Four tips for learning how to program

37signals.com

59 pointsilldave5 comments

On the usefulness of mailing lists: when I'm stuck on something, transforming the problem so someone else could understand it usually leads me to a solution. So many times I've written up an email asking for help, and then scrapped it because of a new insight while writing.

This is why they say teaching is a great method for cementing your memory. It forces you to master whatever you're explaining so that you can explain to someone else in a way they can understand it.

AKA Rubber Duck Debugging: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging

I often explain things to my computer illiterate wife. Once I break it down enough where she understands it I usually am able to see where I went off the rails.

Similarly, if you truly want to understand a subject, teach it to someone else.

One from me:

Stop reading HN and 37signals blogs and write some code. Doing is learning.

To be fair: That is actually #1 in the list.

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