5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Learn Programming On Your Own
The Lack of accountability is a recurrent problem when learning all by ourselves
In this story, a lone developer is anyone who adopts a non-interactive learning approach. One in which he is the only individual responsible for his progress.
It’s been proved that humans learn best when they learn in a social setting (with other people).
Despite that, millions of people embark on the lonely journey of self-taught.
This story is in opposition to that approach, and it presents five reasons why learning programming on your own is not a good idea.
Reason 1. Programming is hard.
Programming is hard in its own right. But when we attempt to be pros at it, all by ourselves, the task becomes monumentally difficult.
The learning process is augmented by the perspectives of other people and if you are learning on your own, there might be important aspects you are not covering.
Reason 2. You are not learning important social skills
When we learn alongside others, we are developing crucial social skills.
People expect professionals in all areas to be able to resolve conflicts peacefully, reconcile differences, and work towards a common goal.
Reason 3. You can’t rate your quality
As a developer, you have to be assured of your quality. You will need other developers to attest to your competence.
When learning on your own, it becomes very difficult to involve other people and have them as witnesses of your aptitudes.
Reason 4. Most likely, You’ll give up
A harsh reality is that most self-taught would-be developers don’t reach the peak of the mountain.
The majority of them just lose interest, especially because there is no accountability. In contrast, when we work in a team, the chances of quitting are much lower.
Reason 5. You’re missing on a lot of fun
Working on a project with talented and hard-working engineers is one of the most rewarding experiences you can imagine.
You get to know people from different backgrounds and cultures, learn from their experiences and become a better developer in the process even if you never met them in person.
Final Thought
When we are learning something, we need to assess the odds against our aims and work as hard as possible to minimize the likelihood of failure. Lack of accountability is a recurrent problem when learning all by ourselves. If you prefer a more independent learning style, you might still want to open your process so you can benefit from external feedback.
