11. Learning How to Code – Getting Past Skill Plateaus
by Jordan Hudgens
Skill Up: A Software Developer's Guide to Life and Career
- Skill Up: A Software Developer's Guide to Life and Career
- Table of Contents
- Skill Up: A Software Developer's Guide to Life and Career
- Credits
- About the Author
- www.PacktPub.com
- Customer Feedback
- Preface
- I. Coder Skills
- 1. Discovering the Tipping Point for Developers
- 2. Are Developers Born or Made? – Debunking the Myth of Prodigies
- 3. Do You Have to Be a Genius to Be a Developer?
- 4. How to Study and Understand Complex Topics?
- 5. Effective Study Practices for Developers
- 6. Defining Deep Work and What It Means for Developers
- 7. Task Switching Costs for Developers
- 8. How to Use Willpower Limits Instead of Letting Them Use You?
- 9. Cramming Versus Consistent Study and a Study System that Works
- 10. Is Reading Important for Developers?
- 11. Learning How to Code – Getting Past Skill Plateaus
- 12. Developer Learning Curve – Why Learning How to Code Takes So Long
- 13. Slowing Down to Learn How to Code Faster
- 14. Mental Models for Learning How to Code and Improve as a Developer
- 15. A Developer's Guide for Hacking Procrastination to Achieve Success
- 16. The Problem with Procrastination for Developers
- 17. Practical Ways to Use the Pomodoro Technique as a Developer
- 18. The Power of Making Mistakes – Learning by Failing
- 19. Learn How to Code – The Guide to Memorization
- 20. A System for Learning a New Programming Language
- 21. Development Study Tips – Reverse Note-Taking
- II. Freelancer Skills
- 22. Tips for Organically Growing a Freelance Business
- 23. Freelancing Tips – Knowing When to Fire a Client
- 24. Dodging Silver Bullets for Scalable Freelance Projects
- 25. A Freelance Guide to Managing Advanced Features
- 26. Freelancer Interviews – Practical Tips for Taking Over a Legacy Application
- 27. Five Tips for Taking Over a Legacy Application
- 28. Guide to Freelancing – Starting Over Versus Refactoring
- 29. Should You Use TDD on Freelance Projects? – Comparing Quality Versus Speed
- 30. Automating Client Updates as a Freelance Developer
- 31. Freelance Requirement Elicitation – A Guide for Feature Development
- 32. How to Remotely Demo Work for Freelance Clients?
- 33. Defining Project Success as a Freelance Developer
- 34. Top Project Management Tools for Freelancers
- 35. Top Freelance Bookkeeping Options for Developers
- 36. Learning the Secret to Get New Clients as a Freelancer
- 37. Managing Client Conflicts as a Freelancer
- 38. Examples of Freelance Portfolios That Help Acquire New Clients
- 39. Importance of Test-Driven Development for Coders
- 40. SEO Best Practices and Strategies for Freelancers
- 41. Client Communication Freelancing Tips
- 42. Outsource Web Developers Properly with System-Based Processes
- 43. How to Create Accurate Freelance Bids?
- 44. Freelancer Tips – Three Ways to Get New Clients
- III. Career Skills
- 45. Should I Learn to Code? – A Balanced Perspective on Programming
- 46. Following Your Passion – Good or Bad Advice for Developers?
- 47. How to Learn to Code from Scratch? – A Practical Strategy
- 48. How to Choose a Developer Specialty?
- 49. How to Choose Your Next Programming Language?
- 50. Developer Soft Skills – Learning How to Gain an Edge in the Marketplace
- 51. Developer Learning Options – A Practical Analysis
- 52. Is it Possible to Lose Your Coding Skills?
- 53. Is Writing Bad Code Immoral for Developers?
- 54. Inspirational Programming Advice from Howard Roark
- 55. Best Practices Versus Creativity as a Developer
- 56. A Practical Guide to Approaching Project Development
- 57. How to Practice Programming Techniques and Improve as a Developer?
- 58. What Does It Take to Become a Great Developer?
- 59. How to Stay Sharp as a Developer?
- 60. Developer Resume Tips – How to Create an Effective Resume?
- 61. Developer Salary Negotiation Strategies
- 62. Best Questions to Ask During a Job Interview
- 63. Answering in an Impossible Interview
- 64. Greatest Weakness Answers for Coding Interviews
- 65. Enterprise Software Job Strategy and Guide
- Index
A common pattern I see with students learning how to code is:
- Quickly learning a massive amount of information.
- Then running into a seemingly insurmountable wall. In this phase, the student typically feels like they've reached the zenith of what they're going to be able to accomplish about development.
This second phase is called a plateau. In this chapter, we're going to walk through strategies for getting past skill plateaus.
It's important to understand that everyone follows a similar pattern when it comes to learning a new skill. This means that you will experience times where it seems like every day you're soaking in a wealth of new information. But it also means that you will run into times where it feels like your mind will limit you from learning anything new.
When it comes to hitting a learning plateau, it's important to look at the potential root causes for why it's occurring. It's been my experience that no two plateaus are the same. And until you've diagnosed why you're not learning, you won't be able to move on to your next level of skill.
Before I continue I want to reiterate something: you will never reach a point where your level of skill is maxed out. Maybe if you're a professional athlete and getting older, then your body is naturally going to decrease in performance. But when it comes to concepts such as understanding development, if you continue to dedicate yourself and if you're willing to listen to experts, your skill will never reach a peak.
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