5 Skills to MASTER to Become a Self-Taught Programmer

[@AndySterkowitz]

Did this video give you a better sense of what to focus on as you learn to code?

[@asianhavoc1872]

I dont need to watch the vid to see wether its good or not......Its always the best

[@PythonCodeMan]

Yes

[@solascriptura3257]

Certainly

[@thedduck]

Yes.. and I'm gonna learn them all.. and be the greatest dev on planet Earth.. Edit: ..and take over the world.. 😈

[@chromosoulmagic]

I enjoyed this video. These skills are no joke. BTW I sense that you are growing as a coach; that you are really helping others. thanks again.

[@edwarddelossantos5593]

#3 Debugging: After hours of almost throwing your computer away, you realize it’s just a variable name spelled incorrectly. A Story every programmer can relate to.

[@trojank7816]

so true...

[@asherxasher8914]

Just happened to me yesterday.

[@samiullah9154]

Hahaha it's true for me.

[@JensdC]

1) Clean Code 2) Communication 3) Debugging 4) Finishing Project 5) GIT

[@TheJacklwilliams]

Thank you. Was listening but not taking notes as I just walked in the door after a long day of work, blah blah blah. I like Andy. I've only watched a few of his things but? Straight forward, practical advice. All of the above make sense to me. Working with GIT tonight as I haven't used it yet (except for pulling sample code, etc...) and want to start my first project with it out of the gate. Anyway, yeah, thanks.

[@harshbarj]

Talking about syntax errors and fat fingering the keyboard, I love today's IDEs. I used to do a LOT of coding in QuickBasic 4.5/7.1 in the 90's and you had no real way of finding an error except to go line by line looking for it. The interpreter may say an error is on line 467, but what caused the error may be much further back, or in a subroutine. Whereas Visual Studio 2019 highlights virtually any error. Fat fingered the keyboard when typing a variable? No problem, the IDE will flag it as an uninitialized variable. Things are so much better today. I just love it.

[@adybady9987]

This channel is abooster for me, whenever I feel like quiting I just come here . Thanks Andy.

[@AndySterkowitz]

Glad to help Ady...keep going!

[@atandadavid5554]

Same here

[@joelgallegos7740]

How is your journey going? I'm trying to become self taught as well n would love to hear that u got a job n are doing great.

[@rolandpierrelouis4013]

I also want to add "be prepared to face the hard part " things will get hard soon or later when someone is learning to code...Consistency is KEY. Thank you Andy for this great video

[@AndySterkowitz]

Very true! Glad to help Roland.

[@igorcweb]

At my first job as a self-taught software engineer, the biggest challenge for me was understanding the business side. During the first few months, I could understand maybe less than half of what was discussed at our daily stand up meetings. I didn't have any problems with the technical jargon, but the business jargon was completely new to me. You can create the most beautiful app using the most clean code, but your client/employer wouldn't care unless this app can create actual tangible value for the business. So understanding the "why" is just as important as understanding the "what" and "how". I would also recommend getting familiar with the Agile development process, and all of the terminology that comes with it.

[@andreamuro8074]

I come here to be inspired and stay on track, I was so depressed about the future because of COVID 19 and all the craziness going on but I realize this is the change I want in my life. Thanks for clear ,concise advice. I’m getting back on track and so glad you’re making new videos!

[@frankpegar8380]

im only 16 and im studying codes now just some basics its really cool i love doing it

[@sluggishhollow2030]

I wish u a best of luck.I m 17.I started more than a month and almost a half ago.Soon to finish CSS.Actually I m not gonna go to js or bootstrap unless I think I m good enough in CSS

[@hargunbeersingh8918]

I am 13. I just finished with CSS

[@lanassokillerguy7310]

Same here, first learned videogame development in Roblox with Lua, now I'm interested in doing bots with Python, good luck to you all young ones!

[@Nightwolfs123]

I'm currently with a firm who looks for high level Android Dev positions for me, and I'm here still learning concepts and best practices of coding it. Many times I feel like it's so much information and work thrown at me and it really takes me down. I'm happy to say I come to you to uplift my spirits and try to not let things hurt my workflow and learning curve. Thank you!

