A Comprehensive Guide to Starting Your Programming Journey: Tips for a Safe and Better Career

Starting to learn programming can be an intimidating task, but with the right strategy and resources, you can build a strong foundation and set yourself up for a successful career. This detailed guide will walk you through a step-by-step process to help you get started on your programming journey.

Develop a Long-Term Motivation

The first step in any successful programming career is to develop a long-term motivation. Define why you want to learn programming, what your ultimate goal is, and how long you are willing to commit to your studies. This motivation will serve as the driving force behind your learning and will keep you focused during the challenging times.

Calculate the Preparation Time

Once you have a clear goal in mind, it's time to assess the time you can dedicate to your studies. A good rule of thumb is to commit to a fixed amount of time each day, such as 5 hours per day for 6 months. Multiply the daily commitment by the number of days in the month and the number of months to get the total preparation time:

5 hours/day * 30 days/month * 6 months 900 hours For a year: 5 hours/day * 30 days/month * 12 months 1800 hours For 3 months: 5 hours/day * 30 days/month * 3 months 450 hours

With this breakdown, you can adjust your preparation plan based on your specific needs and schedule.

Understand the Syllabus and Its Importance

Before diving into the details of your chosen programming language, it's essential to understand what topics will come up in interviews and on the job. Aim to cover at least 80% of the essential programming principles, languages, and tools. Divide the course material into distinct subjects and allocate a significant portion of the time you've committed.

It's important to prioritize based on the strength and weaknesses of each topic. Topics that require more time and practice should be given more attention. Creating a balanced syllabus will help you make the most of your preparation time.

Look for Best Resources

Choose a well-known programming language to start with, such as C, C , Java, Python, or JavaScript. If you're preparing for an interview, focus on learning data structures and algorithms. There is an abundance of resources available online, from free video courses and tutorials to paid courses, articles, and books.

However, finding the right resources can be challenging. Many students make the mistake of using poor learning tools that prevent them from becoming proficient in data structures and algorithms. To avoid this, select reputable platforms for learning. Here are a few top-rated platforms:

YouTube: Channels such as Tech With Tim, The Coding Train, and CodeAcademy offer comprehensive tutorials and tips on programming languages. Coursera: Offers a range of programming courses, many of which are taught by experts from renowned universities and companies. Logicmojo: A live interactive course with faculties from MAANG and similar companies. It is one of the best platforms for learning data structures and algorithms. AlgoExpert: Known for providing high-quality, structured courses on algorithms and data structures. GeeksforGeeks: A comprehensive resource that offers tutorials, quizzes, and practice problems.

These platforms provide solid fundamentals in programming and data structures, but I particularly recommend Logicmojo for its live interactive course and personalized doubt sessions.

Learning the Fundamentals Properly

Once you have the necessary resources, it's time to start with the fundamentals. Begin by learning the basic concepts and gradually build a solid foundation. Practice implementing data structures in your chosen programming language.

Building personal projects can give you practical experience and get you into the debugging process. Add your projects to your profile or GitHub account, as this can be beneficial when job hunting. Focus on understanding the inner workings of each data structure, and learn how to modify them for different use cases.

Furthermore, practice writing your code on paper with a pen. Long-term, this can be beneficial for both your learning and interview preparation.

Progress Review

After completing each topic, take a critical analysis to understand your progress. What areas show the most potential for improvement? What ideas are you struggling with? How confident are you in solving problems? Assign each issue a score between one and ten to keep track of your progress.

Regularly upload your code to platforms like GitHub to keep track of your progress and receive feedback from others. Regular review and analysis of your progress will help you stay on track and identify areas for improvement.

Get a Job or an Internship

Once you have a solid foundation in programming, you might want to step into the development industry. Starting with an internship can provide you with valuable real-world experience and sometimes even a chance to get paid.

Use LinkedIn, career fairs, and networking to find internship opportunities. This can give you the opportunity to learn and enhance your skills in a professional setting.

Many people learn programming languages to start a career, and with the right strategy and resources, you can make that a reality.

Conclusion

With the right motivation, preparation time, resources, and a structured learning plan, you can start your programming journey with confidence and set yourself up for a successful career. Start with YouTube, then move on to data structures and algorithms, and finally apply your newfound knowledge to solve problems on platforms like HackerRank and Leetcode. Don’t forget to take the steps to get an internship.

All the best on your programming journey! Happy coding!