Introduction
Programming is tough, but it gives good rewards. Even seasoned software engineers struggle at it at some point or the other. And it’s even difficult for beginners. A lot more difficult. There are a lot of things to learn and a lot to unlearn during the course of one’s career. In this article, we will cover the most common mistakes beginners make when they are learning programming.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Learning Programming
1. Choosing a Programming Language Without a Goal
When we are thinking about learning programming, we have to start with a programming language. That would decide the course and journey of our learning. Choose the wrong language, and you tend to quit even before you begin. One needs to consider their career goals, language difficulty, learning curve, industry usage, etc. before deciding on a programming language. If you choose a language without a goal, it will be a recipe for disaster.
2. Trying to Learn Multiple Languages at Once
Don’t try to learn multiple languages at once. Start with one language that you think is fit for you and your goals. Then stick to it. And try to master it as much as possible. Then think of switching to another one(if you want).
3. Spending Too Much Time Watching Tutorials
In today’s world, YouTube is the place to go for tutorials. There are other platforms too like Udemy, Coursera, Pluralsight, etc. that offer free/ paid courses. One should take the use of all platforms available for learning. But we shouldn’t spend too much time on that. Practical experience beats tutorials and courses any day.
4. Not Practicing Coding Regularly
Picking up from the last point, one should practice coding regularly. After learning a particular concept, one should try to practice coding. Be it data structures or algorithms, try to learn theory first. And then get real world coding experience. Nothing beats that.
5. Copy-Pasting Code Without Understanding It
A lot of resources are available on the Internet. A lot of coding websites are available that teach coding and concepts too. Learning from such sites is important. But don’t just copy and paste code from such websites without understanding it. It defeats the whole purpose.
6. Avoiding Debugging and Error Messages
Coding is not just about writing code and running it to get the output. A lot of times you might write the code and it doesn’t work. You need to find why it’s not working and where the fix should go. That’s where debugging comes into play. Understanding error messages is also important.
7. Memorizing Syntax Instead of Understanding Concepts
Don’t run after syntax. It is important but not the most important aspect of programming. Understanding concepts is the most important thing. If you understand concepts, you will be able to write in multiple languages. And all languages have different syntax. So focus on concepts rather than syntax.
8. Not Building Real Projects Early
Nothing beats real experience. Build projects, however small. But build and build early on. Start with a basic application. Then learn and build iteratively. Expand the project scope. Integrate more functionalities. But build real projects.
9. Being Afraid to Ask Questions
Never be afraid to ask a question. No matter how small or stupid it seems. But ask. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t get answers. So ask. Then learn. Then ask again. Then learn again. Continue on this path.
10. Ignoring Data Structures and Algorithms
DO NOT IGNORE DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS. They are the fundamentals and create a foundation on which core concepts can be built. If your DSA is strong, you will be able to code better. Things like when to use ArrayList vs when to use LinkedList seem trivial now, but they help you become a better programmer.
11. Comparing Yourself to Experienced Developers
If you are a beginner and you start comparing yourself with experienced developers, that is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Things grow with time. The experienced developer was once a beginner too. So start small and keep learning. Don’t compare yourself with others.
12. Giving Up Too Quickly When Things Get Difficult
If you try new things like learning programming, there will come a time when you feel it’s difficult to go on. And you might think about quitting too. But don’t. Keep going. It will get easy. Just give it some time.
13. Not Learning How to Read Documentation
Documentation is very important to become a good programmer. Reading and understanding documentation gives you insight about what the piece of code does and how it does it. But most beginners skip documentation thinking it’s not important. And that is one of the biggest mistakes one can make.
14. Skipping Version Control and Git
Version control tools like Git are instrumental in shaping and creating a strong developer. How to use it, what are the most common commands, how to resolve conflicts are an integral part of becoming a developer.
15. Focusing Only on Theory and Not on Problem Solving
If you just focus on theory and not do real life programming, you will never become a good developer. A good programmer learns concepts in theory then applies them in practical real life problems. This approach is very important. Learning Comparable vs Comparator is important but unless you actually go ahead and use it, it will not give you the insights you need to be a good programmer.
Quick Tips for Learning Programming Faster
- Focus on fundamentals first.
- Learn in depth.
- Use resources wisely.
- Take help if needed.
- Apply theoretical concepts in real life.
- Revise a concept 2-3 times to fully understand it.
- Learn to write efficient code.
- Start small.
- Correct yourself.
- Don’t give up.
Conclusion
Now that we understand what the common mistakes beginners make when learning programming, you should try to avoid these when you start. Practice as much as you can and as hard as you can. You will succeed eventually. Good Luck!!!