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Elizabeth Ajileye
Elizabeth Ajileye

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Programming newbie?? Beginner Tips.

The best way to predict the future is to invent it
-Donald Knuth.

Programming has been a transformative experience for me, and I've learned that it's not just about writing code, but about solving problems, creating something from scratch, and continuously learning and improving.
As I've journeyed through the world of programming, I've picked up a few valuable lessons along the way. Here's me sharing a few things I've learned over time.

Embrace the learning journey
Not all programming languages or frameworks will resonate with you at first. There's nothing bad in exploring different paths in order to find what truly excites you.
You might find the initial learning process dull or monotonous, but you'll eventually overcome the hurdles and grow, if you're truly interested in it.

A desktop screen showing Programming Languages

Go Deep On The Basics

If you know the basics well, it's a lot easier to learn a new tool in the ecosystem.

That was just an excerpt from a similar article I read sometime ago.
It's usually less tedious, to understand, and build more complex structures, once you've mastered the basics. No one is pressuring you. Learn at your own pace, while making sure you understand syntax and control structures.

Learn how to find the information you need.
Read Documentation. They are official guides, and resources provided by the creators of a language, and very essential to developers.
Keep in mind that programming tools constantly update, subscribe to newsletters, articles, just to ensure you are up-to-date.

Practice. Challenge Yourself
Practice makes purr-fect code! Write code regularly, work on small projects or exercises to reinforce new concepts.
Also, solve coding problems. You could participate in coding challenges (e.g HackerRank, Codewars, etc.) I remember I used to love Codewars. They have pretty interesting challenges - I was kind of addicted 😅

Take Breaks and Refresh Your Mind
Taking breaks is an essential part of the programming journey. While working, you can decide to pause, take a walk, or step away from your screen for a few minutes. Better still, take scheduled breaks to recharge and refocus your mind. This helps to improve productivity, reduce stress, and prevent burnout.

Image of a young guy relaxing, while on his phone

Set Goals, reward yourself when you achieve them
Setting coding goals and rewarding yourself when you achieve them is a great way to stay motivated and track your progress as a programmer. Setting specific and achievable goals give you a sense of direction and purpose.

Conclusion

Programming is a journey, not a destination. By embracing the process, you'll be well on your way to becoming a skilled programmer. Remember to stay curious, keep learning, and enjoy the ride!

Top comments (26)

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bybydev profile image
byby.dev • Edited

Imagine building and maintaining at least one new side project a year, you'll have an awesome portfolio in 10 years. You might think just 1 per year is easy but actually it's not. Very very few developers in the world have more than 10 projects on portfolio. It's good for both corporate carrer or indie hacking.

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salstein profile image
Oluwaseun Salako

This is very insightful. 🔥🔥
The conclusion got me ... programming is really a journey and not a destination 👏.

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lyzab profile image
Elizabeth Ajileye

Thank you.

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fadekocodeit profile image
Future_Developer

Thank you for sharing this is highly inspiring! Coding is a journey, not a destination👍 One of the thing that fascinate me about coding is the aspect of problem solving, and couple with the ability to think creatively when solving a problems.

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oktimmy profile image
Timilehin Okunola

Awesome article.
It's a journey and a process. ✨✨

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run-a-bit profile image
Silvana

Thank you!

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lyzab profile image
Elizabeth Ajileye

You're welcome ☺️

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agent1c profile image
Agent1c

Thank you so much fir this resource. I'm newbie self -taught, I found this very helpful for my journey....

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lyzab profile image
Elizabeth Ajileye

Thank you, too. I'm so glad I could help.

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lyzab profile image
Elizabeth Ajileye

I love that I was able to help. 😊

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itschristinamba profile image
Christina Pacheco

Very insightful! I start my programming journey next Monday 😬 and this is helpful as I begin this long, but fulfilling passion.

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bbylumi profile image
OLUWAPELUMI

"I'm feeling super motivated today.......Thank you

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lyzab profile image
Elizabeth Ajileye

That sounds great. I'm happy about that. 😁

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softwaredeveloping profile image
FrontEndWebDeveloping

Yes, good way to say it @lyzab

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lyzab profile image
Elizabeth Ajileye

Thank you for reading @FrontEndsoftwaredeveloping. I appreciate your feedback.

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jojomondag profile image
Josef Nobach

It's not a sprint it's a marathon! keep running :P

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