[@KGcodes]

I love when the code reads like a good book 📖

[@thenick3216]

My source control is more like source out of control. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@programthis3805]

hahahahaha

[@DoreneCodes]

I’m currently taking the self taught route, so this video is very helpful and insightful. Funny, I just talked about my struggles with writing clean code on my channel as a code newbie. Debugging has also been getting the best of me, but it feels so good when I solve it. Thanks for this video!

[@johnfields4072]

Needed to hear #4. Thanks. I have a few unfinished projects on my Github. I only focused on finishing my pinned repos and procrastinate with everything else thinking it is only practice for learning certain concepts. I need to practice more on persistence along with the coding.

[@tanyawinemiller9156]

Thanks again, Andy! These videos are priceless...so motivating.

[@alexshield7532]

Hi Andy, thanks for the great content. I found your videos one and a half years ago when I was in my learning phase and helped me a lot. I'm now working as a junior software developer since January and it's a great help to hear your experiences and to know I'm not imaging these things and every developer has the same struggles to get through. Keep up the good work and I can't wait for your future videos. Greetings from Austria/Europe.

[@cUser691]

Andy, I esp liked #2 Tech Communication. I practice (Rubber Ducky-ing) using vernacular; when a strong SWE explains lucidly, I write it down & think it through. 2 Things: a)In explaining general concepts like client/server to relatives, I have to say “ another strong computer receives the request..” which isn’t technical & leaves out a lot, b)I learned that memorizing definitions of tech terms & concepts from index cards was only slightly advantageous but knowing what they mean is better. Still, I have to fight the urge to memorize terms. Thanks for another super helpful vid Andy. C from Chicago.

[@fardeensaleem7716]

I am trying to be a self taught and much of your videos are providing me confidence.. Thanks

[@Heddanofarsan]

Point 6: To not become a potato!!!!! Hey you already changed my life. I sold my car and built a really fast cargobike to be able to go around with my kid AND to just take it for a spin. I have worked as a teacher for a year and almost gave up on the programming but your words about giving up rang in my ear. I then lost my job but got a pile of money for the unlawful handling and I just said to my ex who asked "So will you go see a therapist or what?" -"No because I never felt better in my entire life!" This week will be 100% coding, biking, cooking, sleeping and reading. I already see in the comments I make in the code how I progress. By the way there´s a Swedish book I must recommend: It´s about the physical and scientific proof for the training of the brain. Long story short: As a person keeps sitting he/she gets dumber over time. When engaging in minimum three times per week high pulse training the memory function physically grows (among other things). Me who has had a brain damage has first hand experience of that "everything is possible" capability. I have been very blurry and have been used a lot of ***** too. The book is: bonnierrights.se/work/brain-power/ Thank you for what you do.

[@weaver3636]

"I want to start something new so I can feel like I'm progressing" lol story of my life.

[@R3V0_777]

Thank you for all of your videos and your insight! I hit a wall this week and listening to your input and wisdom really helped me out.

[@rey_nemaattori]

Can totally relate to getting stuck for days, had that recently. Wasn't even my code, just a weird coincidence of a specific sets of dependency versions not liking each other throwing a completely unrelated error. I had given up on it, let it rest for a while...after a few days, then decided to give it one more try: switched the version in the pom from a hint on stackoverflow and it ran xD

[@stapler942]

Pros of self-teaching: learning on your own time, pick and choose languages, focus on specific areas with less distraction. Cons of self-teaching: There's always things you miss/resources that you may not be aware of. Books can mislead you. Limited social interaction with other programmers. You might not get as much exposure to git or Linux commands or a lot of the math background that CS people get. Pros of CS degree: Some level of feedback on your code, well-rounded introduction to different concepts, internship opportunities, social environment, lots of perspectives. Unexpected avenues open up, finally convincing you not to go into the hell world of game development like you thought you would. Cons of CS degree: Money. Very easy to get distracted by separate passions, i.e. math and other science electives, leading you to briefly forget your programming languages (this has happened to me). If you don't like math, stats, or logic you will have a hard time sometimes. Profs and lectures will vary in quality. Comp sci assignments may take a lot of time out of the day compared to other classes. There are so many classes that you might not get to take all the ones you want before four years is up. You might come across as a bit snobbish to your friends and nobody will understand what you're talking about at dinner when you bring up algorithm efficiency.

