how should i go about learning to code?

[vikiplayz]

Hi

so over the summer i want to learn to code in python as it would be really helpful for my computer sciences gcse. Even if the exam is in vb.My main issue i find with coding is learning the syntax rather than the logic of code.So i was wondering if people have some good advice to help me learn syntax more easily and also just general things like websites and books that could help.

THANK YOU ALL 

[Nuluvius]

2 hours ago, vikiplayz said:

i want to learn to code in python

I really hate that term...

2 hours ago, vikiplayz said:

My main issue i find with coding is learning the syntax rather than the logic of code.

Don't worry so much about that, even the most experienced of us end up spending time on Google looking up syntax specifics from time to time. It gets much worse when one looses count of the number of languages that they work in and have to switch between.

2 hours ago, vikiplayz said:

So i was wondering if people have some good advice to help me learn syntax more easily and also just general things like websites and books that could help.

My advice is to forget about pursuing books in this context right now. Think about it, books crystallise information, in the context of the pace of current industry, information is highly fluid; always in a state of constant change and evolution. Ergo anything that attempts to force a static frame upon it is by it's very nature counter intuitive and will therefore devaluate almost immediately i.e. books are an obsolete concept here, they don't help so move on. We have things like Pluralsight for example.

 

People will doubtlessly mention Codecademy but I find it quite distasteful for reasons beyond the scope of this... A much better resource, in my opinion, is Codewars; the difference being that you'll likely find some examples of real world projects, problems and principles in the latter.

 

The last thing I'd say to you is that you should consider learning the theory and not just a specific syntax... The theory is by far much more valuable as it is language agnostic. I can elaborate further if you'd like me to.

[yathis]

I wish you the best, I have always hated code, but from what I've read in responses to your question thats been asked 1000 times here in the past is there is certain code that is easier then others. Start with those.

[vikiplayz]

On 30/06/2017 at 9:41 PM, Nuluvius said:

I really hate that term...

Don't worry so much about that, even the most experienced of us end up spending time on Google looking up syntax specifics from time to time. It gets much worse when one looses count of the number of languages that they work in and have to switch between.

My advice is to forget about pursuing books in this context right now. Think about it, books crystallise information, in the context of the pace of current industry, information is highly fluid; always in a state of constant change and evolution. Ergo anything that attempts to force a static frame upon it is by it's very nature counter intuitive and will therefore devaluate almost immediately i.e. books are an obsolete concept here, they don't help so move on. We have things like Pluralsight for example.

 

People will doubtlessly mention Codecademy but I find it quite distasteful for reasons beyond the scope of this... A much better resource, in my opinion, is Codewars; the difference being that you'll likely find some examples of real world projects, problems and principles in the latter.

 

The last thing I'd say to you is that you should consider learning the theory and not just a specific syntax... The theory is by far much more valuable as it is language agnostic. I can elaborate further if you'd like me to.

Please could you,thanks this is very useful. 

[Nuluvius]

1 hour ago, vikiplayz said:

Please could you,thanks this is very useful. 

I'll just quote myself from another recent thread:

On 19/06/2017 at 10:03 PM, Nuluvius said:

Principals, Practices and Patterns

• Single Responsibility, Open-Closed, Liskov Substitution, Interface Segregation and Dependency Inversion (SOLID)
• Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability (ACID)
• Inversion of Control (IoC)
• Design Patterns
  • Model View ViewModel (MVVM)
  • Model View Controller (MVC)
  • Pluralsight Design Patterns Library
• Hexagonal Architecture/Ports and Adaptors
• Don't repeat yourself (DRY)
• Keep it simple, Stupid (KISS)

Methodologies

• Agile Software Development
• Test Driven Development (TDD)
• Behaviour Driven Development (BDD)

Paradigms

• Programming Paradigms
• Comparison of Programming Paradigms

These are some basic concepts that I consider (based on my own experience) to be particularly important to be started on as early as is possible, in parallel with your syntax play. The earlier that one begins to understand, ingrain and practice these concepts then the better really.

 

Be Aware of

• Code Smells
• Design Smells
• Software Rot
• Anti-patterns

One day I may refactor some of this out into a guide.