How I Would Learn to Code (if I could start again)

Bookshelved: bookshelved.com/ (sign up pls)
My Links:
- Instagram (best place to DM me): / thejohnfish
- Twitter (spicy tech takes): / thejohnfish
- GitHub (code): github.com/johnafish
Video Links:
- VS Code: code.visualstudio.com/
- ChatGPT: chat.openai.com/
- StackOverflow: stackoverflow.com/
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:41 Project Oriented Learning
1:48 Tools
3:19 "Hello, World"
3:51 Learn to Think
6:46 "What about theory/courses/textbooks?"

[@brainelomoni6108]

Remember starting to code in 2018 because this guy made me believe it's possible.....John, you changed a life over here

[@thejohnfish]

that's amazing, so glad you stuck with it! all you :)

[@_notsaf]

code-briomar is this your repo?

[@brainelomoni6108]

@@_notsaf Yea

[@mememothership3162]

@@brainelomoni6108 so how did it change? did you get a nice job or did you do something with saas? really curious man :D

[@brainelomoni6108]

@@mememothership3162 I was in year 6 then, but since I started coding early, when I joined high school I was experienced in code enough to make a Sanatorium system for my school ( They were still using ledgers ), who did pay me well for it. Now I just get contracts from people I meet on LinkedIn

[@felixbouffard9579]

Hey ! I'm from Montreal and I'm studying computer science and I just wanted to tell you that your videos are really motivational

[@JamesPalar-vo5ir]

I think the best way to learn programming is to be assigned in a project or project based learning, basically it means to have a deadline, a task, and the adrenaline just automatically gets it for you. And boom! those hard days will get you have a flowy coding experience, or get in that "zone".

[@warache2894]

right, and also you can ask gpt for exercises for the language and the tools you currently know or you wanna learn

[@rileyfuller8304]

@@warache2894 Facts. GPT is honestly going to be such a useful tool for myself and other novice Software Devs

[@stevenjohnson7214]

I’ve been teaching myself to code and this is what I do. I just give myself a project that interests me or will help me and just do it. A lot of stack overflow and learning, but I love it ❤

[@portal9935]

Jesus I only hope so, I’m currently in this exact situation but completely new to backend coding … and there’s the pressure of hoping I do good enough to be permanently hired.

[@machodave6416]

Thank u I pray u go places in life ❤

[@michellexcomputer]

John Fish carried me through high school and is the reason I wanted to become a CS major. Now that I’m going into my second year of college and I’ve found him again, I’m super glad and I’m super grateful. Thank you John ❤

[@sophiaonyoutube]

I love how passionate you are about coding. I can see it so much on your videos. Thank you for the advice!

[@thoughtsfromahead]

Just another person letting you know that your efforts have impact -- I bought your bullet journal like 5 years ago, and I'm an engineer now. It's so weird to watch your videos today after achieving that milestone, and to feel that same pull toward becoming better. Weird in a great way! Thanks John! Curious to see what you make.

[@ragagno]

Hey John, During my time as a student and now as a teacher, I encountered many students, and most of the time, the ones that had had the best results were the ones that begun their journey into programming by learning algorithms, data structures and low level concepts (pointers and friends), mostly using the C language. I feel like most students should start by doing 1-3 months focusing on basic concepts, then move on to projects. As for the choice of language, from my experience, it is way easier to start by lower level languages and learning higher level languages than the opposite, but that will ultimately depend on the person doing the learning. I completely agree with you on the AI tools. They are a powerful tool, but are extremely dangerous for beginners. (Well, even for experienced developers if they get lazy).

[@LearnAndTransform561]

I was just about to start to learn to code! Thanks for sharing with us John! Very informative!

[@nilufaramonovna]

Thank you, John. Your videos are so motivational. Keep going✨

[@redgestabmark]

Great advice! I have been programming for about 1.5 years and for sure learning how to think like this is such an essential skill, and you did an excellent job of breaking it down in a way that even my caffeine-fueled brain could understand.

[@thebunsenburner]

Happy I found your channel again. Used to follow you when you started, then removed all my subs around 2020-2021. Glad you're still doing good!

[@admkhaled5552]

Imagine john makes some coding tutorials and coding projects 🤩the code will be grasped effortlessly !!

[@davidalejandroballen4223]

Oh Boy!!! John that was awesome. I was almost quit programming for a bad moment but the I realized I just love it. Frustration, stacking and daily learning it’s what programming is about and I just love it. Thank you for sharing your experiences

[@mevalan1085]

So good to see you uploading again John!

