I wasted 4 years learning Java

8 points by kapersky11 ↗ HN
I wasted 4 years learning Java.

The problem wasn’t the programming language but the pattern I was learning it.

I downloaded almost all Java tutorials on YouTube and was consistently watching and reading articles.

However, I still didn’t fully comprehend or grasp any concept of programming.

One day, I decided that come rain or sun, I’m going to build the Windows Calculator.

That is when everything changed.

After struggling for a long time, I finally built the calculator.

Also, I noticed that my questioning changed from “What is” to “How to”.

I started asking more direct questions that relate to my challenges.

Infact, I went further to build other apps such as:

- library management system - hospital management system - Cyber billing app - etc

…and the rest is history.

Project-based learning approach is the best way to learn this backend engineering thing.

Jump out of tutorial hell.

Here’s a list of Backend projects you can start with:

https://projects.masteringbackend.com/projects

3 comments

[ 3.7 ms ] story [ 15.4 ms ] thread
Yes, having a goal is the way to go.
Decades ago, a manager told me (in an interview) that it takes 5 years before Java developers are productive. I still disagree. It might take time to become a wizard but the priority in this business is to complete projects.