Complete Noob

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The struggle is real! Its been over 25 years since I really felt the grips of learning a new language. Frustrations of my current situation are being handled far less gracefully than I remember. Stuck for 2 weeks on the same problems is killing my focus and drive with little reprieve in sight. 

At the beginning I was learning at a good pace and expected to continue, or even accelerate. This has not been the case for a variety of reasons. 

If it was easy everyone would do it. I knew this going in but forgot along the way only to pull myself out of a learning pit recently and looking back at what my expectations were, are and should be. How long it will take and how long I think it should take did not line up. How would I know how long it would take to learn something like this, it has been 25 years since doing anything remotely similar. I also was trying to breeze through lessons that I thought were going to be rarely used. Again, how would I know that? They reared their barely considered heads in full force and put me into a whirlwind of confusion, that I couldn't even explain in the most basic of terms why I wasn't understanding the material. 

Self training comes with these hazards and stumbling blocks that test the willpower of the learner. Regrouping and coming up with solutions is the only way out of the tail spin created by internal preconceptions that pan out to be wrong. Doing a section over again will need to be done for a few of the concepts to get them ingrained. 

We all create some sort of self image that we are so focused on achieving that we may forget to actually do what is needed to get there. I have replotted my learning efforts so that they lie more inline with reality of learning a language, allowing for many more drills when needed and not moving on until I get that A+ or 100% understanding of the concepts that are essential. So off to the grindstone to put my nose to it and work through these modules that I took for granted.  

Beginners Practice

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Beginners projects list and links

What's left until level 10?

Level 10 in most RPG’s is generally where you gain access to a new set of skills and challenges. It is generally obtained by completing the intro quests for your character class, in my case web developer.

Level 1 - 9 web developer quests would then include

  • The basics of programming
  • Intro work in 1 or more languages
    • definitions and basic concepts
      • Syntax
      • Inputs
      • Variable types
      • Methods
      • Loops
      • Arrays
  • Beat the Level 10 boss
    • Appacademy.io or similar coding bootcamp entrance test
      • To beat the boss = acceptance into the program.

What are these “levels” I’m gaining anyway? Making an RPG out of my programming skills and using it as a motivating game to get better is the goal and leveling up is a great motivator for many. This leveling up will hopefully be helpful those looking to increase their skills or acquire a new one in a game like environment. You can even practice your skills by making the game yourself, setting the requirements for the level and what inputs increase your experience bar.

Suggestions for criteria of levels

  • Time spent on a given task 
  • Number of tasks completed in a given difficulty
    • x. Intro to Ruby exercises on codecademy. Using their progress system as your experience bar for a particular level or multiple levels.
  • hallenges or tests at the end of each level demonstrating proficiency of which completes level.

et out there and learn something new, like a new programming language!

p next

  • Level 10 unlocked

Fine or course grind, sir?

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How to learn faster and tackle the hard stuff; now that is the question. I started not deciding on what to focus on first, basic web, app, or gaming project. This had led me to more indecision when it came down to picking a language out of the many available and sniffing out a good starting zone. Going back to the basics I took on html 5 and css. Many corollaries are being made between these in the starter zone and my current view of a path to success. Now that I had picked a course path, it was up to me to get into the fine grinding and work through the languages until they stuck. The grind

Use your own editor. Syntax is catching on more and more without as much reference. Looking back I never had such a hard time with commas and semi colons, ask my english teachers, well that could not be any further from the truth here in coding land. I swear, missing a semi colon makes me feel so silly when I spent 10 minutes to find it per problem. That time has dropped significantly but can be a real headache at 1 am after starring at the editor all day. Now using your own editor is so much better and can show your errors more easily and auto fill spots that keep you honest with the syntax.

Picking a variety of skills to focus on is not recommended as you may get confused and start mixing up the terms and operators with each other. A good thing about the languages that I looked into, only take a few days to get the basics down and then you can move on to more advanced skills. This keeps the leveling at the early stage fluid and quick keeping the interest amounts elevated. 

So html and css intro work done as well as some javascript, just to see what it was all about, and on to Ruby on rails. Just started the Ruby module today and made it through the first 30% of the codecademy quest chain. This is a fun one as it showcases the ability to do some fun things while sorting through data. This will be my primary area off focus for the next few days as to get my skills up rapidly so I can start building my new coder portfolio and smattering of test apps.

Another great help, besides caffeine, is finding that great music stream for the background of this quest. I generally listen to trance or upbeat hip hop for all task based work to be done. Im finding it great to block out coffee shop chatter and background noise while not getting in the way of my internal dialogue with lyrics that I catch myself singing along with. I will be adding a soundcloud playlist for any interested. Some real gems that never show up on pandora or last.fm that I have come across will be on there that really gave me that extra bit of energy to code another hour.

The grind continues, using new found skills I will do some work on this site as a test project. Along with that I will be posting a weekly wrap up with links to basic projects to get anyone else started. These will go beyond the coding sites and more into the interesting projects like tic tac toe and a tetris like game made in ruby. 

Up next 

  • Beginners projects list and links
  • Whats left until level 10
  • What are these “levels” I’m gaining anyway?

