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Coming from a similar perspective as the OP, but so far I always failed to go through with actually mastering a language. Over the years I attempted to learn so

by stfu 15y ago

Coming from a similar perspective as the OP, but so far I always failed to go through with actually mastering a language. Over the years I attempted to learn so many different ones, from Action Script to Assembler, from Delphi to C++, but always became either bored of it after a few hours or got frustrated because the ideas I had in mind turned out to be far more complicated to realise than I had hoped for.

eru 15y ago
That's why great programmers are boundless optimist and masochists.
- edcastano 15y ago
  Great point. I've been accused to being dogged in the past. Truth be told, it helps to be both focused and determined. @stfu There are two ways you could try to go about it: 1) Try sticking to one technology and working on a project you're really passionate about. 2) Work on a tutorial from start to finish.
  - stfu 15y ago
    Thanks for trying to help! 1) This is really difficult. Like I tried getting started with PHP but as soon as potential project ideas became "interesting" I needed to go at least into JavaScript or Databases/MySql. Like for a seemingly simple project that I had in mind (e.g. that took data from a form and generate a pdf file based on that) I needed at least JavaScript to make it a smooth process. 2) I seem to suck there in the "transferring the knowledge" part. One of my most recent ventures is into RapidMiner, an (open source) data mining/text mining software. While I went through each and every tutorial available I am still unable to understand basic issues like when to use certain algorithms or how to adopt the knowledge towards a concrete research idea/problem that I have in mind. But if you have any suggestions for great tutorials feel free to share. I won't stop trying :)
    - civilian 15y ago
      Some web frameworks build wrappers for MySQL. That being said... SQL isn't too hard either! Google is your co-pilot, always. This summer I was thrown onto an android project with no experience, no in-company mentors, and I barely remembered how to write java. The first two weeks I just did tutorials. I didn't even try to patch them together to actually make a product-- I just did a dozen tutorials which covered different aspects and left them all in my code folder. When it came to actually building my app, I now had a personalized pool of code to grab from! It really helped to be able to go back and reference it. Also, I think you are not going to be well helped by tutorials. You need a freaking textbook. http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html You are required to do at least 50% of the exercises for each chapter. Furthermore, it is important that you master a single language rather than dabble. Once you understand a single language in&out, it will make it much easier to pick up other ones. (My 'mastery' is in python, and I've picked up java, C#, SQL, javascript.)
  - gbeeson 15y ago
    I have had to grind out many tutorials over the years; helped my immediate focus since there were obvious steps to take towards a goal I wanted to acheive. Nothing says love like getting your feet wet via tuts!

by stfu 15y ago

eru 15y ago

That's why great programmers are boundless optimist and masochists.

edcastano 15y ago
Great point. I've been accused to being dogged in the past. Truth be told, it helps to be both focused and determined. @stfu There are two ways you could try to go about it: 1) Try sticking to one technology and working on a project you're really passionate about. 2) Work on a tutorial from start to finish.
- stfu 15y ago
  Thanks for trying to help! 1) This is really difficult. Like I tried getting started with PHP but as soon as potential project ideas became "interesting" I needed to go at least into JavaScript or Databases/MySql. Like for a seemingly simple project that I had in mind (e.g. that took data from a form and generate a pdf file based on that) I needed at least JavaScript to make it a smooth process. 2) I seem to suck there in the "transferring the knowledge" part. One of my most recent ventures is into RapidMiner, an (open source) data mining/text mining software. While I went through each and every tutorial available I am still unable to understand basic issues like when to use certain algorithms or how to adopt the knowledge towards a concrete research idea/problem that I have in mind. But if you have any suggestions for great tutorials feel free to share. I won't stop trying :)
  - civilian 15y ago
    Some web frameworks build wrappers for MySQL. That being said... SQL isn't too hard either! Google is your co-pilot, always. This summer I was thrown onto an android project with no experience, no in-company mentors, and I barely remembered how to write java. The first two weeks I just did tutorials. I didn't even try to patch them together to actually make a product-- I just did a dozen tutorials which covered different aspects and left them all in my code folder. When it came to actually building my app, I now had a personalized pool of code to grab from! It really helped to be able to go back and reference it. Also, I think you are not going to be well helped by tutorials. You need a freaking textbook. http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html http://greenteapress.com/thinkpython/html/index.html You are required to do at least 50% of the exercises for each chapter. Furthermore, it is important that you master a single language rather than dabble. Once you understand a single language in&out, it will make it much easier to pick up other ones. (My 'mastery' is in python, and I've picked up java, C#, SQL, javascript.)
- gbeeson 15y ago
  I have had to grind out many tutorials over the years; helped my immediate focus since there were obvious steps to take towards a goal I wanted to acheive. Nothing says love like getting your feet wet via tuts!