Hi there. I have a serious problem. I just can't figure out this programming thing . I watched all lynda videos on this topic and read a book, ... I just can't start to think like a programmer. for instance: I know syntax and all in php, understand any code I look at... know how to write if/for/while/... sentences, know what sessions and cookies are and what they are for but I don't know how to put this knowledge all together and write decent script for the web. for instance I want to write user registration and login for my website and I stuck at basic things and then end up copy/pasting everything from somewhere else. I don't visit computer science related school where they teach you this kind of stuff. anyways if you can help me and guide me in the right direction I will appreciate it much. I don't know I don't consider myself stupid I just can't get it going
Why dont you buy a book? A lot of people say books are bad. But I learrnt all my PHP from a Book called. PHP and MySQL Web Development, It helped me know what I have done. This is the first ever site I have coded: www.invision-gaming.co.uk and I did that from a few months experience after reading the book.
If you do not have a logical mind then programming is going to be tougher. I got my start by being asked to write step by step directions so that any employee could accomplish a given task perfectly every time, simply by following the directions in the manual. The first time I tried it out on someone, they were working and literally froze at their computer screen. They had no idea what to do because they reached a step in the manual which required them to do something which did not logically follow what they had been doing. When I saw that and recalled how computer programs could freeze the machine, I knew I had the stuff to become a coder! I quickly fixed the bug and the person was able to move forward through the remainder of the script. People, unlike machines, do not need rebooting after the code freezes them!! This is a true story. After that I went on to learn how to program. After much trial and error I realized that I am a C kind of guy and bought Borland's Turbo C++ so that I could tackle a major project. But, first I went through the book, wrote all the code samples, tweaked them, and came up with little, simple projects. To this day I test every new thing I do in a mini-program which simple calls the function I created or an trying to create. Those programs are never more than a few lines and they help me learn and extend my skills . . . such as they are. I find it is most helpful to stick to things that interest you and to learn how to break projects into parts. The only way you are going to learn is to get books that speak the way you think and write mini programs before heading off to do bigger projects.
I think I'm quite logical minded actually Thing is that I don't have the patience to do small stuff because I have so many ideas in my head that could bring me serious money but I don't know how to make them reality :S I would rent a coder but I don't have the resources at the moment so I must do it myself. Im looking to speed his learning process
I would recommend getting a framework like cakePHP and use that as the basis for your projects - that way you are focussed on the unique business proposition and not on low level stuff. Don't discount the cut and paste jobs - they are teaching you best practice - and worst practice. Security is your biggest issue and the hardest to stay on top of. If you use a framework you have a security team working for you. However good or bad they are, they have to be better than you on your own.
I was looking into frameworks too. I already ordered The Definitive Guide to Symfony a month ago and I will have to wait another month for the book to be published. I hope that they will give me a break in school so that I can concentrate on this and write something nice for me.
The simplest way to understand if you have the logical thinking required to be a good programmer is by answering a very simple question! DO YOU FIND IT EASY TO WRITE PAPERS ( by papers I mead literature analysis and shit like that) All the good programmers that I know suck in this .. so if you are good in literature then you will suck in programming .. simple as that .. anyone disagrees? Cheers, Venetsian P.S. I suck in literature .. almost failed that f*n classes
So funny. I remember being broken hearted when I had to review a couple of paragraphs for an english test - I said they were a spoof. Turned out they were meant to be "romance". I flunked.
I agree with Sarah...use a good framework or application to bridge the gap between reading a book and actually seeing how the code is used in the real world. Bobby
It sounds like you are getting a little frustrated when it comes to writing a larger program that involves several functions. I sounds like you are there with the knowledge of syntax, now you might just have to connect the dots with "compartmentalization". A login/membership function/system is not overwhelming and typical of the level of complication that I do... being an amatuer at best. I often use someone elses code for examples, and do cut an paste as well. More times than not, it's understanding the logic of an example and implementing the example to my needs. Sounds like you've done programming in the past, so this shouldn't be so bad. What I find to be helpful at times is to write an ordered list of things that I want to do with the data, then implement the list in my code. Having an idea of what you want the data for, what data you want to collect, and how you are going to reuse (data design considerations) will help with the process... Hope this helps, Starke
try to get some/any of the Computer Sience Olympic tests .. they are kind'a cool .. I used to be in the state team ... but no longer .. (I got lazy ha ha ha ) Ok .. simple task ... Requirement: The NY Fire Department has regulation that the fire detectors should not be placed near lightning fixtures but also in the center of the emty space. The task is to calculate the "perfect positions" for this FD Detectors to be placed when you have input of the size of the room W+H and the location, the ligthning fixtures and the quantity of FD Devices. The imput is a text file with: 4x 10y 3 lf 4 devices -- 3 2 2.5 4 3 6 You must make program that takes that imput and calculates/outputs the coordinates for the FD Devices .. ---- In order to make it you have to check some stuff .. make a research I guess .. and type the code .. for the CS Olympics you have 3 hrs to make it all happen See if you can be a programmer.. Cheers, Venetsian P.S. by programmer I don't mean just a web dev. .. a real programmer can write all sorts programs ..
I just started PHP and am learning fast. my recommendation for a n00b like me and you? make php.net your homepage and live there. I decided not to start off of a framework, as I wanted 100% unique that was all done by me (kind of a pride thing) The fastest way to learn is to start on a script and don't give up on it, you will learn a lot by forcing yourself to learn what you need. But don't be afraid to ask questions here.
Hm, actually you chose pretty hard with Symfony... it tends to be much more difficult compared to CakePHP. Regarding your problem, I think you gotta find your own language or framework - try something you like on first sight - theres tons of stuff - PHP, Python, Ruby, Perl...