[@et4able]

Haven't watched one of you videos in a long while. Forgot how great your explanations are!

[@imadscientist]

I think if you make a series of tutorials for Programming. They would be so valuable with all the insight you are providing.

[@mohamedkhaireh9356]

Thank you John, this video was very informative and inspiring.

[@JhonyAndradeValarezo]

It was definitely worth watching. Thank you John!

[@FrankBott]

Your so right. Great advice. Classes did so little for me.. but projects and challenges i create for myself.. always help me try things.. never tried before. Now is amazing time to code.. AI and searching online give anyone new insights and ideas.. My first project was in the middle of the night.. in a small room across the hall from the DEC-10 .. today.. all these years later.. Python is my true love. thanks for sharing your advice.. it is spot on.. and yes.. boy do i miss those book reviews!!

[@YouuGoGlennCoco]

HOLY SHIT JOHN. For the first time in my life, I ACTUALLY feel more comfortable and understand code now. WOW. Thank you! Truly. You broke it down in an easy, digestible way. Also, I have the same hoodie! 🤙🏼

[@kyroshdgameplays8913]

hey john! i’m in love with that way of learning, but i find a lot of difficult when trying to break into smaller parts a big project: how do you manage that? what is your process into dividing and conquering the project? what questions do you ask, and actions do you take in order to break it into smaller parts? thanks!

[@farhanmax651]

This is what I wanted for so long ty 🥰❤️

[@aliasgartopiwala2185]

This guy is a gem fr.

[@ggdgo]

John, I've been watching your videos for a long time. I'm a bit older than you and have felt really lost as far as my future and career aspect of my life. I finally made the decision last year to go back to school for Computer Science and it has been a STRUGGLE, ahaha. I knew HTML/CSS/basics of JavaScript, but nothing could prepare me for Java... ughhh. I do enjoy aspects of Java but it has been so hard this semester I found myself looking to Chat GPT for help. I'm glad you mentioned how you use it because it's important we learn and then work it out for ourselves. By the end of. this semester I was questioning whether I should stick with it, but I am going to try! Thank you!

[@felipeosorio2825]

This is the first video with this kind of titles that actually makes sense to me. I've always think that to develop a reasoning or way of thinking is something primary in order to learn any new skill, meanwhile the actual skill developing happens as consecuense of it.

[@TheLemmonade]

Just stared learning how to code and conveniently this video pops up… thank you for giving me a framework to work with!

[@trinavogue]

You’re an incredible communicator ✨

[@delfinamoyanopicca]

Your videos are the absolute best I love this channel

[@joepena1768]

I just started learning how to code so this was perfect!

[@jasminericegirl]

It would be really cool to learn to code with you someday ❤️

[@jayono7ciwa]

Straight to the point John 🙌🏼

[@paulonunes8932]

great vid John!

[@vietsangho6367]

You did a great job, keep doing it bro

[@grandmastergamer271]

Yo! It's my freshman year in computers engineering n i already love ur vids!!!

[@ayandas2718]

Love the Yes Theory hoodie. Big props!

[@nikitadedyaev9737]

Thank you for your videos! They are very useful and cool!

[@winnieeelisbeth.m]

THIS VIDEO is so cool,, we missed you!!!

[@oak3785]

it's actually insane how i truly understood how to code only after getting a job, because grinding leetcode and homework is just problem solving in the end. when i got my first project at work and sat down and spent a long time trying to figure out how to get there using new ways i never knew, that's how i became a better coder. if i were to tell someone how to start i think you nailed it; work towards a project and just try to find ways to do, even if it's using AI resources to get there (and not do the project for you lol)

[@sanguinho]

LETSSS GOOO. Missed these videos

[@aibasei3254]

Thanks. I occasionally saw yr new video in my recommendations. I am glad i wathced it bcs uts really struggle learning by books. Boredom enters my life and start to procrastinating. So, it was a week i guess i didnt open my book and didnt code. Definitely project will engage me and its better to learn. But i am learning C for embedded systems and i dont have now any arduino,but its solvable.Thanks❤ ❤ ❤❤

[@PerryKephart-nq1iu]

This is very good advice. When I use Chat GPT, I dive into it. If it gives me code I don't understand, I ask it what that particular code is, what it's importing, and what it's used best for. As a LLM, be sure to verify anything it tells you that seems illogical, as it can make mistakes.

