They say programming is hard. Yes, I think it is . I am agreeing for the first time. That is if you define “HARD” as strenuous. The word “HARD”, as small as it is, can be really ambiguous at times. So I try to stay away from it as much as I can. For some people , HARD means impossible, for others, any form of work that comes with even a slight headache can pass off as been HARD.
When I say programming is hard, I am talking about headache-hard, migraine-hard a times. JAVASCRIPT is a major source of headache. Ask newbees that are learning it without mastering the basics. Although, it gets better with time when you do it right and take things slow.
Apart from javascript, nothing else is really hard, except Installations. Installations. Try installing cordova + android studio on windows with limited data , then you get the point. Cordova is a platform for porting HTML+CSS+JS files into applications. It is very easy but the installation could make you go crazy . it is not like that with LINUX or MAC, maybe WINDOWS is the real culprit here.
I wonder why no one talks about this.
Yesterday, I wrote a program in a new programming language, one I have never used before and it was easy . Why? Most programming languages work along same concepts with slight differences in syntax. With what I have just said now, you must wonder if programming is truly hard. Yes,it is not until you have to install new stuffs to make the computer suitable for the new language or platform you are moving to.
That is where the hard comes in.
Another form of hard is forgetting to read the basics of a language because it is too simple (sarcasm intended), the language will proof you wrong with some awesome headaches. I am serious.
So, as a non-programmer that wants to learn, here are some tips:
Learn the basics very well and get f**king comfortable with it by challenging yourself with some simple scripts.
Don’t cram shit. Programming is a game of standards and logic. Concentrate more on that. This is the more reason why the one guy who knows all the terms might suck at it.
Know your system architecture very well. That is the house of the programming language. This is for the sake of troubleshooting. There is very few emphasis about knowing about how windows, linux or mac works but when you start installing geeky softwares that comes with language, then this might come in handy. Although, you can still learn on the job .
Trust me. You will have crazy roadblocks and stackoverflow might even complicate issues for you. Stackoverflow.com is a site for asking tech questions and getting answers. While coding , installing or doing other computer operations, you might reach some points where it seems there is no way ahead, like the computer has received to obey, more like the computer is running a unending loop of disobedience. This is where you persevere and get ahead no matter what. You can rest , sleep, wake up and do it again but never say never. Read, search and experiment.
Nothing is impossible. That is the watch word of any good programmer.
There will be more. Let me stop here.