Coffee break #11. How to make programming a habit and what types of non-traditional coding there are

How to Make Programming a Habit

Source: Freecodecamp Every year the number of those who want to learn how to write code and become a developer increases. However, many of them find it difficult to program every day. Partly due to the fact that they simply do not know how to turn writing code into a habit. Believe me, it's not difficult at all. Now you can see this for yourself.

What is a habit

What do we mean by the word “habit”? According to Wikipedia, a habit is an established way of behavior, the implementation of which in a certain situation acquires the character of a need for an individual. According to The Free Dictionary, a habit is a repeated, often unconscious pattern of behavior developed through frequent repetition. In general, a habit is a process that occurs automatically. For example, brushing your teeth in the morning. To understand how a habit is developed, you need to identify its components. There are three of them: signal, routine and reward.

1. Signal

   A signal is an event that triggers an action. The signal can be time, emotional state, location, or the action itself. For example, if while working I suddenly smell coffee coming from somewhere at my colleague's desk, I go and pour myself a cup of coffee. My habit of drinking coffee started, the signal was the smell.

2. Routine

   Routine is the very action you take when the habit process is triggered by a signal. That is, the routine is to go and pour yourself a cup of coffee.

3. Reward

   Reward is the final moment of the whole process. This is what a person receives after following the routine. In the example of a cup of coffee, it is getting a dose of caffeine that makes us feel more alert. The more positive and enjoyable the reward is, the more likely your brain is to maintain the habit.

How to Make Programming a Habit

What does it take for writing code to become that “routine”? If you want to be guided by a signal, then try setting it to a specific time. For example, “I’m starting to write code...

• every morning after breakfast;
• after coming home from work;
• during lunch break;
• [insert any appropriate trigger].

You can also set a time frame for the order of actions that will be easier for you to navigate. For example, you could say, “I want to code for 30 minutes” or “I'm going to learn [insert skill] for 30 minutes.” Options may vary. An important part of the habit formation process is reward. To increase your productivity, you need to set a goal. This will help you get closer to achieving it through habit. The reward may be the approach itself. For example, gaining a higher level of knowledge. But the reward may be different. You can say to yourself: “If I study programming for an hour today, I will buy myself a chocolate bar or some other tasty treat as a reward.”

Challenge helps you develop a habit.

Another good way to develop a habit is to do a challenge like 100 Days of Something. Alcoholics Anonymous groups use similar rules. And their method is quite effective. Only instead of “100 days without alcohol,” you’ll set a goal of “100 days of coding.” It will be difficult at first, but over time you will even begin to enjoy it. And if you share the progress of your marathon on social networks, you will definitely receive support from like-minded people, which will give you additional motivation.

Plan your tasks

Structuring the stages of work makes it easier to achieve the goal. You need to not just sit down to write code, but learn to determine in advance exactly what, how, when and why you will do it.

Work on your dream project

What could be better than writing code every day for your dream project? Creating your own app will give you extra motivation. Engage in your brainchild every day, and your habit will be constantly fueled by pleasant emotions.

Suitable work environment

If you can create a comfortable and enjoyable work environment, this will also improve your motivation to code every day. Arrange your workplace so that you are more comfortable and less tired.

Types of non-traditional coding

Source: Hackernoon In a world that is becoming more digital every year, coding skills are far more important than traditional knowledge. It allows you not only to understand how systems work, but also to create various technological innovations yourself. One of the important advantages of programming is its accessibility. To learn how to write code, you don’t need expensive devices and unique equipment. Coding is more democratic than learning science. You can become a programmer without even going to university or college. Let's take a closer look at what non-traditional coding is and what types it has.

Coding in the community

A digital summer camp or after-school club is a great way to improve your coding skills and gain extra motivation. The adversarial process allows you to maintain a high pace of learning new knowledge. At home, when studying independently with the help of textbooks, the student is deprived of this opportunity.

Online courses

The Internet has made it possible to connect people and cultures from all over the world. From an educational point of view, this greatly facilitated the learning process. The student can now choose not only the direction, what exactly and what programming language he wants to learn, but also the platform and learning tools. Another advantage of online courses is the use of multimedia teaching methods. These include videos, quizzes, knowledge testing surveys, and other methods. There is no doubt that e-learning is more effective than traditional education in learning programming. Having the opportunity to choose a teaching method, most students abandon the conservative memorization that is so common at school and university in favor of democratic courses.

Applications, software and gamification

Many programmers make huge leaps in their learning simply by creating programs. There are many platforms that aim to teach the basics of coding through app builders and other application programs. Many of these platforms are aimed at children, but there are also those that will be useful for adults. For example, there are games that teach cybersecurity skills through hacking. One such platform, Hack the Box, invites users to find vulnerabilities in code. Having managed to solve the problem posed to him, the student receives another title, which also increases his motivation. Can all these methods improve your programming skills? Definitely yes. Technology allows us to gain a deeper education outside of the traditional classroom. Therefore, it would be a big mistake to refuse such a prospect.