Advice needed

[Deku_kun]

I am a second year comp science and physics student, and I have been looking for some part time work but to no avail, I have 0 experience and I am not that great at most languages, I am familiar with HTML, CSS and have a basic understanding of JavaScript, I learnt Python, C++ and Java in uni but I can't say I can use those to build something. So, what do I do to:
1. Get better at said languages
2. Learn other languages (besides going on youtube, it doesn't stick)
3. Land an internship.

I know there's not a lot to work with but any and all advice will be highly appreciated🥺

 

[LukeS]

Before you read my reply, know that it is coming from a person who doesn't do programming, has tried to learn over 10 years and still not built anything meaningful or significant, but something can be learnt from the time spent and failing.
So in the landscape of our modern society, the number one thing that will sell for you, someone else, a business, or a country, is a portfolio. It's actually more people's attention, and desire to have what you provide, but the way you garnish that attention is through your portfolio, and then marketing to bring attention to your works and portfolio. Eventually, a good portfolio will sell itself, and you will have to decline work at some stage if it's good enough.
A good portfolio will build itself if you remain CONSISTENT in producing content for your portfolio, as will your skills. So while you are in varsity, with the information coming to you fresh and fast, and learning to be a programmer or computer scientist, is essentially problem solving, use that to build on the side your portfolio, and solve the many problems you will experience along the way. This will undoubtedly give you the experience you desire, and showcase your works as time goes on. This is the way of the world, and the same process can be applied to any walk of life basically.
Consistency and focus, doing the same thing over an extended time horizon, will garnish you the results, work and life you desire.

 

[HolyCowImAnoOb]

I am a second year comp science and physics student, and I have been looking for some part time work but to no avail, I have 0 experience and I am not that great at most languages, I am familiar with HTML, CSS and have a basic understanding of JavaScript, I learnt Python, C++ and Java in uni but I can't say I can use those to build something. So, what do I do to:
1. Get better at said languages
2. Learn other languages (besides going on youtube, it doesn't stick)
3. Land an internship.

I know there's not a lot to work with but any and all advice will be highly appreciated🥺

Best thing to do is to determine what you are hoping to become career wise?
Every field has their pro and con, and as said above practice makes perfect. The more you play around with creating your own applications the better you will become.

• Frontend
• Backend
• DevOps
• Android
• DBA
• Blockchain
• QA
• Software Architect
• ASP.NET Core
• Flutter
• React Native
• Cyber Security

The above is hosted on Developer Roadmaps - roadmap.sh and provides a great interactive flow and overview of knowledge required for a career path.

Remember: The Vehicle Highways are built once, then maintained and added onto for ever.

Most newbs that join our company expect to create a new project every couple months. And become depressed when they don't get to do that. Also realize that it is impossible for 99.9% of people to remember every single detail of things that they are exposed to. Best you can do is; Get to know the Core of a language you are interested in, then as your requirements grow you implement addons etc.

Lastly
PLEASE learn to read and DEBUG properly. It will improve your coding skill and speed 1000%
You cant just poke around in the dark changing parameters and values hoping for a different outcome.

 

[supercallous]

You cant just poke around in the dark changing parameters and values hoping for a different outcome.

These kinds of analytical skills are crucial in landing a job as an Activision dev...

 

[Deku_kun]

Before you read my reply, know that it is coming from a person who doesn't do programming, has tried to learn over 10 years and still not built anything meaningful or significant, but something can be learnt from the time spent and failing.
So in the landscape of our modern society, the number one thing that will sell for you, someone else, a business, or a country, is a portfolio. It's actually more people's attention, and desire to have what you provide, but the way you garnish that attention is through your portfolio, and then marketing to bring attention to your works and portfolio. Eventually, a good portfolio will sell itself, and you will have to decline work at some stage if it's good enough.
A good portfolio will build itself if you remain CONSISTENT in producing content for your portfolio, as will your skills. So while you are in varsity, with the information coming to you fresh and fast, and learning to be a programmer or computer scientist, is essentially problem solving, use that to build on the side your portfolio, and solve the many problems you will experience along the way. This will undoubtedly give you the experience you desire, and showcase your works as time goes on. This is the way of the world, and the same process can be applied to any walk of life basically.
Consistency and focus, doing the same thing over an extended time horizon, will garnish you the results, work and life you desire.

Thank you so much for the advice, I really appreciate it especially when I don't even know what I would like to do with this degree, I mean I do like computers and stuff so I thought why not, oh well, enough of me ranting though.

So it all boils down to me building my portfolio and being consistent, so everyday trying out something new? Well I have tired to be consistent with practicing my Java on a site called Hakerrank, basically gives you a problem and you (the programmer) have to write out code for that problem, not sure if that will help with my portfolio but here's to hoping it does.

 

[Deku_kun]

Best thing to do is to determine what you are hoping to become career wise?
Every field has their pro and con, and as said above practice makes perfect. The more you play around with creating your own applications the better you will become.

• Frontend
• Backend
• DevOps
• Android
• DBA
• Blockchain
• QA
• Software Architect
• ASP.NET Core
• Flutter
• React Native
• Cyber Security

The above is hosted on Developer Roadmaps - roadmap.sh and provides a great interactive flow and overview of knowledge required for a career path.

Remember: The Vehicle Highways are built once, then maintained and added onto for ever.

Most newbs that join our company expect to create a new project every couple months. And become depressed when they don't get to do that. Also realize that it is impossible for 99.9% of people to remember every single detail of things that they are exposed to. Best you can do is; Get to know the Core of a language you are interested in, then as your requirements grow you implement addons etc.

Lastly
PLEASE learn to read and DEBUG properly. It will improve your coding skill and speed 1000%
You cant just poke around in the dark changing parameters and values hoping for a different outcome.

Thanks for reaching out, I just checked out the site and it does provide a very nice roadmap into what one has to do to get better at programming, in whatever area they choose, I did try searching for debugging under topics and nothing came up, is it possible to provide specific links to places where I could learn how to do that.

And I will 100% use your site in tandem with what I am doing and hopefully I get better at what I need to do, once again thank you for the advice .

 

[LukeS]

Not sure if people know about this, but was released recently

Learn to Code RPG by freeCodeCamp.org

Learn to code and get a dev job 🎯

freecodecamp.itch.io

I haven't tried it myself, but seems like a good way to learn and improve.
The issue with doing tutorials, in my experience, is it removes the need to conclude a solution by yourself. So you never quite fully embed the theory or exact solution in your mind. so when it comes to putting together your own application, from a blank page, it is more daunting than writing a letter or painting a picture.
So probably the best is to come up with ideas for applications you could use in your own life, a grocery sorter for your pantry cupboard, recipe finder etc.. whatever suits your fancy, because those will teach you the actual skills for taking idea to product.