5 Common Programming Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Let’s just say that mistakes are very common when you’re in the process of learning something new, and it’s no different when you’re just starting to learn programming. So I decided to write this article to help those who are just starting out.
I’m going to talk about what I consider to be the top 5 mistakes (although there are many more). While you’re reading this article, remember that making mistakes is not only part of learning, it’s important to make them, and that each person has their own learning method. The essential thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep programming. As my mother used to say (and probably yours too), only with time and a lot of effort can we achieve our goals.
Leave your own tips for beginners or your own doubts in the comments.
Let’s get started.
Trying to learn too many languages at the same time.
It’s indispensable to give yourself time, you’ll have time to test and learn new things, but in the beginning focus on learning just one language until you feel you’ve mastered the main concepts. Learning several languages at once can be confusing and will end up slowing you down.
Remember that there is no single path to becoming a programmer, so don’t be afraid that you’ve chosen the wrong language.
Not practising enough
Imagine a world in which it was possible to learn anything as if by magic, without practising, without dedicating time and burning neurons. Well, I’m sorry to say that that world doesn’t exist, you really have to kill yourself practising if you want to master anything in this world of programming.
After studying the theory, only practice will ensure that you solidify your knowledge and develop your programming skills. It’s like the Nike slogan, “Just do it.” Start writing code regularly, do exercises, personal projects or if you feel like it start getting involved in the open source community and learn how to contribute to projects (responsibly).
Ignoring documentation and tutorials
It may sound utopian, but there are few problems or obstacles you’ll come across that aren’t described in the documentation of whatever language or tool you’re using.
Documentation and tutorials are valuable resources that can help you learn new languages, APIs, and tools.
Avoid frustration, read the documentation.
Trying to memorize the syntax
Try to understand the concepts, understand the logic, that’s what’s important. Of course, you’ll end up memorizing a lot, but let this process be organic.
Trust me, that’s the only way to become an agile programmer, who can abstract themselves from a specific language or framework.
Rushing to develop large pieces of software or applications
Don’t take a step bigger than your leg. Take a deep breath. You’ll have time to create big projects, but while you’re taking the first steps, respect the learning process.
When you were learning to read at school, you didn’t start reading great works of classic literature straight away, but in small sentences.
Discovering new things is a beautiful process, so appreciate it and don’t get ahead of yourself.
It’s critical to start with small projects that are easy to maintain and gradually increase in complexity as your knowledge develops. Trying to do too much at once can lead to badly written code that no one can understand.
Some people say I’m a very generous person, perhaps one of the best people they’ve ever met, so I’ll leave you with a few extra tips:
- Look for good study materials: There are many books, online tutorials and courses available for learning to program. Find something that works for you and stick to it.
- Join an online community: No one is going to bite you, there are many online communities of programmers where you can ask questions, get help and make connections with other programmers.
- Be patient: Learning to program takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t understand something straight away. Keep practising.
It’s been a pleasure writing another article, so if you have any questions, please ask and share them with your friends who are just starting to learn to program.
