Introduction
Learning a new programming language is a tough ask. You need a clear and structured guide that will help you in the process of learning a specific programming language.
If you are in search of such a guide, then your search ends here! This article tells you the step-by-step approach you need to follow to learn a new programming language.
Let's start our discussion!
Make A Plan
The first step is to create a detailed plan that will help you along the way. The plan should contain the following elements:
Roadmap
A roadmap helps you to be clear about the topics you need to learn and the order you need to follow. There are millions of roadmaps out there on the internet. Ask Google for a roadmap for the language you want to learn. It will immediately find you a bunch of roadmaps!
Resources
It is always necessary to have a handful of resources ready for your help. These resources may include courses, documentation, or anything else. Yet again, Google is at your service. You will be able to find a plethora of helpful resources with just a simple search.
Done preparing? Okay, let's jump into the next step!
Learn The Fundamentals
The initial step in learning a new skill is to learn the fundamentals, and programming languages are no exception. Learning the fundamentals of a language helps you achieve a strong foundational understanding of the language. Hence, make use of the resources and start learning the basics. Try to understand each topic in detail.
One common thing that all aspiring developers face is having doubts. It's pretty natural to get stuck. It indicates that you are going to learn something new. When you are stuck, ask these two places to find you a solution:
Google
Stack Overflow
If you are curious, Stack Overflow is a community-based website where developers can find and contribute answers to technical problems. It has a huge collection of questions and answers that will help resolve your doubts.
Stack Overflow - Where Developers Learn, Share, & Build Careers
Stack Overflow | The World’s Largest Online Community for Developers
stackoverflow.com
Practice Writing Code
One thing that you must do is practice writing code. Watching a tutorial on a particular topic helps you understand it. That's correct. However, practice ensures that you have a deep understanding of the topic.
Take 30 minutes out each day to practice coding. The more you code, the more you become comfortable with the syntax. Try writing simple programs that test your knowledge of the concepts you have learned.
Tip:
In the beginning, try to write code in a text editor rather than in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
Logic:
Utilities such as code completion, automatic indentation, etc. are not present in a text editor, unlike in an IDE. Hence, you need to take care of every aspect of the code if you are writing it in a text editor. This immensely helps you to have a deep understanding of the syntax and the concept of code formatting.
Learn Advanced Topics
You have probably had enough practice with the basics. So it can be assumed that you have pretty much achieved a deep understanding of the basic concepts. I appreciate you for this!
The next step is learning the advanced concepts. These topics are most likely built on top of the fundamental concepts you've just learned. It means that a strong grasp of the basics will help you have a strong grasp of the advanced topics, right?
You know the approach. Spend 30 minutes per day writing code and creating small programs. Just remember one thing: the programs you write at this stage will be a little harder than the previous ones as you will be required to implement concepts that carry a higher degree of difficulty. But don't worry! You are destined to conquer all the challenges that come your way. Hence, don't get intimidated. Take your time and get them done!
Build Projects
Last but not least, build projects. Building projects helps you identify the patterns you need to use to put together the pieces of syntax that you have learned.
Start by building simple projects, then gradually move on to the more complex ones. The difficulty of a project determines the amount of knowledge you will gain. The greater the challenge, the greater the learning. In short, it's a great way to strengthen your knowledge of the language.
Conclusion
We have reached the end! I admit that learning a new programming language is difficult. But you will eventually reach your destination if you abide by the 5-step approach we discussed above.
Remember that learning a new programming language takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Hence, stick to the process until it's done. Don't worry, you've got this!
Here are 3 little tips from my side:
Be patient
Be consistent
Take breaks
Bye Bye!
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