Ask HN: Learning how to code?
Three ways to learn to code:<p>&quot;I want to mod Minecraft, write Quakescript, automate my Blender 3D models, make my job processing spreadsheets easier, make a check which alerts me when my internet drops out or my aquarium overheats, etc.&quot;. Task based. Desire for a solution. Google tutorials for the things you need to work with and move step by step forward. Learn as you go. Doesn&#x27;t want to be a rockstar, wants to build something, solve a problem, play with tech. Will learn something practical.<p>&quot;I want lots of money &#x2F; a new career&quot;. Search for high paying jobs in your area, find what skills they need, target tutorials on those skills. Study hard, maybe bootcamp, grind leetcode, build showcase demonstrations of your ability, as necessary. Repeat until jobs start wanting to hire you. Will learn something marketable, may learn something practical, may not enjoy it. Accountant model.<p>&quot;I heard about AI ML crypto bitcoin l33tcode red teaming cybersecurity I want to be a l33t hacker omg how do I make dark mode can I do this in a week what&#x27;s the best bootcamp I have a great idea for an iPhone app which will be like Facebook but without the ads, I watched 30 YouTube videos on coding last night but today I can&#x27;t write FizzBuzz in React am I not cut out for this??&quot;. ADHD. Not interested in code or tech, wants to be a rockstar without interest in music or wanting to learn an instrument. Probably won&#x27;t learn anything.<p>Even though 3 is a parody of a panicked desperate teenager looking for an ego and your question is a lot calmer, the fact that you aren&#x27;t using any of the zillions of existing tutorials, or any of the zillions of existing &quot;how do I learn to code?&quot; questions and answers on the internet, and haven&#x27;t specified anything that you actually want to build or want to work with or want to achieve, puts you most likely in group 3.<p>You almost can&#x27;t go wrong. If you&#x27;re plotting a rocket course to orbit the moon, it matters which direction it goes in down to quite fine tolerances. If you&#x27;re standing still and refuse to move 5 steps in any direction until you have the &#x27;best&#x27; direction and &#x27;secret weapon direction finder&#x27; that&#x27;s just ... well, what it needs is a psychologist not an expert direction finder.