[@tasneemmidhat6741]

Thank you very useful, I admire your passion very much!!

[@md.mirazhossain7255]

Good talk. Thanks John.

[@abdoulayebah215]

Thank you John it's very interesting

[@amalhassen9102]

john u r a life changing thank you !

[@xeclipse9720]

I think this is the perfect niche for you to go down, you are more knowledgable than the most programmers out there.

[@AntonioCaruso906]

Thanks a lot John for this video, Greetings from the Netherlands (Europe)

[@benzene15]

Theory is for nerds, BUILD BUILD BUILD! Thank you for helping me to switch from Chemical Engineering to CS 5 years ago. It’s really been a huge positive change in my life!

[@babakbayat5311]

Great informations tnx for sharing john . Liking your content from iran

[@suedoe4316]

That hoodie looks comfy.

[@shoopeveds]

I from Brazil, thanks it's very important.

[@sidharthcs2110]

Ability to break down the problem is THE most important skill.

[@stevensong8784]

I feel you about project oriented programming. If you build something that you want to build then process will be more fun. I’ve been wanting to code bio page like wiki about celebs. Not sure how to go forward except making html with texts in it. I could include links but what should those be?

[@Methenavigator]

That is very valuable, thanks❤

[@lauraromancr]

Great video!! Thanks

[@jerrywang9669]

Thank you John fish

[@yisuslalala]

You're the best, man

[@owenmiller3843]

Yes please do more content!

[@imdadcodes]

Fantastic video, John! Some of the greatest lessons in learning to code come from not knowing the answer. Because through that process, though it’s frustrating, you practice a skill that becomes forever beneficial in your software engineering career: learning to find the answer. While AI can be great for beginners, if you start off with all of the answers you’ll leave with little experience in solving problems.

[@Arcticneo_]

hhahahahah great video, John! I’m generally really biased against AI when it comes to learning, but this video really put new things in perspective. Hope all is well!

[@JVan-ic6ic]

Hey can’t wait to watch this as someone who doesn’t know how to code. What would be a cool video would be what you think makes a great coder.

[@bryva]

Great video!

[@sarah_bk]

this video is gold

[@michelaguiarcardosomitcche4923]

know your channel has been a while, saw your video "a day in The Life of a harvard computer science student", i don't speak nor write english very well but your message to The people who wants to start coding is amazing, I wonder if you could do a video about the field of work for programmers, I just started College in my country Information System degree, great course, but im insecure about the market of coding and becoming a programmer

[@chrisloedition]

I was just telling my friend about this . First we should focus on a project with any topic while simultaneously doing the python tutorial( we are 3 hours in ) and lastly setting a deadline which will make us push forward! What do you think about the Google certificate for cybersecurity?

[@user-cq6ff1hl9w]

yes theory merch caught me off guard

[@tylerclardy4721]

What microphone and camera do you use to record your videos?

[@iparagonepersonalvlogs1061]

There's one more benefit to project-based learning for programmers - it'll make you understand how to communicate with your managers. If you can not explain how each tool and line of code you wrote fulfills a project requirement, you're done for! And all project managers and business executives will care about is that you are fulfilling requirements. But if you already start by laying out your own project requirements the right way before each project and follow through with them, you're not only becoming a better programmer, you're also making yourself adept at project management, a key skill needed to get promoted into a more senior-level programming position.

[@xerp7626]

I feel so much better about myself because this is literally how I started using chatGPT since the day I found out about it. It's exactly as you said, while google has its uses and power of having high accuracy of info, chatGPT is a fast, shortened, and superpowered version of it. It manages to summarise almost every question I have while I'm learning whether to code or to write an essay or to do maths. If you have a question like, "How is an array different from a list" , it's gon take 20 seconds to read and understand on chatgpt while it might take you a minute or two in google. These saved minutes really add up. chatGPT has made is so much more efficient for simple questions when learning something. Ofcourse when i doubt, do use Google or any other further resources but I really can't overstate how easy my life is now because of gpt. Insane!!

[@valenciawalker6498]

Thank you.

[@astroversace466]

you're a legend. change the world but don't sell out.

[@sidharthpandita3480]

Very helpful 🤞

[@lahorelanotte]

Hi - a lot of videos talk about the end of coding or that ai will be taking it over, so it is still worth while to get into coding?

[@AkshatChaudhary-fe3vv]

Hey John I'm your active follower from India and I would like to hear from you about problem solving and DSA. Hope you find the topic worth your time.

