any tips?

[vbwon]

well I'm going to school to be a computer programmer. I already know that I want to specialize in vb, probably vb.net. I love vb its fun to use and the less complicated programming language other there imo, I might be wrong though. Anyways, I know I should be doing programming outside of my school aside from when I do my school projects. I would just like to know how many hours should I be programming in my spare time to really learn the language thoroughly. Also, second question how do you think I should learn the language? (books from school that i get, source code)

[mendhak]

There's no set formula for this. It's like that old joke,

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Practice.

So you need dedication and practice. This could mean 0 hours of extra work or even every waking hour of extra work but it depends on your capacity to learn.

So I suppose the question to ask yourself is "How much am I willing to practice?"

[Hack]

how many hours should I be programming in my spare time to really learn the language thoroughly.

How many hours are you awake and not doing school related activities?

All kidding aside (although it really wasn't that much kidding), you aren't going to learn anything throughly in a finite amount of time. There are a number of members on this site that have been writing programming code in Visual Basic, all versions up to .NET, for years and years and years and still learn how to do new stuff with it everyday.

How many hours should you be programming in your spare time? Only you can answer that question. How driven are you to be a programmer?

[vbwon]

ok thanks for your replies, how much I want to work on it in my spare time is up to me. Ok for my second question, I try to find information on the internet but I usually just find the basic information that I looked over many times. Is there any method that is better or worse to use? How did you program, what did you use to help you?

[RobDog888]

Threre is no general rule or rules per se but rather learning from experience of actually doing it. Experience in a professional environment is the best learning tool you can have/get. Searching sites like this one is also another great way to get exposure to various topics and issues that you may otherwise never come across.

Also, ther is no single language to learn. The more languages you know the better. You would use hte best language or tool for each indivudual project.

[RhinoBull]

Practice.

That's what I always say - do it as much as you possibly can, even when you don't have time (as crazy as it may sound it is part of what many of us do every day).
Always try to find different solution (regardless of its being best or worst) and that takes lots of practice.

[dee-u]

That's what I always say - do it as much as you possibly can, even when you don't have time (as crazy as it may sound it is part of what many of us do every day).
Always try to find different solution (regardless of its being best or worst) and that takes lots of practice.

I am beginning to believe that you are recommending to practice programming even while one is asleep.

[RobDog888]

Read books. Always carry one with you where ever you go so you can squeeze in some studying time anywhere you can. Keep some in your car or ??? and you will be amazed at how much time you can gain for reading.

[RhinoBull]

I am beginning to believe that you are recommending to practice programming even while one is asleep.

Precisely right! Best idea comes when you are asleep or while in the shower.
If it hasn't happened to you yet it will, I promiss.

[techgnome]

I am beginning to believe that you are recommending to practice programming even while one is asleep.

1) You mean you don't?

2) Oddly enough, that's when some of my best ideas come at me... keep a pen & paper by the bed for those 3am flashes of brilliance.... of course ... trying to read the hen scratch the next day is a real treat. :P

-tg

[dee-u]

Precisely right! Best idea comes when you are asleep or while in the shower.
If it hasn't happened to you yet it will, I promiss.

I have to admit that I have experienced that also, but it is more during times when a programming problem was too difficult to think out when I am awake specially when I was just studying and there is no resources to get my hand into, now that I know VBForums I can already sleep well.

And as a 'former' chess player I have also experienced dreaming solutions to some puzzles which I cannot solve while I am awake.

[RobDog888]

Solutions can come at anytime. I get most of mine while driving home from work. Then I jump on my system and test it out when I walk in the door. lol I think being at work hinders me

[dee-u]

Hey Rob, you must focus on your driving while on the drive, we don't want you having an accident. =)

[RobDog888]

All I see is code on my windsheild


Oh didnt anyone mention posting of this site as a great means to learn when your stuck on a problem?

[Shaggy Hiker]

There is something called the 10,000 hour rule, which states that it takes about 10,000 hours of doing something to become an expert at it. Of course, actual results will vary, but there's something to this. At some point, you begin to see the right path to take, and can feel when the current approach is the wrong one, even when you can't find a better one.

As for all the talk about doing the best coding in the shower, while driving, or in bed (for those of you who don't sleep), that's been around for a considerable time. Sitting at a computer is not particularly creative. Sometimes, to get a real breakthrough idea, we have to step away from whatever we are doing, and go do something else. Still thinking, but not directly about the problem.

[techgnome]

during my recent interviews, one of the interviewers asked me "when doing s design, how do you know when you've got the right design." Thought about it for a second and replied "I just know" then followed it up with "Upon delivery of the final system." (there was a further conversation, but I stuck to my guns about being non-commital about it) It kind of fits with what Shaggy is saying, it's one of those things you jsut get from experience, and it takes time to get there. I've had to reset mine back about 1,000 to 9,000.... as I learn a new system and new standards. It's frustrating, but comming along. I think I've gained back about 500 of that lost 1000 ....

-tg