[@perfectionbox]

Dawn Steel (RIP) wrote that movie producers at Paramount would be heavily questioned about their motives and passion, because management only wanted people who would be committed to seeing projects through to completion, because they've learned how much work is involved. It's the same in programming.

[@jakobfredriksson2272]

I'm currently in the process learning to code (by myself) since three months. From two weeks back and the rest of the year I'm going to do it full time and your channel, Andy, is awesome for an aspirant like me. On topic: As soon a new idea for a project occupying my mind I quit what I'm currently doing and jumps straight into the new one so what your're saying about "half finished" projects is something I really need to embrace ASAP.

[@juliopaiz4951]

I will make a lot of mistakes, but seeing them as an opportunity for developing my debbuing skills is definitly a great insight. Thank you for sharing all of this.

[@cUser691]

2nd favorite tip: #5 Git. You’re right that its basic concept is easy but those branches & merges make me nervous because one can screw up a team’s efforts by messing up. That’s a real fear. W/ my bc (FI), I over-document changes I made to code....Is that wise even if it’s not a significant change yet I want to show my rationale via commenting? Thx for this reminder about Git. I want to master it not just to differentiate myself from others in job market but to have solid foundation in my craft. So, I plan on reviewing Github’s documentation & deciphering it. There might be some colored pencils & paper involved-makin’ it ‘phun’ LOL.

[@rey_nemaattori]

You can always reverse commit if you screw up or checkout on older commit...

[@cornellmihkail1238]

Hey, Andy, may God bless you with more success and more money. I'm a Filipino subscriber. I just want to say, you make the best inspiring videos. Thank you.

[@suvobrotopal2024]

Very informative video , thank you .

[@OAmiri-ob5yu]

Very helpful for me👍

[@bankkozma732]

Thanks a lot for the great video!

[@pkavenger9990]

if your stuck for a long time, Stack Overflow. And more complex and advance the problem the more quickly you get a reply and a solution.

[@programming2249]

Another great skill to have is to be able to go on endless tangents if you get asked a question you don't know the answer to. Interviewers are generally too nice to interrupt or call you out on it, and are also afraid that you know something they don't, so they'll just be eager to move on.

[@femialiu]

Hey Andy! Can you please do a video on the GPT-3 and the implications for developers in the coming years?

[@pierreabbat6157]

I have a bit of code where I use both the computer term "vector" (resizable array) and the math term "column vector". The column vector is in a class called "matrix"; it's a matrix with one column and some larger number of rows. A function called columnvector turns the vector (one-dimensional resizable array) into a column vector.

[@jeanjasinczuk7543]

One point that be should added on debugging: on a team project, the code to debug will be the code of the team. In many cases, the bug will be on code written by another developer. Reading code from others, coming with creative ways to figure out what it does and why it doesn't work quite right is part of the job. One more point: after you find the bug, do not point finger at who did make the mistake. Next time, another developer will a find bug in your code....

[@edoreemmanuel4250]

From all I guess it's PRACTICE PRACTICE WHAT EVER YOU LACK

[@abudavid5929]

Wow that's good I just learnt basic of git thanks for the advice wish you success in your career

[@RD-yc4sg]

Clean code and Git are one of the biggest issues I have seen with many developers. Even with many experienced ones, unfortunately. Sad thing is people don’t often want to recognize it and improve.

[@fardeensaleem7716]

Great video sir...

[@cc-dtv]

As somebody who only learned about this side of youtube thru /r/cscareerquestions, ur prob one of the most accurate people i've seen in my 10 mins of research!

[@softwhere07]

Your videos are inspiring me to learn programming. I have learned some Python and have some experience. But according to all this I guess I have a lot more learning to do. I just subscribed. Can't wait for more videos.

