Everyone comes to programming differently. Someone was carried away by him in his school years at the first lessons of computer science, someone began to write "laboratories" at the university, but someone began to study in order to change their profession. However, most of the "juni" agree that starting is very difficult. We bring to your attention an adaptation
of an article by journalist Roger Collier about how he learned to code in order to overcome difficulties. He assesses his level as amateur.
![Programming is hard. That is why it is worth studying it - 1]()
The time is late, well past midnight. My wife and children have been sleeping for a long time, but sleep is not yet part of my plans. Still, I'll finish it ... I debugged the code for the millionth time and launched it for execution. Hmm... Looks promising. If I click here, the program should call the "calculate next step" function. So... And if you click here, the function should call itself. Great. Now, if I click here, I should get... uh... obviously not this. Eh... Even more debugging, more bugs, and time flows down the drain along with energy... A familiar picture? … I think learning programming is hard. And that's why I love doing it so much.
How programming became my hobby
I started learning to code in JavaScript four months ago, with a front-end tutorial. So programming became my hobby. Over the past few years, I have become frustrated with the creation/consumption ratio in my life. Too much of my free time was consumed by consumption. Netflix, podcasts, Twitter, magazines, TV sports, Facebook, blogs, Medium, newspapers, novels, the list goes on and on. There is nothing wrong with these activities: they are interesting, informative and somewhat useful, but, in fact, they are aimed exclusively at consumption. Even reading a great book is a consumption process. Of course, I didn't just consume. As part of my journalistic activities, I wrote. Created, so to speak. However, gradually I got bored, and I tried to do a good job only if it significantly reflected on my fees. Despite the family, work, other activities and hobbies, I still had a lot of free time. And I spent most of it watching videos. At some point, I felt like a pig.
![Programming is hard. That is why it is worth studying it - 2]()
In fact, my programming hobby has not yet brought any significant result. I made one simple application, went through front-end challenges and projects in my courses. But this is only the beginning! For me, the meaning of programming is not to create something new and extraordinary, but to involve yourself in the process of creation, to challenge yourself, to try something difficult just because you finish what you started.
The harder the better
In my native Ontario, Canada, there is a project that aims to improve the physical condition of people. It bears the name
Make Your Day Harder (Complicate your day). The main idea of the project is very simple: you need to add simple exercises to your daily routine. This will increase the level of physical activity and improve health. Everything is very simple. Take the stairs, don't use the elevator, get off one stop early and walk. In the service parking lot, park as far as possible from the entrance to the office. “Easier is not better” is the motto of this community. What an exact wording!
Of course, sitting in front of a computer while you're writing code won't improve your physical condition. Programming is great, but not for muscles. However, you can consider your
Java programming training as a brain exercise. Either way, it's healthier than scrolling through celebrity Instagram while sipping beer and chips. After I started programming, I still have enough time for leisure. For example, over the past month I have spent dozens of hours watching strangers throw a ball at a metal hoop. In other words, I watched the NBA playoffs. And since I'm a fan of the Toronto Raptors club, this activity can also be equated with self-torture.
![Programming is hard. That is why it is worth studying it - 3]()
Has watching basketball been good for me? I started drinking more beer and eating more junk food like chips or chicken wings. Also, I always stay up much later because I watch games on the west coast. So healthy sleep is not about me. And although I really like this activity, in fact, it harms me. It's good fun, but nothing more. If you do not take into account, of course, excess weight from high-calorie snacks and beer, or drowsiness in the middle of the next day. But it's easy and fun! Lie down on the sofa, open a bottle of cold beer, stretch your legs and sit like this for 3 hours in one place. The easy way is tempting. Complex is much more useful.
Hard to learn, easy to fight
I once again thought about the value of overcoming difficulties when watching the movie Hidden Figures (2016). The film included an excerpt from John F. Kennedy's speech "We decided to conquer the moon." The United States has not postponed space flights, although this task has proved difficult, the president said. They continued to develop the space program precisely because it was difficult.
“Yes, we decided to conquer the moon, and in this particular decade. This is not an easy goal, but so much the better: such a test will allow us to give our best, show what we are capable of, realize all our power. This is a challenge that we are ready to take on here and now. And we only count on victory!” . John F. Kennedy.
The words "hard", "difficult" and "difficult" are most often used to describe something bad. In many cases, this is indeed the case. It's hard to see how loved ones suffer or get sick, it's hard when a pet dies, it's hard to survive a breakup. Some situations bring only pain, and it is impossible to take anything positive out of them.
| Learning something difficult, however, is always rewarding in and of itself . The learning process itself can be seen as a reward or benefit. A futile struggle with code can be seen as a cure for the mind. |
If it so happens that during the work you create something amazing, and users line up behind your application with open wallets, great. If not, keep programming. If you're a master coder and you've become a YouTube guru with more than a million subscribers than the New York Times, that's great.
If not, keep coding. ![Programming is hard. That is why it is worth studying it - 4]()
Many people learn to program in order to achieve a certain goal. Perhaps you are tired of your job and want to change it to a more interesting one. There is nothing wrong. Or you want to go into IT to earn more. Of course, someone has to provide your family with donuts and pay the bills. However, to
start programmingyou don't necessarily need a serious reason. Just start. And if your path is not easy, do not despair. This means you are on the right track. On difficult.
The time is late, well past midnight. My wife and children have been sleeping for a long time, but sleep is not yet part of my plans. Still, I'll finish it ... I debugged the code for the millionth time and launched it for execution. Hmm... Looks promising. If I click here, the program should call the "calculate next step" function. So... And if you click here, the function should call itself. Great. Now, if I click here, I should get... uh... obviously not this. Eh... Even more debugging, more bugs, and time flows down the drain along with energy... A familiar picture? … I think learning programming is hard. And that's why I love doing it so much.
In fact, my programming hobby has not yet brought any significant result. I made one simple application, went through front-end challenges and projects in my courses. But this is only the beginning! For me, the meaning of programming is not to create something new and extraordinary, but to involve yourself in the process of creation, to challenge yourself, to try something difficult just because you finish what you started.
Has watching basketball been good for me? I started drinking more beer and eating more junk food like chips or chicken wings. Also, I always stay up much later because I watch games on the west coast. So healthy sleep is not about me. And although I really like this activity, in fact, it harms me. It's good fun, but nothing more. If you do not take into account, of course, excess weight from high-calorie snacks and beer, or drowsiness in the middle of the next day. But it's easy and fun! Lie down on the sofa, open a bottle of cold beer, stretch your legs and sit like this for 3 hours in one place. The easy way is tempting. Complex is much more useful.
Many people learn to program in order to achieve a certain goal. Perhaps you are tired of your job and want to change it to a more interesting one. There is nothing wrong. Or you want to go into IT to earn more. Of course, someone has to provide your family with donuts and pay the bills. However, to start programmingyou don't necessarily need a serious reason. Just start. And if your path is not easy, do not despair. This means you are on the right track. On difficult.
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