Thread: Build while learning programming or after finish learning?

Which would you recommend? If it's the first one, at which stage can one start? (HTML, CSS, Javascript etc?)

Thanks!

As a newer programmer I would advise you to build as you go. That way you have practical experience to back up your learning. I realize this is a learning preference, but it's the way I learn fastest.

Definitely learn as you build. If you're interested in those languages, PHP, HTML, and CSS all work together, so you'd pretty much learn them as a package.

Think about it - do you want to finish the project asap or do you want to say you know everything about programming or you can program anything while your application is still not even started on?

You jump in and start coding the application you want to build. When you get stuck you google, when you cannot find the answer anywhere go to programming forums or stackoverflow and ask.

Don't waste time and good luck.

Thank you all for the input! Will be building as I learn

@77startup
That is an awesome site you have there! Thank you!

Originally Posted by 77startup

Coding isn't just about memorizing code it's about actually typing it in and training yourself not to make a mistake.

Get an IDE, so the mistakes you worry about now are a thing of the past. No matter how long you've programmed there will always be those mistakes due to typos. What language(s) are you using? Perhaps I can suggest something.

Then you can focus on the design, which at 2 weeks in is not a concern, but wait and see.

I'm in exactly the same situation.

I have found so far that building as you go is a much better use of your time, however, on looking back at my first bits of work ... they are VERY messy, however from that have come a few good things, I have learnt my own style and formatting, and from that i plan to build the entire site, seeking advice on the way, then, have someone give it a quick look over, provide feedback, and make changes the way they suggested... this in tow will reveal other holes and from that i plan to build the entire site a 3rd time, from scratch, or if i feel my time is better else where, hire someone with more experience.

As someone with extensive exp in my old job, i know that giving my experience, i can do a MUCH better job, with no flaws in a 10th of the time someone with my relative exp in php/html/css/javascript could do. And so, by all accounts i fully expect to hire someone to do this for the final product, however the time spent on this task is not lost as i still need a fundamental knowledge of scripting.

It really depends how complex and robust it needs to be. If its a simple blog/forum, by all means that's something you can probably handle yourself without many iterations, however if its a social network, something with ALOT of users, where you cannot afford any bugs/down time, or if th transaction of money is involved, i would triple check your work and get as many others to do this same, or hire someone else. For the same for a few $, better to be safe

btw, checkout phpfreaks irc help channel, great guys int here always looking to help,
PHPFreaks Web IRC (qwebirc)

@CrysAk
Thank you for your input + chatroom suggestion