Hi all so lately since late Febuary I developed the habit of cloning GitHub repos and studying them honestly speaking it was war cause I was lost, it was as if I am in the middle of the ocean i don't even know where to start.
I thought reading other people's code is like reading story books but I was wrong then I went to YouTube and watched some videos about reading other people's code and I learnt a thing or two about it then I went back to the cloned repos I downloaded to my PC and I started reading it again at first it was overwhelming but after some time it became easier and I got to understand the code better but what I noticed about my skill set is something else
First I notice that I was exposed to a variety of idioms(methods,variables and globals variables) in the language the codes was written(PHP)
Secondly I noticed mad design patterns and method of organising codes that I have Neva seen in those YouTube tutorials I have ever watched
Thirdly I notice that my learning rate sky rocketed in the new programming language I am learning(PHP)
Fourthly I noticed that I always wanted to write cleaner codes like the once I read
And lastly I am not scared reading codes that am not familiar with all I have to do is open documentation down on my browser

Sincerely speaking I thought I knew JavaScript pretty well but the moment I opened react js source code I was blown away by the way the people who wrote the code writes codes in fact they write in another level beyond what I imagined and I was humbled because I found out that there were many things in JavaScript that I don't even know existed.
I found out that most of the tutorial projects u see on YouTube are easy projects and if you want something challenging or if you are working on a project and you hit a stumbling block and you have searched on YouTube and you haven't seen any working tutorial about it that solved that problem just visit GitHub and search for it I am very sure you will see a projectssss of other people who have implemented it or solved that same problem in their project and all you have to do is clone it and study it and then implement it in your own code chikina.

So I want use this opportunity to ask other programmers here on nairaland to write about their opinion about reading other people's code and how it affected their programming journey and skill set and also tips on how to study other people's code better I hope you all contribute to this thread and the mod should pls push this post to front page I expecting your comments gracias

YouTube projects are garbage. Reading other people's code taught me how to use context API. Funny enough the react course I was using never mentioned this.

tensazangetsu20:
YouTube projects are garbage. Reading other people's code taught me how to use context API. Funny enough the react course I was using never mentioned this.

boss good day please for someone who wants to major in frontend engineering is it advisable to also learn DSA
Karleb
Qtguru
Valzey

toby345:
boss good day please for someone who wants to major in frontend engineering is it advisable to also learn DSA
Karleb
Qtguru
Valzey

Yes o especially if you plan to work for a major tech company.

peterincredible:
Hi all so lately since late Febuary I developed the habit of cloning GitHub repos and studying them honestly speaking it was war cause I was lost, it was as if I am in the middle of the ocean i don't even know where to start.
I thought reading other people's code is like reading story books but I was wrong then I went to YouTube and watched some videos about reading other people's code and I learnt a thing or two about it then I went back to the cloned repos I downloaded to my PC and I started reading it again at first it was overwhelming but after some time it became easier and I got to understand the code better but what I noticed about my skill set is something else
First I notice that I was exposed to a variety of idioms(methods,variables and globals variables) in the language the codes was written(PHP)
Secondly I noticed mad design patterns and method of organising codes that I have Neva seen in those YouTube tutorials I have ever watched
Thirdly I notice that my learning rate sky rocketed in the new programming language I am learning(PHP)
Fourthly I noticed that I always wanted to write cleaner codes like the once I read
And lastly I am not scared reading codes that am not familiar with all I have to do is open documentation down on my browser

Sincerely speaking I thought I knew JavaScript pretty well but the moment I opened react js source code I was blown away by the way the people who wrote the code writes codes in fact they write in another level beyond what I imagined and I was humbled because I found out that there were many things in JavaScript that I don't even know existed.
I found out that most of the tutorial projects u see on YouTube are easy projects and if you want something challenging or if you are working on a project and you hit a stumbling block and you have searched on YouTube and you haven't seen any working tutorial about it that solved that problem just visit GitHub and search for it I am very sure you will see a projectssss of other people who have implemented it or solved that same problem in their project and all you have to do is clone it and study it and then implement it in your own code chikina.

