How I Learned To Program

How I Learned to Program

http://rdegges.com/how-i-learned-to-program
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Programming is, without a doubt, the most mentally rewarding thing I've ever done. Programming taught me that life should be fun, filled with creativity, and lived to the fullest. Programming taught me that anything is possible; I can do anything I want using only my mind.


Programming also taught me thatlearning is fun. It showed me that the more you know, the more power you have. Programming showed me that a life filled with learning is a life worth living. Programming revealed to me who I am inside, and has continuously helped me work towards my goals.


I feel extremely lucky to have had the means and opportunity to learn programming early in my life. While my methods are certainly not optimalfor everyone, they worked well for me.


I have no regrets.


So I figured I'd share my methods with you, in hopes that a beginner will read this and get some value out of it.

If you don't want to read all this, the important takeaway here is to, above all else, have fun.



Install Linux on Your Box

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While in my own life, I actually learned quite a bit about computersthrough video games on MSDOS computers--my real learning started the first day I installed a linux operating system on my home computer.

It doesn't matter whether or not you use Windows on your laptop, or if you have a Macbook Air--if you want to learn to program well, you need to use linux. Sure, there are a ton of great programmers out there using other systems, but you cannot beat linux as alearning machine.


Despite what you may think, programmers don't just "program". Programming as you probably think of it is nothing more than input and output. You type things, and stuff happens. This is incorrect.


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Programming is a way of life.


Programmers are people obsessed with knowledge. Programmers use this obsession to fuel a life of learning, discovery, and creation.That is the true definition of a programmer.


A big reason to use linux for your day to day work is that it helps you passively learn about programming as you use it. On Windows, if you want to copy a file from one box to another, you drag and drop. On linux, if you want to copy a file from one box to another, you use scp or rsync. Learning how to use the command line teaches you basic technicallogic and problem solving skills.


Another important skill you passively acquire by using linux is self sufficiency. Unlike many other lines of work, programming does not require you to memorize a million things, or repeatedly do the same thing over and over again; instead, programming requires intense self motivation and determination.

Even the best programmers typically have no idea whatthey're doing when they start a new project. If I could summarize one thing I do more than anything else as a programmer, it would be research. Programmers must know how to lookup information, and how to process and use that information in a useful manner. This skill is typically acquired over long periods of time--but linux can help.


Using linux will require you to actively seek outsolutions to problems. If you don't know how to setup an SSH tunnel--you will learn. Using linux will drive you to discover new things you never would have thought of while using Mac or Windows. As you slowly become a better and better linux user, you will coincidentally become a better and better programmer and pragmatist. You'll learn how to go about solving problems. How to hunt down errors. How to useyour combined knowledge to create new things and make your life (and others' lives) easier.

Furthermore, since linux (as well as a majority of its applications) is open source, you're in a great position to learn more about programming culture. At one point or another, I can almost guarantee you will:

• Find a bug in an application you use.
• You'll search for an answer online....