Improving Your Skills As A Programmer (for starters)!

One of the most important things engineers should know is programming. Programming is everywhere and for engineers to solve problems or maintain things (related to their jobs such computers for computer engineers or micro controllers etc). All machines are programmed. So if you are studying engineering, there's no saying no to programming. And if you get good at it, you might have a bonus point when applying for jobs. Now, if you are facing problems with programming or you are not good at it, you should know this, its not a difficult thing, all you need to do is work on your logic which comes from your way of thinking.

Following are a few tips that may help in improving your skills as programmer!

Make It Your Hobby

Programming is so much fun, try to imagine it in this way that you can actually make your own programs and tell your computer to do things for you. Once you get good at it, you can even make your own small games. So if you want to get good at it, make it a hobby. Instead of playing video games, code. Coding/programming is the same as a puzzle solving game. You need to solve problems, you need to work on your logic, your brain is used more than in any other game. And if you have accepted something and you have made sure that this is what you want, you are sure to get it. So make it a hobby and do it in free time, not thinking of it as getting good grades, but instead a fun thing to do or a game you're playing.

Book Reading

For becoming a better programmer, you need to read more, much more than just your average class books or lectures. You will need to get a good book for the language you're studying. Always go through the books, its just like math. You will have to become a book worm. Reading other's codes give you more insight that how good programmers write code. Also, books contain more depth and they are sure to give you more insight into the topic you are studying. You can also more about the syntax by reading books more.

Think About The Problem

If you are stuck in a problem and don't seem to find a way out of it, then the best thing to do is leave your computer and take a walk. Start thinking about other things, but in between take your mind back to the problem ( its just psychological, but helps though). Think of real life examples. For example if you are making a code which swaps values.

if a=1, b=2 and the code's job is to swap those values and give a=2 and b=1. If you think of it this way that a and b are two persons with one hand each, and both have pens in their hand how will they exchange? They will need a third person c to help them. a will give his pen to c and take the pen from b then c will give his pen to b. that's how you will have to do the programming. Write the real life examples into an algorithm and then write the code. You will need to be familiar with the syntax of the language, the more terms, functions about a language you know, the more easier will it be for you to code.

Improve Your Math Skills!

I said it in my other post about passing engineering, math is the most important thing. Maths and logic is what majority of programmers lack. If you can work out your math skills, you will develop logic naturally and with the help of these two you can become a better programmer. Apply the rules of math, analyze the problem, extract whatever data/info you have and use your logic to make up code. 

Use Internet

if you're unable to find any solution, you can always search it out on the internet. You can use forums or read blogs, ask other programmers online. You can also take online tutorials at websites such as coursera, cplusplus etc. There are a lot of ways to learn, but you only learn if you are determined enough.

Constant Learner

To become a better programmer, you need to have an attitude towards learning things. Technologies and programming languages are out dated easily, the become obsolete so you have to be a constant learner if you want to become a better programmer. Things change with time and so should your knowledge. The thing which determines if you have become a better programmer is your ability to learn another system or language in a short time. This tells your expertise in that field.

Code, Code, Code

Practice makes a man perfect. Keep coding. The best way to test your knowledge is to apply it daily. Solve problems through programming, the more you solve the better you will get at it. Experimenting with your code is the best thing to do, keep messing with your code.

You can also join online communities and participate regularly, not only will this motivate you to learn, it will also give you insight into the world of real programming. Write comments in your code, that makes it easy for others to read your code and when you have to revise it, it will be easier to skim through the steps. In the end, every wants to become a better programmer, but even natural talent can't help if you are determined to learn and if you are determined enough, nothing can stop you from becoming a better programming.

I should conclude that you have spent a few days or maybe weeks in college because you wouldn't be here if you hadn't spent some time in college yet. And if I am wrong and you are not in college yet, these tips would still be helpful for you in the future.

Usually, the first semester of college/university is troublesome for most students. That is because those students have the mindset of a high school student and have not yet adapted the new environment. In college, you're on your own, your parents wont be forcing you to study, because this time its all up to you. In college, every homework assignment, quiz, midterm and final determine your result of the semester. You cant just get a 4 Grade Point Average (GPA) by scoring 100% in the final exam. In college, you have to work hard for every single thing that determines your GPA, even one single assignment or sometimes class participation also matters. See, the thing with college is to make you mature and more responsible and less careless.

