this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2025
77 points (95.3% liked)

Programming

23042 readers
287 users here now

Welcome to the main community in programming.dev! Feel free to post anything relating to programming here!

Cross posting is strongly encouraged in the instance. If you feel your post or another person's post makes sense in another community cross post into it.

Hope you enjoy the instance!

Rules

Rules

  • Follow the programming.dev instance rules
  • Keep content related to programming in some way
  • If you're posting long videos try to add in some form of tldr for those who don't want to watch videos

Wormhole

Follow the wormhole through a path of communities !webdev@programming.dev

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
snowe@programming.dev
Ategon@programming.dev
MaungaHikoi@lemmy.nz
UlrikHD@programming.dev
77
How exactly does one get better at programming? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 days ago by chrischryse@lemmy.world to c/programming@programming.dev
77 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

So I’m an on/off noobie but have been focusing on actually sticking with programming what I’ve been working on is Python but this question is for programming in general. For me it’s hard but I want to see how I can get better

Like are these good ways to get good:

Follow tutorials, then work on ways of adding your own twists or changes? Or trying to code it in something else?

Work on assignments from a resource you’re using like in my case Python Crash Course and attempt to redo the assignments without looking back?

Experiment with multiple libraries and library methods or built in methods?

Please share any other ways especially ones that helped you

Also when would be good to start a new language after learning one

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 64 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I think the best way to get better at programming is to

  1. Write programs that you actually want to make
  2. Whenever you run into a hard part, first try to do it yourself
    1. Once you succeed or fail, research the problem and see how others solved it
    2. Always look up words/concepts you don't understand while researching and don't stop until you understand
  3. Repeat

If you like, you can also just read some books or scour some programming related communities for general info, without some specific goal. However, most people don't have the motivation to do that, because they don't know what that information is good for yet. That's why, for most people in my opinion, it's better to just try to do something and then learn (better) ways of doing what you want, because then you actually immediately get what it's good for and why you'd need it.

[–] starshipwinepineapple@programming.dev 22 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

That #1 is crucial. I see a lot of people get stuck in tutorial hell or burn out from doing other people's projects. Some tutorials are okay if you're just starting out but at some point switching to your own projects and challenging yourself is necessary

And since OP mentioned being on/off, i would also just say be consistent. Dedicate some time to work on your own projects so you're not forgetting stuff before it really sticks