[@placebo106]

Talking about my code, I need to master.

[@LouiseLanguage]

Thank you!

[@judasisrael4887]

Useful video!

[@erebosifavour3760]

I love your videos bro Love from Nigeria!

[@thecallertotruth1121]

Really Good advice thanks a lot

[@PythonCodeMan]

Thanks man that's true 100%

[@AndySterkowitz]

Cheers!

[@georgidimitrov2225]

In my country if you're self-taught the companies don't even bother with your SV or portfolio. If you want to have a career in programing, you either need a grade A degree (foreign uni is a huge +) or spend a lot amount of money for certificates.

[@PythonCodeMan]

They should wake up, i have seen people transitioning from political science to becoming software developers and they are good

[@georgidimitrov2225]

@@PythonCodeMan If you are good enough you go freelance and later start our own company with friends. I'm trying the self-taught route but i have no friends in this field, cant ask for help and its slowly getting the toll on me. I fear that frustration, lack of knowledge will make me quit...

[@hungrybeast5913]

@@georgidimitrov2225 May I ask which country?

[@georgidimitrov2225]

@@hungrybeast5913 Bulgaria. I live in a small rural town with 7-10k people population. If you're reeeeally good, the best you can land is a 3-4000 euros monthly. But you got to move to the capital of the country. In the closest to me city, programmers get roughly 1-1.5k euros monthly. I curently work for 550 euros/month

[@PythonCodeMan]

@@georgidimitrov2225 I understand. Don't quit bro

[@micjakes1]

Should we be worried about the programming job market?

[@briandenoncourt6264]

I'm a beginner and very interested in learning about coding

[@elrogelio]

Thanks for the great content as always!

[@AndySterkowitz]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@arthurschilling5651]

Andy! About your mentorship: do you also mentor people that already got a first job? I’m in big need of a roadmap on how to go about things as I just got a job I’m totally underqualified for...

[@bryanstark324]

None of these skills come overnight or from reading a book or watching a video. All of these skills improve over time so you're not really going to be really "good" or "effective" until you start working for a company and get feedback from senior programmers on your own code. For example, writing code is like writing essays, you need a proof reader to really improve your skills.

[@pjguitar15]

What's the best way/practice to practice communication and explaining?

[@qwarlockz8017]

The weird thing is that I have never worked on a team. I have always been hired as the only guy on the build. I would actually LOVE to work on a team. ahhhhhh maybe someday!

[@kaushikiyer9470]

Really appreciate you ❤️..... Loved it... but I would like to have a one to one conversation with you so that I can have an idea about how to approach further

[@RaulTavares]

Great video Andy, thank you for that. Wouldn't 'Tests', mainly unit testing - "writing tests before code" - be also a real foundation basic skill?

[@Simple-M___zzz]

can you make a video on how to get jobs as an independent programmer and how much money do you make thanks

[@chris8206]

Hi thanks this is helpfull , thanks bro

[@AndySterkowitz]

Happy to help Chris. Cheers!

[@jak-zg1225]

Great video Andy. Just a quick question: if you're not on top with commands when it comes to Git, is it still OK from employers perspective if you can work your way around it using the GUI? While you're mastering your commands in the mean time ofcourse😉

[@mohamedyounis4058]

Thank you

[@moazzammattu3376]

Practice.. Practice.. Practice

[@whyvpa]

Please make a video on all the python libraries one should master to start open source contribution..

[@matttorrence2900]

What if you want to learn the stuff, but you probably can’t teach yourself? I think that’s me… I was told to start with HTML5, CSS, and Java. At the age of 40, I hope it’s not too late for me.

[@merlin2049er]

Should I give up on Ruby on Rails? I can’t figure out I need to develop.

[@da_7402]

Nice Great video.

[@jonathanvargasv2009]

Pretty wise.

[@Andantemusic983]

Can I get a link to the book you made mention of

[@dobbins5943]

Hey Andy, out of curiosity how old were you when you started to teach yourself? I'm thirty and just starting out, ive read reddits about maybe being to old for this thing :(

[@rakeshsingh1983]

Thanks for you giving Great information :-)

[@AndySterkowitz]

My pleasure!

