Starting late with coding

[MilesDB]

Any advice on the quickest and most efficient way of getting coding skills without going to college? Are good books enough? I just don't know where to start.

 

[Kuma]

Learn by doing, and failing.

 

[Brandon_R]

ALl it requires is a logical way of thinking and some hands on experience. Try making mods for the software and even try making your own mini scripts. I wouldn't go off making a forum system though

 

[Eric]

I wouldn't say there really is a "quick" way of getting skills. I suppose it depends on what languages, etc, you're wanting to work with; but generally I find books have worked rather well. Personally, I learned PHP/MySQL by being self-taught. I started by reading the PHP manual, then tutorials, then breaking down / building my own versions of pre-made scripts, etc.

 

[DoctorWatsOn]

Actually I am not sure why I ‘liked’ the OP, as I never wanted to get involved in coding, I just want to ‘plug & play’.

However, having upgraded to vB4 I’ve found it’s been more of a case of ‘plug & pray’, so I’ve ended-up doing small bits of coding and I *think* I may want to get into it a little more, but on the other hand…..

 

[MilesDB]

I am a total noob. PHP is as foreign to me as ancient Egyptian inscriptions.

 

[MilesDB]

generally I find books have worked rather well. Personally, I learned PHP/MySQL by being self-taught. I started by reading the PHP manual, then tutorials, then breaking down / building my own versions of pre-made scripts, etc.

I guess that's the way to go. Thanks.

 

[Eric]

I am a total noob. PHP is as foreign to me as ancient Egyptian inscriptions.

I'd recommend this book: http://www.wjgilmore.com/books/read/beginning_php_and_mysql_third_edition

I won it in a contest (don't remember how actually :\ ), it's a decent book, and the author is a pretty good guy. Aside from that, http://php.net & http://w3schools.com/php/default.asp can also be useful.

 

[DoctorWatsOn]

ALl it requires is a logical way of thinking ...

I am good at that ^^^ and even better at this vvv - lol

Learn by doing, and failing.

 

[MilesDB]

I *think* I may want to get into it a little more, but on the other hand…..

As I age I realize I need to keep my mind sharp and going. I love math, astronomy and playing chess. Coding will be a challenge, but I think it's worth in the long run for its mental load and creativity. Time for me to order good books. Any suggestions if you don't mind, guys?

Edit: Thank you, Eric. I'll check that book out.

 

[Enigma]

Learn by reading good source code. You might try the Kohana project, for example (or XenForo when it's released).

 

[Dean]

Sitting down with someone that knows what they are doing for an hour would be my first choice.

Now if only I had access to one of those people...

 

[MilesDB]

I'd recommend this book: http://www.wjgilmore.com/books/read/beginning_php_and_mysql_third_edition

There is fourth edition coming and it can be pre-ordered:
http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-PHP...280609272&sr=1-2

 

[DoctorWatsOn]

playing chess.

Chess, now there’s a game I haven’t played for a few years.

It all went wrong when a few of us got together for a weekly chess match, paying in £5 each – winner took all.

After 6 weeks the others got fed-up giving me their money – lol.

 

[Disjunto]

I've never read a book to learn any language...

Think of a small project that could be interesting; now think of a smaller one and try and make it, read official docs for the systems you're using and ask people for advice if you really can't think. It's not hard to learn to code if you're in the right mindset

 

[Kuma]

Start with something simple, for example go try to program a php script to count to 50 and output it on a page.

As much as trial and error will get you in the right direction, if you don't have a goal you're not really going anywhere.

 

[MilesDB]

Think of a small project that could be interesting; now think of a smaller one and try and make it, read official docs for the systems you're using and ask people for advice if you really can't think.

Wow. A good way of taking it on. You just made coding look like a weekend project for instructables.com.

 

[MilesDB]

if you don't have a goal you're not really going anywhere.

How about becoming a developer for XenForo? Ok, just kidding here.

 

[Disjunto]

obviously looking at other people code/reading books will help with good coding practices and closing security holes, but other than that, teaching yourself by giving yourself a small project has always been a fun and useful way to learn a language for me

 

[MilesDB]

Chess, now there’s a game I haven’t played for a few years.

It all went wrong when a few of us got together for a weekly chess match, paying in £5 each – winner took all.

After 6 weeks the others got fed-up giving me their money – lol.

One can't expect less from Doctor Watson, unless Sherlock Holmes shows up at your weekly chess tournament and applies his golden method of deduction. Then you are in trouble. Haha