21 lessons I wish I’d known earlier in my software engineering career

Learning programming is hard. I felt like quitting 6 years back when I started my web development journey.

But I survived in TECH and I love it now. Here are 21 lessons I wish I’d known earlier in my career.

1 Choose a language

There are an unbelievable number of programming languages out there. But, the thing is, you need to start slow.

Pick one thing at a time and practice as much as possible. Then, you can move on to the next.

2 Understand a programming concept

You may be tempted to cut corners when learning a new programming language. While it’s OK to use Google to find answers, don’t by-heart the syntax.

If you don’t remember the syntax, that’s fine, but remembering the concept is a must.

3 Use online tutorials

This is a lifesaver, learning new skills is easier than ever before. Why use tutorials? — You get multiple perspectives — There’s no time limit — It helps you learn faster and more efficiently

4 Dedicate hours for learning every day in your calendar

Learning every day isn’t that hard, but it is difficult to do at first. It takes a lot of dedication and discipline to learn every day. — Read blogs — Watch Videos — Keep learning new things and building

5 Practice, Practice, Practice!

Building side projects or demo projects is the proven shortcut to master programming. The saying “practice makes perfect” is very true if you’re willing to put in the time to be great at something.

6 Don’t give up

Things might not be in your favour once you start your journey. One key to becoming a good coder is to never give up. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can pick up the newest concepts. Beginning to anything is always hard.

7 Don’t reinvent the wheel

Unless you need to keep things simple, leverage libraries that help you make your job easier. Not every solution needs to be built from scratch, keep a close eye on different packages and libraries.

8 Learn to use the command line

It’s a pretty useful thing to know, and it’s actually easier than most people think. While it may seem complicated at first, it’s quite easy once you get the hang of it! Once you master it, there is no going back.

9 Work on your soft skills

Having good programming knowledge is good, but if you master soft skills you will directly jump to the top 5%.

Practice writing, It helps you in the long run. Mastering soft skills will help you stand out from the rest.

10 Build a strong portfolio of projects

Showing off your projects and your work is the best thing to grab attention. Learn + Build things, You stand out from the rest easily with these tactics. It’s a win-win situation.

11 Documents Your Journey

Tweet about your learning, and get inspired by others. Write blogs There are many people who are starting their journey today, you are definitely going to inspire them.

12 Define small goals

Don’t go running begin every programming language and concept. Take one thing at a time, define small goals and crush them. The approach is the ultimate confidence booster. Set goals for improving ability and productivity.

13 There is no single path

While learning, don’t try to follow some path, You can have your own path. Some things might not work for you which might have worked for others. Focus on whatever you have planned for instead of worrying about others.

14 Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Reach out to your friends or mentors for any queries during learning. Don’t feel shy to ask, even if you have silly questions. This is probably the fastest way to solve your doubts and move ahead.

15 Challenge yourself

Don’t compete with others, compete with yourself and see how much you have improved over time. Making comparisons with others will de-motivate you and will bring a lot of hurdles on your way.

16 Learn the basics and build small applications

The more small applications you build, the more powerful will be your foundation. You are literally unstoppable if you focus more on building examples to understand the concepts better.

17 Refuse negative talk

Not all days are the same, some days you might feel like quitting as things might not be in your favour. Take a break and bounce back stronger. Remember, programmers never quit, there is always a workaround.

18 Remember nobody is born a pro

It’s only a matter of consistency and hard work while will make you a pro. Keep giving your best shot. Once you keep doing the same thing again and again over a period of time, you will master it in no time.

19 Nothing works unless you do

Only reading documentation, watching videos will take you nowhere. Work on whatever you have read and have a solid understanding. Practice makes a man perfect.

20 Focus on the process, not the outcome

Make it fun Don’t worry much about the future, there are tons and tons of new libraries and frameworks coming. If you have a solid foundation, the rest is easy to crack. Enjoy the journey and stay positive.

Thanks for stopping and checking these resources, I’m sure it’s going to help you at some point in time.

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