Top 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Learning to Program!

Learning to Program

We live in a world of constant technological evolution, and the reasons to learn to program are increasing daily. The programmer profile is in high demand in the market, but only a few people are learning to program and manage to get by in this field.

Although the craze around coding is increasing, many aspiring programmers still cannot find the best techniques for learning code. 

Contrary to what most people think, learning to program and code is simple when you have a lot of passion and motivation. In addition, not a single task will be failed because the online programming help service WowAssignment provides valuable assistance with coding projects or assignments through the best professionals in the field. 

By knowing the mistakes to avoid when learning to program, nothing can stop you from becoming ahead of others, even at the start of the way in programming.

1. Learning everything at once

You need to have a hyper-performing photographic memory like Sylvester Dodd in the Scorpion series to learn everything at once. Spoiler: it is impossible. So avoid learning HTML, Java, PHP, C++, and Python all at once and concentrate on one programming language. Start by mastering the first well, then move on to the others in a single file.

As you know, each programming language has a specific purpose. Learning to program several languages from different domains will not be as helpful as you think. If you are to stay in this field for a long time, start specializing early on before you think about expanding your circle of knowledge. This is a step that many beginners neglect, and that ends up impacting their professional life.

2. Being an inactive observer

Most people new to coding spend most of their time reading and watching online tutorials without actually doing it. Programming seems so trivial that by following a tutorial, you convince yourself that you can do it by yourself. But the reality becomes quite different when you start coding. So apply yourself as you learn new things in programming. Also, look for several resources online to keep up with the latest news in the technology field. 

You can’t be sure that the code in the document or the video you are watching will produce the result. The only way to be sure is to write the code yourself in an editor and then compile it to see the result obtained.

3. Staying stuck on tutorials

Of course, tutorials are the first resources at hand to learn to program. But you can still look for other approaches. Try new ways of learning to find the one that helps you learn best. Try your hand at doing an actual project.

Choose to work on an open-source project to get a feel for the realities of the programming world. This experience will allow you to evaluate your skills and subject yourself to challenges other than those encountered in the tutorials. It combines both learning and practice to give you a better understanding of programming.

4. Not talking to other people

Every day there are thousands of people in the world who are starting to learn to program. So you will not be considered for long as the “newbie” by opting for the programmer forums on the internet. So don’t hesitate to use social media and the many communities on the web to make new colleagues.

Participate in communities and discussion forums by providing answers to questions asked. You also can ask others for their opinion on your projects or to ask them questions of understanding. Whatever your question’s time or relevance, you will always find someone to answer you.

5. Doing more theory than practicing

Although reading programming books and tutorials on the subject will allow you to strengthen your knowledge in the field, they will never be able to match the experience that practice brings. After reading, the syntax and processes of programming will be lost if you don’t practice them enough.

Training will keep you in constant contact with the realities of code. So avoid leaving a long dead period between your practice days. The more you practice, the faster and more competent you become. This will allow you to overcome syntax errors that could occur in a code quickly. 

6. Not being challenged

Challenges are one of the reasons why programmers exist. It is the best way to realize the limits of your knowledge. So don’t hesitate to test your knowledge by taking challenges in online forums or real-life communities. Through these challenges, you push your limits and learn new things. This is a great way to gain self-confidence.

Determine which learning method will be the most flexible for you, and don’t hesitate to jump in. The world of programming is complex, so following these warnings will help you a lot.

Learning to Program article and permission to publish here provided by Natalie Sanders. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on January 24, 2023.