How Did You Learn To Code?

[SuperBlackHat]

Does one have to be inclined towards math in order to pick up programming? Im a designer by my very nature and i hate math, except when it comes to adding up and multiplying money. I never could wrap my head much around programming. Is there any hope for a guy like me?

 

[msimurin]

Does one have to be inclined towards math in order to pick up programming? Im a designer by my very nature and i hate math, except when it comes to adding up and multiplying money. I never could wrap my head much around programming. Is there any hope for a guy like me?

You really dont need math except totally basic things that you learn in 1st grades of school

Or if you plan to become professional 3d game coder, then you will need some good math

 

[Josh116]

W3 schools played an important factor. Would like to learn PHP but probably won't.

 

[Monrox]

Don't worry about math. It's not needed at all for apps that don't have mathematical purpose. It is used a bit in compression algos and encryption and that's it. The reason it is taught heavily in programming courses is in order to give an idea how computers work. But you don't need it, today's languages hide that from the developer pretty good.

A simple example, when you need to sort big lists on some criterion it can be done with a single line of code. Now sorting is a big mathematical problem but you don't have to delve into these principles at all to get what you need.

Just as designers don't have to know anything about pixel arrays and vector theorems I guess.

 

[w84it]

^^ Math teaches you to think logically and solve problems so I would say yes math is important even if you are not going to program games.

I taught myself by reading lots of ebooks/source codes. Video tutorials also help a lot if you are a visual learner.

 

[smack]

^^ Math teaches you to think logically and solve problems so I would say yes math is important even if you are not going to program games.

I taught myself by reading lots of ebooks/source codes. Video tutorials also help a lot if you are a visual learner.

it's an interesting contradiction with math and programming.

i am absolutely horrible at math in just about every single one of its forms except physics. i can kick some ass on physics equations). i've found that i have almost absolutely no need for math at all in 99% of my day to day programming. once in a blue moon i will run in to it, but it is by far the exception and not the rule.

i understand the point that it teaches a good logical process, but have just never found it all that necessary. i tend to, my default, be very detail oriented and have more than a touch of OCD. i think that really takes the place of any formal math teaching in my background.

the mathematical requirements are really one of the things that steered me away from formalized colleges.

 

[┼blackrat┼]

 

[dshad]

When you want to learn, just mess with pre-existing code. Download open source files and mess with them. You can do the same for html/css. Once you learn one language, you can easily learn more. Like stated above, if you have a programming mind it's not that hard.


~dshad

 

[Trecoolius]

I started html/css by following tutorials on pixel2life and soon after I was learning how to do joomla/wordpress/drupal templates. Now I'm a kickass html+css n1nja assassin but I've never been able to learn anything besides that. Would love to learn VB though.

EDIT: WTF, I can write kickass, but not n1nja? Silly filters, lol.

 

[Buzzika]

You can become a good programmer with little maths skills.
To be great programmer you need mathematics.

 

[Monrox]

I started html/css by following tutorials on pixel2life and soon after I was learning how to do joomla/wordpress/drupal templates. Now I'm a kickass html+css n1nja assassin but I've never been able to learn anything besides that. Would love to learn VB though.

EDIT: WTF, I can write kickass, but not n1nja? Silly filters, lol.

Since you're an html ninjа you should have no problem writing that on a forum. It's just html after all

 

[badman1]

I quit my job and printed about 1000+ pages from google and ebooks. 3 months later I was "certified" php LOL now I know php html css and flash.. its time and a motivating reason to do it!

 

[TheGarden]

Someone on Stack Overflow asked a while back the best way to learn Python. The process to go from beginner to advanced. The answer was very good and although much of it is specific to Python there's some good pointers in there: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2573135/python-progression-path-from-apprentice-to-guru

 

[hyperseo]

I started by messing around peoples sources (C++), then i figured that the language was kinda nice so i read a few books about it.

 

[Twizzler]

I believe there is multiple aspects you need for programming...

Math is one of them, you do need to know how to problem solve and what operations to use first.. think BEDMAS also in this world randomization is a must... that requires math... basic but still requires it...

Also there is language knowledge... I always sucked at english throughout school... but the fact is english has a syntax you need to follow similar to that of a programming language...

So yeah I say you need to know math... do you need to be good at it? not unless you get indepth with programming and get into some good randomazation/algorithms etc. But you do need to atleast grasp the concept.

 

[hyperseo]

I believe there is multiple aspects you need for programming...

Math is one of them, you do need to know how to problem solve and what operations to use first.. think BEDMAS also in this world randomization is a must... that requires math... basic but still requires it...

Also there is language knowledge... I always sucked at english throughout school... but the fact is english has a syntax you need to follow similar to that of a programming language...

So yeah I say you need to know math... do you need to be good at it? not unless you get indepth with programming and get into some good randomazation/algorithms etc. But you do need to atleast grasp the concept.

Indeed, you do need to know math, not just in C++ but kinda in every programming language. Math in C++ is a must actually.

 

[Monrox]

I quit my job and printed about 1000+ pages from google and ebooks. 3 months later I was "certified" php LOL now I know php html css and flash.. its time and a motivating reason to do it!

It took you 3 months to find TestKing and Cram4Exam?

 

[mataff]

Started with this book: Head First PHP & MySQL. Extremely helpful to get your mind into coding. Then begin with a few enjoyable projects/websites and take it from there.

 

[Nuz25]

I went to school

 

[SuperBlackHat]

youtube: phpacademy.

this guy has a great teaching style, and ive understood alot more than i did before i saw his channel..... even though im still light years away from becoming an even halfway decent programmer.