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Miloslav Ciz 2024-02-10 12:19:55 +01:00
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@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ At first you have to learn two basic rules that have to be constantly on your mi
1. **You cannot be a good programmer if you're not good at [math](math.md)** -- real programming is pure math.
2. **[minimalism](minimalism.md) is the most important concept in programming.** If you don't like, support or understand minimalism, don't even think of becoming a programmer.
OK, now the key thing to becoming a programmer is learning a [programming language](programming_language.md) very well (and learning many of them), however this is not enough (it's only enough for becoming a coding monkey), you additionally have to have a wider knowledge such as general knowledge of computers ([electronics](electronics.md), [hardware](hardware.md), theory or computation, [networks](networking.md), ...), tech [history](history.md) and culture ([free software](free_software.md), [hacker cutlure](hacking.md), [free culture](free_culture.md), ...), [math](math.md) and [science](science.md) in general, possibly even society, philosophy etc. Programming is not an isolated topic (only coding is), a programmer has to see the big picture and have a number of other big brain interests such as [chess](chess.md), voting systems, linguistics, physics, music etc. Remember, becoming a good programmer takes a whole life, sometimes even longer.
OK, now the key thing to becoming a programmer is learning a [programming language](programming_language.md) very well (and learning many of them), however this is not enough (it's only enough for becoming a [coding](coding.md) monkey), you additionally have to have a wider knowledge such as general knowledge of [computers](computer.md) ([electronics](electronics.md), [hardware](hardware.md), theory or [computation](computation.md), [networks](networking.md), ...), tech [history](history.md) and culture ([free software](free_software.md), [hacker cutlure](hacking.md), [free culture](free_culture.md), ...), [math](math.md) and [science](science.md) in general, possibly even society, philosophy etc. Programming is not an isolated topic (only coding is), a programmer has to see the big picture and have a number of other big brain interests such as [chess](chess.md), voting systems, linguistics, physics, [music](music.md) etc. Remember, becoming a good programmer takes a whole life, sometimes even longer.
**Can you become a good programmer when you're old?** Well, as with everything to become a SERIOUSLY good programmer you should have probably started before the age of 20, the majority of the legend programmers started before 10, it's just like with sports or becoming an excellent musician. But with enough enthusiasm and endurance you can become a pretty good programmer at any age, just like you can learn to play an instrument or run marathon basically at any age, it will just take longer and a lot of energy. You don't even have to aim to become very good, becoming just average is enough to write simple gaymes and have a bit of fun in life :) Just don't try to learn programming because it seems cool, because you want to look like movie haxor, gain followers on youtube or because you need a job -- if you're not having genuine fun just thinking before sleep about how to swap two variables without using a temporary variable, programming is probably not for you. **Can you become a good programmer if you're black or [woman](woman.md)?** No. :D Ok, maybe you can, but all the above applies, don't do it for politics or money or followers -- if you become a seriously based programmer (from [LRS](lrs.md) point of view) of unlikely minority, we'll be more than happy to put an apology here, in ALL CAPS and bold letters :) Hopefully this will inspire someone...
@ -29,4 +29,6 @@ OK, now the key thing to becoming a programmer is learning a [programming langua
**[Games](game.md) are an ideal start project** because they're [fun](fun.md) (having fun makes learning much faster and enjoyable), there are many noob tutorials all over the Internet etc. However keep in mind to **start EXTREMELY simple.** -- this can't be stressed enough, most people are very impatient and eager and start making an RPG game or networking library without really knowing a programming language -- this is a GUARANTEED spectacular failure. At the beginning think in terms of "snake" and "minesweeper". Your very first project shouldn't even use any [GUI](gui.md), it should be purely [command-line](cli.md) text program, so a text-only tiny interactive story in [Python](python.md) is possibly the absolutely best choice as a first project. Once you're more comfortable you may consider to start using graphics, e.g. Python + [Pygame](pygame.md), but still [KEEP IT SIMPLE](kiss.md), make a flappy bird clone or something. As you progress, consider perhaps buying a simple toy computer such as an [open console](open_console.md) -- these toys are closer to old computers that had no operating systems etc., they e.g. let you interact directly with hardware and teach you a LOT about good programming by teaching you how computers actually work under the hood. One day you will have to make the big step and **learn [C](c.md)**, the best and most important language as of yet, but be sure to only start learning it when you're at least intermediate in your start language (see our [C tutorial](c_tutorial.md)). To learn C we recommend our [SAF](saf.md) library which will save you all headaches of complex APIs and your games will be nice and compatible with you small toy computers.
As with everything, you learn by doing -- reading is extremely important and necessary, but to actually learn anything you have to spend thousands of hours practicing the art yourself. So **program, program and program**, live by programming, look for ways of using programming in what you're already doing, try to automatize anything you do, think about programming before sleep etc. If you can, **contribute to some project**, best if you can help your favorite [FOSS](foss.md) program -- try this at least once as being in the company of the experienced just teaches you like nothing else, a month spent contributing to a project may be worth a year of just reading books.
TODO