Column: Software
Tips for budding software developers By a Codecademy curriculum expert
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earning to code can be a difficult task. Like learning any new language, it requires new ways of thinking, time, effort, dedication and, most of all,
perseverance. The curriculum experts at
Codecademy, the largest online resource for improving computer science literacy and computer programming skills, have helped more than 45 million people from 190 countries teach themselves to code and have seen some of the biggest mistakes people make that have held them back from those “aha” moments. Here’s a shortlist of the most common
mistakes our learners make and some guidance on how to avoid them:
1. Not using interactive methods Most people learn best by doing, because it helps to cement and contextualise what they are learning and apply that to the real world. At first, coding can feel unnatural, even clunky. Interactive learning tools can help with the learning, giving you the
practice you need to raise your confidence and the insight into the process that can only come from doing it yourself.
2. Not receiving timely feedback Feedback is one of the most important aspects of learning. It allows you to see the ways in which you’ve made an error, and immediately discover an effective way to remedy the mistake. Too many people think they have to go it alone when learning to code, hence miss out on the motivation good, honest feedback can have on growth.
3. Attempting to memorise code Learning to code is a lot like learning a new language. But you would never learn a new language simply by memorising words. They quickly lose their meaning when not in the context of how they are used, making a conversation impossible. Focus on finding the meaning behind the code you’re learning rather than memorising it. It creates pathways of understanding that will lead to a faster and more thorough grasp of the material.
4. Avoiding errors at all costs We learn more from our failures than our successes, and coding is no different. Don’t feel discouraged when you see that little red error message, because it shows you’re making progress. Here’s a little secret: seasoned
programmers love to see their errors, since they help them troubleshoot their problems, leading them to discover ways of solving them.
5. Giving up just before a breakthrough This is probably the most easily avoidable yet fatal mistake. Too often, learners give up on coding just before that moment when it all clicks. As mentioned earlier, coding doesn’t feel quite so natural at first. You have to train your brain to understand how this new language works, which requires patience and determination. But once you get it, you can create anything.
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