Slacker to Hacker

Brian Sierakowski

BohConf XLVII2013-07-19

Practical tips for learning to code

Brian Sierakowski

On the Internet:

http://www.smartlogic.iotwitter.com/bsierakowskigithub.com/bsierakowski

Director of Client Services

DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER

What is programming?

Programming is where very smart nerds tell

computers what to do.

Programming is where very smart nerds tell

computers what to do.

Programming is where very smart nerds tell

computers what to do.

1. Ignore Nuances

1. Ignore Nuances

1. Ignore Nuances

1. Ignore NuancesA = 2B = 4C = A + B

C == 6

1. Ignore Nuances'C' (and things like 'C,') are called variables.

2. Don't get stuck on the

"right way to do it"

2. Don't get stuck on the "right way to do it"

2. Don't get stuck on the "right way to do it"

3. Learn One Thing at a Time

3. Learn One Thing at a Time

Don't start coding with VIM :).

3. Learn One Thing at a Time

4. Leverage Popular Frameworks

5. Use Well Worn Tutorials

5. Use Well Worn Tutorials

1. The Ruby on Rails Tutorial http://ruby.railstutorial.org/

2. Learn python the hard way (Or, learn * the hard way) http://learnpythonthehardway.org/

3. Rails for Zombies - http://railsforzombies.org/

6. Know when to call an expert

6. Know when to call an expert

6. Know when to call an expert

7. Build Something Real!

7. Build Something Real!

VS

"It's a social network, but for

batmobiles!"

A Real Thing A Not Real Thing

8. Invest in 'product design'

8. Invest in 'product design'

8. Invest in 'product design'

9. Use your background

9. Use Your Background

10. Some things are hard...

10. Some things are hard...

Concurrency

10. Some things are hard...

Asynchrony

10. Some things are hard...

Ruby on Rails: AJAX-y Stuff:

brian = User.find_by_first_name("Brian")brian.last_name = "Sierakowski"brian.save!

@user = new App.Model.User(firstName: 'Brian')@user.fetch()@user.set 'lastName', 'Sierakowski'

Computer Says:No prob bob!

Computer Says:What? Who are you

talking about?

10. Some things are hard.

b-b-b-bonus tip: Give it some time.

Questions?

http://www.smartlogic.io

http://www.twitter.com/smartlogichttp://www.github.com/smartlogichttp://www.facebook.com/smartlogic