Rules to Code By

If you’re relatively new to programming:

• Choose a language and stick to it.

• Choose a text editor that is easy to learn and stick to it.

• Avoid large frameworks like Rails and Django until you’ve got a decent grasp on the language you’re using.

• Write lots of code. The specific code you write is less important than that you write lots of code.

• Don’t worry about choosing the “perfect” project. It’s easy to let the perfect be the enemy of the good when it comes to project selection.

• Have your code reviewed regularly, ideally by someone who knows the language you’re working in well.

• Pair program, ideally with people who know the language you’re working in well.

• Develop a good mental model of your code.

• Become a systematic debugger.

• Write small programs from scratch.

• Give yourself progressively larger challenges. For example, write a project you think will take an hour, then an afternoon, then a day, then two days…

• Become comfortable with your tools, but don’t go overboard yak-shaving.

• Learn to use git, GitHub, a text editor and your language’s debugger.

• Avoid distractions.

Source: Hacker School User’s Manual