6 ms·

I learned 20+ years ago and I feel like back then it was a lot easier to learn. You would get a VB or C++ book and immerse yourself in it. The book would be sel

I learned 20+ years ago and I feel like back then it was a lot easier to learn. You would get a VB or C++ book and immerse yourself in it. The book would be self-contained --it had all the information you needed to become decent at that topic. Once you were done, you moved to the next book. If I was learning today, I think that I would be completely overwhelmed by the amount of information that we have at our disposal. It would be harder to dive into one thing while being bombarded by the other 300 things you are supposed to learn because everyone is talking about them. When I mentor young programmers, I advise them to focus on a single language/framework for a really long time, until they achieve real proficiency, and actively filter out everything else.

bizkitgto 8y ago
Is there a reason you can't just pick up a book today and immerse yourself into it to learn? What book would you recommend someone read, if they wanted to self study?
- mrburton 8y ago
  Question - do you consider yourself the type of person that functions better in short intervals e.g., 15 minute sessions or longer studying sessions?
  - bizkitgto 8y ago
    Longer study sessions
RegBarclay 8y ago
I had the same experience. When I was learning 20+ years ago, I absorbed books. I would go cover to cover and get a vision of what was possible plus whatever details I retained. Then I could go back to the book for reference as needed when I went to do things. The amount of information available now is overwhelming and, increasingly, not collected into paper books. As much has I love my e-reader for fiction, I don't absorb technical content on it as well. However, I don't have a problem picking up new things now without a physical book. There are basic concepts of programming that don't have to be relearned for new languages and frameworks. I don't have to learn about loops again. I just need a quick example of the syntax in a new language. Perhaps immersive experiences are best early on as you say.
- lowlevel 8y ago
  I agree, it doesn't really stick until you're working with it and running into/solving issues. I work with a young guy who is interested in programming and he was asking about html/css, python, test driven development, git, and then docker... I mean, holy crap what a tangled mess. Anyway, I gave him a VBA book and a couple of ideas for projects to solve business problems and he's been having a wonderful time. I'll show him git next week maybe...

bizkitgto 8y ago

Is there a reason you can't just pick up a book today and immerse yourself into it to learn? What book would you recommend someone read, if they wanted to self study?

mrburton 8y ago
Question - do you consider yourself the type of person that functions better in short intervals e.g., 15 minute sessions or longer studying sessions?
- bizkitgto 8y ago
  Longer study sessions

RegBarclay 8y ago

I had the same experience. When I was learning 20+ years ago, I absorbed books. I would go cover to cover and get a vision of what was possible plus whatever details I retained. Then I could go back to the book for reference as needed when I went to do things. The amount of information available now is overwhelming and, increasingly, not collected into paper books. As much has I love my e-reader for fiction, I don't absorb technical content on it as well. However, I don't have a problem picking up new things now without a physical book. There are basic concepts of programming that don't have to be relearned for new languages and frameworks. I don't have to learn about loops again. I just need a quick example of the syntax in a new language. Perhaps immersive experiences are best early on as you say.

lowlevel 8y ago
I agree, it doesn't really stick until you're working with it and running into/solving issues. I work with a young guy who is interested in programming and he was asking about html/css, python, test driven development, git, and then docker... I mean, holy crap what a tangled mess. Anyway, I gave him a VBA book and a couple of ideas for projects to solve business problems and he's been having a wonderful time. I'll show him git next week maybe...