So I want use this opportunity to ask other programmers here on nairaland to write about their opinion about reading other people's code and how it affected their programming journey and skill set and also tips on how to study other people's code better I hope you all contribute to this thread and the mod should pls push this post to front page I expecting your comments gracias

Yeah true, because you need to understand what you are using incase serious bugs occurs.

tensazangetsu20:


Yes o especially if you plan to work for a major tech company.

ok thanks for the clarification

Reading experienced programmers code is always like reading a novel.
One thing I liked about reading other people's codes is the test.

I just got into this habit lately it's overwhelming but cool, I posted similar stuff on LinkedIn lately. Welcome op. It's good for learning

Karleb:
Reading experienced programmers code is always like reading a novel.

One thing I liked about reading other people's codes is the test.

pls go on how do you go with the test let us learn I am interested

I will try this again sometime. To be honest, it's daunting. I used to think I know javascript very well, but when i started pulling big projects on github to read their code. I got confused, left it and never went back to it. I will start trying that agin this month, i think I've built my confidence a little more with the help of codewoars, hacker rank etc.

peterincredible:
pls go on how do you go with the test let us learn I am interested

There is a never ending debate about the importance of software testing that involves code. Some people believes it's not necessary since it's delay application release and it doesn't add features to the software.

It basically to assure that a particular part of the software works as expected.

You can Google unit/feature testing for more info.

Karleb:


There is a never ending debate about the importance of software testing that involves code. Some people believes it's not necessary since it's delay application release and it doesn't add features to the software.

It basically to assure that a particular part of the software works as expected.

You can Google unit/feature testing for more info.

Yeah it really important, but a full-stack dev shouldn't do it, that one go become StackOverflow. It's a niche on it's own

africonn:


Yeah it really important, but a full-stack dev shouldn't do it, that one go become StackOverflow. It's a niche on it's own

Depends on the company some require it from you.

tensazangetsu20:
YouTube projects are garbage. Reading other people's code taught me how to use context API. Funny enough the react course I was using never mentioned this.

I learnt context API on YouTube. The key to courses on YouTube is checking the date and looking at title attached to the timestamps. Not all YouTube projects are garbage.

qtguru:


Depends on the company some require it from you.

I wouldn't work in such. It won't end well. A company that would require such is not a company, but a one man biz or startup dream

africonn:

I wouldn't work in such. It won't end well. A company that would require such is not a company, but a one man biz or startup dream

It was an American company, I kinda get it because there was a Developer Event that happened and they mentioned about how we should adopt the testing mentality. Also not like I had a choice as a Contractor. But testing delays I agree but it helps too, it depend son the company

I am stunned

4dor:


I learnt context API on YouTube. The key to courses on YouTube is checking the date and looking at title attached to the timestamps. Not all YouTube projects are garbage.

Will you suggest using Udemy, is it a good App to start my journey or is there other free alternative.

Noise makers. Close Nairaland and open your IDEs

Chuukwudi:
Noise makers. Close Nairaland and open your IDEs

yes oga Chukwudi i close nairaland but my ide no dey gree open abeg come help me fix am

TJoshy:
Will you suggest using Udemy, is it a good App to start my journey or is there other free alternative.

Udemy is good but it's not free. Freecodecamp is good because it has a structured syllabus type plan. There's even a section that prepares you for job interviews.

peterincredible:

yes oga Chukwudi i close nairaland but my ide no dey gree open abeg come help me fix am

For how much?

4dor:


Udemy is good but it's not free. Freecodecamp is good because it has a structured syllabus type plan. There's even a section that prepares you for job interviews.

Thanks so much for the insight

Chuukwudi:


For how much?

funny guy u too like moni Baba na for freeeoooo

peterincredible:
funny guy u too like moni Baba na for freeeoooo

(In the voice of Brain jotter comedian) Abeg get out abeg.