Fate Intervened

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If I hadn't been guided so far on this rocky and crazy adventure, I certainly believe to be now. Just after writing the last entry on Dec 30, well 2 days to be specific, about not being able to put on that face anymore and the dread of going into that place for even another day, fate pulled some strings; I couldn't just leave as I had made a verbal commitment of a year minimum to the owner to get my foot in the door. The intervention was to release me from my “indentured servitude” that I agreed to a few months back after hitting my first coding road block. Like the winds were in my favor and the sun was shining, birds chirping and all that, I could feel the weight of the last few months melt away leaving me with an intense feeling of satisfaction and energy. It was however not expected, of the people in line to be released I was not one of them in fact quite the opposite, but during the last few shifts and during the nights that followed the owner was having terrible thoughts of what would happen if I continued to be there. He never told me what he imagined or saw but it resulted in the exact thing that I needed. Freedom!

Off to the races for me. Same budget, same location, same goals, just 4 months later. I have even less time to get the necessary skills acquired to be one of the first to the party and shape the landscape of my dreams, The Game. Level 3 complete! Now basic html and css knowledge isn't much to squawk about, but neither is a baby who figures out how to stand up for a noticeable amount of time in the scheme of things. It was harder than I remembered it being and starting from the middle didn’t help. There was too much jumping around from source to source to find an answer to a common syntax question that would have been covered in the beginners area. 

So here I am, the standing, if a bit wobbly, coding infant who is getting closer to his first steps and beyond. Back to the basics for foundational strength. In the entire time that I have been in CA, over 4 months, I did less with coding and learning skills than I have the past few days. It’s been like the early diablo 2 grinds and even remarkably similar to the Diablo 3 grind that I took on while in vegas, a month and a half grind to beat game with all characters and fully gear out my Main while on vacation. Beating Diablo 3 v.1.0 would prove to be a reminder of how hard not knowing exactly what patches would occur, nerving items or builds, or the lag spikes with a hardcore character, causing imminent death, thereby losing everything. Helpful words of encouragement from the higher ups keep me motivated and on track. 

It is going to be a long road ahead, but who really goes the speed limit?

Next up 1.11.15

  • How to's of grinding those levels!
  • Allies and enemies.
  • Code samples of current skills.
  • Mini game for level 1 coders.

The Basics

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An epic journey generally begins with departure from popular normality down some crazy path where few have ventured and even less have been successful, but if successful, becomes one of the great stories that motivates or inspires future travelers. A game that has goals and objectives organized into mini quests and longer epic quests, allies and enemies, tools and skills that unlock alternate paths and hidden gems to make the journey worth taking. It also starts with... 

Level 1

  • Base character level
  • Quick level gains and skill acquisition
  • Beginners default settings
  • Lower tier, non modified items

Starting at Level 1, there are many things to acclimate to and setting yourself up for success is a very common step overlooked with fully immersive games like this.

  1. Picking a starting skill tree to begin with and stick to for the early quests.
  2. Learning the environment and controls.
  3. Jump in to the quests and knock some of the basics out.

Web Development is my starting skill tree. This includes HTML 5, CSS, and JavaScript. 

On to the environment and controls. I will be using a 15" Macbook Pro and default OSX.

Early quest line

Another grueling day; the prospect of looking another customer in the face was about the last thing that could be wished on your enemy. Time to get started. Surveying the landscape of web development platforms looked daunting. You soon arrive upon a complete platform, designed for the most part to be drag and drop design with hosting and some explanations as to what you are actually doing in code form. Begin Level 1

Squarespace, a basic skill requirement level web development platform, allowed me to make this site and fueled me to want to create more. With the completion of a fully functional website with the aid, and restrictions of the platform a polished basic site had been achieved. Level 1 complete. 

An unexpected invite takes you by surprise and launches you into action on what would become your new life. 

Welcome aboard!

Hey there,

Thanks for signing up for Codecademy! We're excited to help you learn to code. Here's what to do next:

Do your first exercise - it only takes a minute!

Get Started

Yours in learning,

Zach Sims, CEO 

Codecademy is the first quest chain listed for the Web Developer tree unlocked at level 2. It contained the basics of HTML 5, CSS, and JavaScript.

During some of research into web developer skill and training programs, you signed up to a bunch of websites, Codecademy being one of them, waiting for one to grab you; with a click of the mouse I entered into my new starting zone, familiar in many ways but guided by many different rules and skills that needed to be mastered. Looking through your quest log you see the first few quests have been unlocked and the familiar feeling of grinding out Diablo quests is rekindled. You load up a few sets of Above and Beyond Group therapy, drink a bit more coffee and get to it.

Selecting the first quest chain listed, HTML & CSS would take 7 hours more or less to knock out propelling me to level 3. LEVELS!!! The next day would be spent conquering level 2. My fingers would get faster with the keystrokes and the basic terms would be absorbed as I traveled through my virtual starting zone. 

 

Hardcore Programming Dojo

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For much of my life I have been around programmers. My interests seem to have kept me close to the tech side of life and was just waiting for a worthy project to get fired up for.

The skills needed to make "The Game" will be acquired over the next years and this will serve as a progress review for my skill development. Online classes and wiki's will be my beginning source material and later a coding school for rapid skill development may be employed. A guide of sorts will be made out of the mashup of sources and skill recommendations from top programmers in the workforce as they guide me to rapid super programmer levels, hopefully.

Next up is the start of the journey. A detailed description of the system configurations, editor and starting languages that will be geared to get the most out of yourself and your machine.