Now the real reason of this blog is to give you some tips to succeed in college and having some fun altogether with would be difficult if you keep procrastinating. Follow these tips and you would do just fine, college isn't that difficult as it seems, only you make things difficult or easy for yourself.

1) Self-studying Each Day:
Self studying is the best thing for getting good grades. And its better if you do it every day. Revise the lecture given in class, on the same day. Delaying would only cause stress later on when you will have more work and less time. You don't have to memorize the lecture, but you have to go through the book specified to you and also work through the examples in the book. Books, usually have more depth than the lectures and if you happen to have missed an important point in the class, you can cover it by reading the book. Also, read the topic which will be covered in the next class. You won't be able to grasp everything by reading, some concepts are well covered in class by an instructor, but reading ahead will give you a slight idea of what you will actually study in the next class and you will understand things easily. The good thing about studying each day and not delaying the work is that you don't have to work very hard when the finals are near, instead you will always be ready for any upcoming test and preparing for finals will be easy. This will also give you time for other activities and you can have more fun on weekdays.

2) Don't Say NO To Math:
Yes, math is your friend in college. Its applied everywhere in engineering. Mathematics is all about solving problems. The best way to study mathematics is to do in-depth study of the topic you are studying. ALWAYS READ THE BOOK. Sometimes, you get a lousy instructor, what will you do then? You are on your on then. So if you miss some concepts, you can always use your book. DO MATH EVERY DAY. If you are an avid procrastinator and keep delaying the work, please, don't back out on math. If you are afraid of maths or if it is boring for you then try to develop your interest in mathematics and see it as a fun subject, because you are in engineering and engineering is full of math. Now the good thing about doing maths daily is:
1) its one of the courses in your semester so you have to learn it.
2) It helps with other subjects and you get to learn the art of problem solving.
3) There are a lot of problems in engineering which you have to solve yourself so you will need math and math can get you more skills.
So do maths everyday. Also, by doing maths everyday you will learn that maths is easy after all, it just depends on the way you think about it.

3) Visit Professors During Office Hours:
Office hours are very important for you especially because this the time when you can get all your confusions cleared. You can learn a lot from teachers during office hours. Since office hours are limited and there are other students trying to meet the same professor as you do, you should try to be efficient and quick. You can write all your questions on paper and ask them from the teacher. You will be surprised to see how the professors also want to help.

4) Set Your Priorities Straight:
College is the place where you have to become mature and there will be no one to guide you or tell you to do things, you can either spend time watching movies and hanging out with friends (the mistakes I made) or study how you should. Being an engineer doesn't mean that you should become a total nerd, you can be a nerd and still have a cool life, all you need to do is set your priorities straight. Your first priority should always be studies. Studying every day should be your first priority, and when you're done with it (includes homework), you can hang out with your friends (if they're not busy studying) or watch movies.

5) Make Study Groups:
Making study groups with friends/classmates is a good way of studying. It can makes things easier for you to understand and you can also help your friends if they're having difficulties with something, not only teaching someone else helps them, it also helps you. Your friend can help you when you are having difficulty trying to learn something, your own concepts are tested when teaching someone else and you can learn things better this way. Also, studying in a group can give you knowledge and it can be fun too. You can learn something new from a friend and making jokes and frequent fun talks in between can help in keeping the stress off you.

6) Use Internet:
Internet is more helpful if you use it for your own help other than using social procrastination networks all day long. If you have difficulty understanding something or you want to do some research then your best bet would be use internet, ask others on forums, take free courses from websites like Coursera or use YouTube.

These are some of the tips can be helpful in passing college while having fun and also by learning some things. You can even pass college without learning anything at all but what would be the point of graduating if you haven't learned anything. Then again, nothing will help you if you are not determined yourself. STOP PROCRASTINATING. Get motivated to learn. Remember, you are studying engineering because its your passion, because you want to learn those things. College is not the best time to get lazy. There is always some time in life when you can get lazy but not in college.