Question: How to succeed in programming?

[ekeak]

I'm just wondering how you go from basic programming knowledge to freelancing. I am from the U.S., obviously can't make as much as most people in India but I have tried, time and again, to break the barrier in HTML, Visual Basic, and C# and nowhere will it teach you how to create a bot or script. Don't think I am dissing the members of this community, because I'm not, I'm just wondering where I can learn, short of attending a university, how to make a little cash on the side. Ty.

[Nightwalker83]

Practise until you become good at what you do. Also, find books that you are comfortable with on the subject and follow their demostrations.

[BlindSniper]

The reason you won't find anything about making bots is that they are programmed with a wide variety of programming languages for an even wider range of uses.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Is a bot or script the only path to making cash with programming?

[techgnome]

Reading, learning, practicing, then applying what you've learned. Rinse. Repeat. Learn to recognize patterns. Learn how to adapt things to the problem at hand. Also, decide what kind of development you want to do. I learned early on that I suck at making games. But I seem to have a knack for solving business logic problems. So that's where I apply my skills. I doubt I could even draw a line in VB. I'm probably lucky that I even know there are two ways to draw a line, DirectX and GDI. Neither of which I know how to use.

depending on where you are, (and possibly your age... you mention not wanting to go to college, but not specifically why) you may even want to think about an internship program. I used to work for a company that worked with local high schools for paid internships Jr & Sr years...

-tg

[ekeak]

Any recommendations as far as a learning path? There are plenty of books, but I was wondering how I can go from beginner to near expert (freelancer). I know probably the first 10 chapters or so, or can read between the lines as far as that goes. thanks

[techgnome]

how I can go from beginner to near expert

That takes years... and experience... start small, then gradually work your way up to larger and more complicated as you go.

As for a learning path... hard to say... how do you learn best? some prefer the rigidity of a class room... others learn best by reading, and others still by doing... I use the read, doing, experimenting method... but that's because that's what happens to work for me. I've also been programming in one form or another for 30 years now... I've also learned how to mentally index things I come across so that I can recall it later. I don't think I'm normal... most people can't do that. I'm just wired weirdly.

Visual Studio MAgazine, MSDN Magazine, CODE Magazine are pretty decent publications for new stuff... Wrox and APress books are usually good for reference/learning books.

If you can, get yourself a subscription to Safari books online. There's a wealth of information in there.

-tg

[SJWhiteley]

As noted, if you want to be an expert, you need years, not just books.

In addition, you need formal training. While there are some spectacular programmers who have not had any formal training (although most have had some) you need to understand a lot of basics. Just because Bill Gates ditched college and became a billionaire, doesn't mean that skipping collage is a requirement. There is no substitute for education and training. For every one untrained expert programmer there are thousands trained and more successful experts.

Don't try and hurry these things; enjoy the learning process -you'll be doing it a long time. And if you get to the point where you are convinced you are an expert, you still have a long way to go.

[SambaNeko]

how I can go from beginner to near expert (freelancer).

Aside from what others have said about this, you don't need to be an expert to freelance; you have to be able to get the job done. Find work ads in your area, see what sorts of skills are needed, focus on learning those.

[ekeak]

Thanks, sorry I started this stoopid post.

[techgnome]

Who said it was? It's actually a topic that comes up from time to time around here. And the responses are largely the same each time too...

-tg

[lehgzil]

Who said it was? It's actually a topic that comes up from time to time around here. And the responses are largely the same each time too...

-tg

i think it is better if you have to combine and sticky all of the topic concerning this... so people may just find it easily... it will be much more helpful for those who may want to ask this again...