How to rapidly improve at any programming language (2016) (cbui.dev)

Article summary

The article discusses how to rapidly improve at any programming language by learning from others, specifically by reading and reviewing open source project pull requests. This approach allows individuals to learn from knowledgeable people in the community and gain valuable insights into the language. The author suggests starting by reading closed PRs, then reviewing code and changes, and finally leaving comments on new PRs to contribute to the open source community. This method can help individuals improve their skills without having to contribute new code to open source projects.

Main themes

• learning from others
• open source contribution
• programming language improvement
• code review
• personal projects
• language grammar
• real-world application
• motivation and dedication

What commenters say

• Contributing to open source projects is not the only way to improve programming skills, and other methods such as building small projects or reading existing code can be just as effective.
• Some argue that practicing coding skills through platforms like LeetCode is not representative of real-world software development and may not be the best way to improve.
• Others believe that learning a programming language requires a deep understanding of its underlying concepts and principles, which cannot be achieved solely by reading PRs or practicing coding challenges.
• Reading the source code of standard libraries or well-written open source code can be a valuable learning experience, but may not be effective for all languages or individuals.
• Building projects that solve real-world problems or align with personal interests can be a motivating and effective way to learn a programming language.
• Some individuals may not have personal problems that can be solved through programming, making it difficult to find motivation to learn.
• Reading a programming language's grammar can be a useful way to learn its syntax and structure, but may not be effective for all languages.
• Learning a programming language requires a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and dedication, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improvement.