[@RaymondSamuray]

I have been following The Odin Project for awhile, but I got stuck in yhe more advance aubject that require ES6 for javascript. My question is, is it okay if I focus on javascript basic first with es6 from freecodecamp JS data structure and then jump back to the Odin Project?

[@DavidValle-ej8es]

So on point John. I'm an electrical engineer transitioning into software. I graduated EE same year as you graduated harvard actually. Hardware engineering was not for me, and it was very boring, slow and limiting.

[@stefanplusplus917]

3:08 bold of you to assume, that i have a web browser

[@LloydPunzalan-hd8eu]

Hello, I am a grade 12 student and soon will graduate and I choose Computer Science as my major. Questions: 1. Why do think did you choose Computer Science as your course? 2. Do you think it is worth it to pursue this course? 3. What are you plans after graduating? Please answer my questions because I am so worried about college life and my chosen course. :(

[@landonschaefer6414]

Could a project be a certain language, then another project could be another language? So like python, then JavaScript. Do u have to know a ton of code to like move on to a next language?

[@barefeg]

How were you motivated to learn code at a young age? I also learned when I was 12 but things back then were more exciting. Kids are born with all sorts of tech around them these days, so they might not see the appeal of studying something that is so readily available. What do you think? How to motivate the newer generations to get into software?

[@wisco9er536]

I think you should just introduce it to them. Even if you use tech all day you will be clueless about software. Introduce them to it and if they end up enjoying it then that's where it might start

[@treytrey5790]

Wait so should I focus more on project oriented learning or should I still take courses like cs50?

[@jeremyformerlyknownastoken8218]

Is there a way we can join the bookshelved beta? I'd love to be a tester

[@murk959]

I've been trying to code and breaking off from it since 2017, kinda continued again in 2022 and throughout all these years I've been doing hackathons to keep up with my skills But I feel it's too late now

[@tsetsenaltangerel1502]

Hey John, can you make a video on how to walk out of a break up?

[@justindixon5999]

Where you get that hoodie?

[@rosebud8222]

I love this method of learning to code and I want to start my first personal project. My problem is I can’t pick a suitable project to start. I either think its too easy, too hard, or boring. So what are your tips on choosing a project to work on?

[@hanifahrizqy3633]

Hi, just sharing I've been there in your situation as well. But at the end of the day, pick the easy one and just start it. After you start your project, you may encounter some bugs or difficulties and then you can learn more from there. And also the feeling after you complete your project you feel like want to do more projects. Goodluck:)

[@rosebud8222]

@@hanifahrizqy3633 thank you so much

[@UnKNOWN00917]

The Yes Theory hoody 🤌

[@murk959]

Do you reccomend a bootcamp?

[@adolfoalaniz1517]

shii i want to learn but i dont know anything ima try but like where do you even write like whats that black background i thought it was notepad on my pc i dont know shii

[@VICTOR_se18_82]

Love it Josh ❤ Hi from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@annaluisacruz1296]

i wish i had spent this amount of time on some skill previously in my life. now im 18 and have no idea what pursue.

[@techmentormaria]

Yay a fellow early programmer 😅

[@nicholasn.2883]

I’m so fucking ready bro. I’m going to try to clock in 5 hours a day. In 1 year I’ll have 1,500 hours of experience under my belt. It’s time fr

[@tagberli]

aww man why don't I have beta access to bookshelves yet, registered since the last vid came out :c

[@Miguel.Garcia]

I think this is a recipe for disaster for some beginners. Some beginners like to learn the why and how of the fundamentals before tackling something, and spinning their wheels. It's almost like being dropped in a forest and being told to start collecting sticks, and playing with them to find your way out when you don't know what a stick is, or how its used.

[@victorelnecave5157]

Will ai take over coading

[@lifeofsanjai]

"Seek Discomfort"

[@krispinpvp9714]

Which programming languages do you recommend to learn in 2023?

[@athirsonsilva3808]

Basically The popular ones: - Python for scripting and data-science; - JavaScript/ TypeScript for full-stack web development; - Flutter for hybrid mobile development; - Kotlin for native Android development; - Swift for native iOS development; - Java/ C# or Golang for backend API development; - Rust for low level programming; I put Python and JS/ TS separately because i think they are the best for learning how to code, but the other ones are good if you already know what kind of application you want to build.

[@xeclipse9720]

And, I finally completed JavaScript to realize most of the things I will be doing will get automated. It's draining to think I will be shifting to different language and frameworks.

[@rami8886]

W content