[Tutor] louis renton

[dn]

On 21/01/2023 15.10, paulf at quillandmouse.com wrote:
> On Fri, 20 Jan 2023 13:37:41 -0500
> louis renton <lourenton07 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> i'm a more hands on learner what are best and most efficient ways to
>> learn to code
> 
> As a self-taught coder who started in 1974 coding mainframe BASIC, then
> Pascal, then C, then loads more, you figure out something (simple) you
> want to do, grab a reference on the language, and start coding. Code
> iteratively. That is, do a little, then gradually raise the complexity.
> Test after every iteration. If something breaks, find out why and fix
> it. As you continue, your confidence and familiarity will build from
> your successes. What you start out with is immaterial. Calculate
> interest amounts, generate prime numbers, whatever.
> 
> It also helps to fetch some simple programs and examine the way they do
> it.
> 
> A good and simple reference is important. Matter of fact, I've found
> Google to be invaluable. If you can't find it in your reference easily,
> Google it, and you'll find explanations and simple code examples. I'm
> relatively new to Python, and that's how I've done it. Also, there is a
> good reference for Python and its libraries on line. Look for it.

Google is NOT a reference. What you will find listed is a collection of 
web-pages. Whether they are accurate or otherwise good or bad is open to 
question! See also: copying code from StackOverflow.

The 'hit or miss' approach to learning does APPEAR to work for some 
people. It may better fit hobbyists than trainee-professionals.

Whether an employer will be impressed is equally open to question. Some 
do look at project-portfolios. Do few?many?most job-adverts mention 
certification?

A formal curriculum such as an on-line course or even a text-book has 
been designed to introduce topics in manageable chunks, to build upon 
existing knowledge, and thus to show how 'it all' hangs-together.

YMMV!
-- 
Regards,
=dn