[@icarus33]

Great Video!

[@AndySterkowitz]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@vernwash2012]

What’s the difference between GitHub and codepen then?

[@christiannwodo2151]

6. Learn problem solving skill - not coding and every other thing shall be added unto you

[@sumaname1058]

I am php developer but I am little confuse about to what learning next to make myself more deserving?? Please give me your valuable suggestion 😊

[@DMANCHILD1]

I would try to pick up Laravel framework next if you haven't already. It's really well used in the PHP stack real work environments. You can use Laravel as a API backend only and use any type of JS framework as your frontend (vue, react, angular) or just use Laravel blade template as your frontend as well. Can't go wrong if you're a PHP developer. Good luck! I started getting into OctoberCMS (built on Laravel) as a content management for my projects. Check it out.

[@kymberlyhounsell6872]

Hi just wondering do you have a programming job or are u 100% on ur own

[@DevinDeVille1]

Great video for #2 would that be For object in array: If object >= 21: return object

[@kaarelv1643]

For object in array: if object.age > 21: return object

[@melfordbirakor]

Thanks

[@AndySterkowitz]

You're welcome!

[@autobot021]

but what if my competition watches this video?

[@rolandpierrelouis4013]

I am sure 70% or 80% people watching this video won't take Action or really follow these strategies taught in the video ! Don't worry and be a better version of yourself each day

[@ahmedofficial7524]

hii i am from india i want to learn coding but dont know where to start with kindly help me how to start with,and my keen interest right now is on app development.

[@wendyslittleprogram3984]

Would you say that being able to communicate with tech jargon is more important than being able to put it layman's terms?

[@AndySterkowitz]

Ideally you should have the capability of communicating everything in layman's terms....to me that's ultimate mastery in communication. However, technical terms are useful in software development because it allows for clear and concise communications between individuals.

[@wendyslittleprogram3984]

@@AndySterkowitz Thanks man. I'm glad you included this in your list, because I recently started practicing answering interview questions. I even bought a VR headset to simulate the interview scenario hah! 😎

[@mohibarsala6562]

how to learn fast coding ?

[@daniel71626]

What camera do you use🧐??

[@Manuel-j3q]

At least one important skill is missing from this list, which is English.

[@Kareninapk.]

Hi Andy... I decided to learn how to code a few months ago. I often find myself frustrated, lol.. I know it´s part of the journey. Any advice when you feel there's something you really don't understand. Sometimes I try different sources, opinions, etc and I few things are still not that clear. Makes me feel I'm just not good at this. Please help! :)

[@naturepositive7707]

Try: 1. Ask some friend. 2.take a break, and go back to the subject later. 3. Watch video about the subject. 4. Take mentor.

[@poplionandrew5803]

Should we design first or code then design later?

[@PythonCodeMan]

Hi its important to design first, know all what you need then code, implementation on later

[@AndySterkowitz]

Hours of preparation can save you weeks of coding. As in life, preparing first is usually the best bet.

[@PythonCodeMan]

@@AndySterkowitz exactly

[@asianhavoc1872]

Hello there

[@captainarq3062]

I need money to upgrade to powerful laptop, How can I make money fast online??? Suggest please

[@sunlighthurtsmyeyes9269]

just go to work...

[@closertothecosmos3519]

I learnt git in a day

[@mercyme3400]

Whats GIT?

[@ShawAnthoni]

DDLZ It’s like reddit for just code. Blogs that showcase creating, documenting, using and uses of code.

[@stapler942]

Git is the most popular example of a Version Control system (VCS). You really need a VCS for any large scale project to work. What it does is save changes you make in your code so that you can go back and look at what you did earlier. If the program breaks you often have to go back to earlier changes. In a dev team everybody might be working on separate "branches" which are sent in for review by another set of eyes before they get merged back into the main branch. So that's git in a nutshell. GitHub, on the other hand, is one of many places online where you can store your Git files and code base so you can clone it or update it anywhere. A lot of open source and professional projects end up on GitHub.

[@maflo5971]

...aaand subscribe.