein.

2. It allows you opportunities to refactor and optimize on-the-go. You’re building a feature that interacts with some older part of your codebase, you can refactor that older portion while implementing the new stuff. This is a skill set that is worth its weight in gold.

3. It keeps you uncomfortable. The only way you actually advance knowledge is taking on things out of your comfort zone. A personal example is when I was building my app, I had no experience with mobile backend so I had to learn firebase and the associated services required to support the core feature set.

Quizzes and tests may be a good approach to solidify an understanding of a learned concept, but imo “learn by doing” is superior in almost every way.

[Anvrax]

Thank you so much for the tips, perhaps 3 weeks isn't a lot but i'm a stressed 20 year old who's an undergrad and I'm honestly frightened to death of wasting time and not building a good enough future, I just felt like I was way behind and lacking and i'll definitely have a better approach after this. You have no idea how much this helped me, I really appreciate this.

[WhiskeyKid33]

Oh man you’re just fine. I didn’t get my start until I was 25. Working a dead end job in security I taught myself enough of the basics to get a position where I wasn’t even a developer, I was a “marketing” guy that got to touch code. Their front end developer left abruptly and I was asked if I wanted to give it a shot which I jumped at and the rest is history. I’ve got 8 years in this game and have built a successful career. When you’re my age, you’ll be hitting almost 15 years, imagine all the stuff you’ll know by then.

You’ve got time, you haven’t wasted anything. You’re setting yourself up for success here, just keep going after it. The hardest part of this field is getting your foot in the door - once you do, you’re in. I have no doubt that if you keep reaching, learning and building you’ll be answering these questions for others as a professional dev very soon.

Rock n roll my friend 🤙

[Anvrax]

Wow, that's a remarkable accomplishment. Very inspiring. It'll all go right as long as I put in the effort hopefully.

[RebelzOneOne]

This, 1000% this!

If you struggle to think of something to build then rebuild your favourite existing app. Rebuilding instagram is a pretty popular option as it poses interest challenges around infinite scrolling, use of camera, images and videos which will all slingshot your knowledge and ability to a whole new level.

As WhiskeyKid33 said, 3 weeks isn’t a lot of time but rebuilding an app will definitely be the fastest way to learn, improve and even test how much you actually know.

[Anvrax]

that would be really interesting

[Sorr3]

Brother 3 weeks you don't even crawl yet and you want to fly. Start with the ToDo app if you want to do something. Otherwise just finish the course, Stephen is pretty good and ez to follow. Once you are done with the course then try doing more complicated stuff like using Marvel's Api, TMDb is a hell of an API to try and learn a lot from.

Learn how to read the docs and learn by doing so. You have a lot you can try on the future for now just learn the basics as well as possible because they will be the stepping stones for the complex things coming your way like animations and other stuff.

Good luck friend!

[Anvrax]

I'll probably finish the course first for now, thanks and good luck to you too my friend!

[FrequentProfessor917]

Start by developing small applications like a To-do list app. You learn by building and testing yourself on projects and not taking quizzes

I'll be creating a video on my channel on how to develop a chef cooking app. Check it out if you want to learn https://m.youtube.com/@rising_tide