5 Ways to Learn a New Coding Language
Due to this article being about learning a new coding language, I think it’s safe to assume that you guys already know one, or at least have some basic understanding of the core concepts and how programming works. This is great! It means that your mind is already somewhat prepared to absorb things much easier, because basically all programming languages are pretty similar in how they operate and run, but markups can differ quite a bit.
I also have to point out that you absolutely can learn everything by yourself if the right techniques and resources are at your disposal. But you can always take a course if that’s what you prefer. The points I’ve highlighted below will only intensify your results if you choose to incorporate them.
Examine program code
What do I mean by this point? It’s no secret that the Internet is full of existing pieces of code. For example, you can find a lot of those on GitHub. The idea is that you get used to a new language by interpreting the example projects. Because, to be honest, you can read stacks of books (and it’s totally great if you do), but it still might not be very effective unless you get into the code’s face and start pulling it apart and figuring out what does what. Literally find a random script and line by line try to understand their purpose. This is a great way to submerge yourself into the language and see how its aspects work. What will make things even cooler is if you start experimenting with the program’s code after you finish dissecting it. Try to add or improve some functionality in the program you’ve downloaded. It’ll be fun and will help you to faster remember what actually works and what doesn’t.
Google stuff
It sounds quite obvious, but the point I want to get across here is that you don’t have to learn everything, master the syntax like crazy (I mean, syntax is very important, but you don’t necessarily need to know all of it by heart). You can cheat, it’s OK, just google what you don’t know or not certain about, the things you want to confirm, clarify or research. (By the way you can use any search engine you like, I’m just making a point here). Many programmers let Google solve their problems and it’s perfectly acceptable. Also on the web you can find a lot of resources, guides, videos, and overall useful information on specific errors, syntax explanations, different frameworks, etc. and bookmark them to review when needed.
Start creating
It doesn’t really matter where in the learning process you are. The only way you’ll learn how to program in a new language is by programming and building the muscle memory. Don’t worry, you are most certainly gonna suck at first, it’s just a part of the process, don’t let it discourage you. You’ve managed to learn at least one programming language before, so be patient. After you’ve read someone elses’ programs, take bits from them and try writing your own. Start with the simplest things, like sorting numbers, and then move forward to the more complex ones. Start creating wholesome standalone things. Nobody expects you to make something huge with mind-blowing features. If you are trying PHP, try to create your first simple blog based on it. If you’re getting personal with Node.js, try to create an online-chat. Also make a point to contribute to the Open Source projects or do some freelance work. It’s crucial for you to be constantly practicing and applying every little bit of knowledge you’ve obtained.
Compare
As I’ve mentioned, coding languages can be very similar (in various ways), although each one has a unique syntax (with some exceptions). By knowing one language you can often simply guess what the parts of the new for you language do and be absolutely right. Don’t be afraid you’ll get confused, draw parallels between languages, find where they are similar and where they differ, it’ll provide you with a better understanding of the language you’re trying to learn. Besides that each coding language can be used and better equipped for a specific type of application. So, when comparing the one you know and the one you’re learning, you should also consider where each works best, and where you wouldn’t use the first or the latter.
Become a part of an online community
There is a significant amount of online communities dedicated to certain languages, so you can easily find the one for the language you’ve chosen. Why it’s so important? Mainly because there are a lot of people and many of them are quite experienced coders. By participating you can gain support, find better tools and get very valuable tips. You can also find people to collaborate and pair program with, which will be hugely useful and you’ll become comfortable with the language much faster. Also you’ll be subjected to different code samples and the discussions that can inspire you and aid your learning process. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and don’t feel shy or uncomfortable to show that you don’t know something. You can also attend meet-ups if that community holds them. It might be awkward at the beginning, but soon you’ll see that there are many coders just like you, and you can actually find good connections there, so don’t shy away from that.
Conclusion
It’s very useful to know more than one programming language. It widens the range of programs you can create, as well as increases great work opportunities. Don’t worry, you’ll never be able to grasp all of the concepts of even one language. It’s now just hard, but the language is constantly changing, new things appear, so the best you can do is continue learning and practicing as you go along.
What do you think about these ways of learning a new coding language? What’s more efficient from your experience?
