Ask HN: What's the one thing you've always wanted to learn? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What's the one thing you've always wanted to learn?

8 pointsalexgpark20 comments

Also, why haven't you learned it yet?

I've always wanted to understand Wiles proof for Fermat's Last Theorem. I have started on it but I have no good idea on how to approach the subject. Experts say that it takes decades of studying for a layman to understand it.

Web security because I'm a web developer who definitely builds unsecure applications. Unfortunately (and incorrectly, IMO) the full stack dev market doesn't really value security too much as it pertains to marketable job skills. For instance, I spend my time improving my Javascript skillset which has a greater impact on my bottom line at the moment.

If you can identify you're writing insecure code or building insecure apps you are just being lazy to do it proper way. Web security IMO isn't about learning a new thing, these are concepts that are part of the development flow.

Good resources to start with:

OWASP Top Ten Project https://goo.gl/yv6D4t

OWASP REST Security Cheat Sheet https://goo.gl/93VPKD

Thanks for the resources. Not sure if calling me lazy is fair, I don't know what I don't know, but I'm almost certain my code isn't 100% bulletproof. Not because I see something blatantly broken and just decide not to fix it.

Threads. I can't find any example that shows you how to do more than printf in a thread.

Textbooks can be good for this kind of thing. We read Operating System Concepts by Abraham Silberschatz in an OS class I took and it has a whole chapter on threads.The entire book is actually really good, each chapter reads like an essay discussing the topic in a natural way.

I want to learn an instrument. I'm afraid it's too late. I also want to learn all the latest deep learning stuff. I'm learning, but the progress is slow.

How to dance well. Would love to take a hip hop dance class or something. I think my fear of embarrassment keeps me from doing it.

On the subject of learning to dance, Tim Ferriss offers some excellent advice > http://blog.timferriss.com/1/post/2009/05/dance.html

#1 & #2 are excellent (and reasonably common) advice for any form of partner dancing, #3 is Argentine Tango-specific, but probably generalizable to equivalent foundational frame and technique in other partner dances (mutatis mutandis, e.g., gender-swapped if you happen to be female.)

But if you get to that level at all, you probably have the kind of innate talent or predisposition (which is not the same thing as body type) that Fenriss dismisses; lots of people do all those things and don't, even with a lot more time, reach that kind of level.

And, while they're valid and common pieces of advice, I think it leaves out some important things for most people. More important than having a male and female teacher, IMO, is having the right teacher for you -- both skill and personality fit matter and good teachers will know both roles (there is still value to having teachers which specialize in each role, but I would say this is less important.)

(Shotokan) Karate. Practiced it for some years but stopped at some point because I was not able to match my ambitions.

Want to learn Virtual Reality. Not get time But I really want to do. Please if someone has good resource please post

Plaster walls like a pro. I tried to learn it but I haven't got the knack.

Ethical Hacking. Lack of time

Clay target shooting - not a lot of facilities on the south side of chicago

Hey, same here. I'm in Seattle though. I have no idea were to start... Sure, I can go to a gun shop and get a shotgun, but then what?

French. I have no patience for such an endeavour.

I have always wanted to learn how to sketch.

Public speaking.

Archery. Lack of time/motivation.

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