r/learnprogramming • u/FaceLopsided2215 • 1d ago

A Pathway

Guys question.. if I'm new which is the best way to practice real code or ways to create something amazing. is my first week studying about these topic of programming and is awesome.

I'm starting first breaking down in tiny steps the course of CS50, but, Is only theory and I wanna the necessary base to diving in create simple things and doing it understand how a language and his structure works. when I feel comfortable with it then advance to new areas to get best tools.

The main questions are: 1. Which are your best method to study an practice in these are?.

  1. Which mental model or how do you need to think in these great area to keep going in a solid streak?
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u/groogs 1d ago edited 2h ago

Build something. Anything. Scratch an itch you have, or just experiment and see where it takes you.

Don't worry much about it being "good" or what anyone else would think, just get it working. Work through bugs as you go. When you hit a wall and can't figure out how to do the next part, go research and learn, then make it happen.

You'll eventually come across something that makes you want to start over, and that's also fine. Ever see the buddhist monks that spend days making elaborate sand paintings then immediately destroy them? That's what you're doing. Embrace it, that's the process.

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u/silver_chief2 1d ago

In olden times for coding they used to say "Write one to throw away." Assume your first version is crappy. Removes stress.

In legal writing they say "Try to write crap." It reduces writer's block. Then you edit and improve.

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u/Leading-Battle9965 23h ago

Couldn't have said it better myself. The sand mandala analogy is spot on, that's exactly how you build real understanding in this field.

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u/WheatedMash 15h ago

Another phrase I've seen is "embrace the suck." A lot of what you produce early isn't going to be great, but that isn't the point of doing it. Getting the reps in for your brain is the purpose. Start with something small, like a little cash register or library catalog program, which I've done. Or simple games, like number guessing, rock-paper-scissors, or hangman.

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u/goqmo 4h ago

That sand painting analogy hits different. Sometimes you just gotta break it all down to start over

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u/DanKegel 1d ago

Don't aim for amazing. Aim for "solves a problem".

And write a little code, including a test, and get it working, every day if you can. Without AI.  Once you can do that, you'll be a stronger AI user.

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u/JaseciLabs 16h ago

CS50 isn’t only theory. If you’ve been watching the lectures, the problem sets are the practice part, so do those. They’re where it clicks.

For the mental model, we’d keep two habits. Before you run your code, say out loud what you expect it to print. When it’s different, that gap is the thing you were about to learn. And read the error message to the end before you change anything, because it usually names the line and the cause.

Keep the streak small too. Thirty minutes a day with something that runs at the end beats a big weekend that burns you out.