When you set out to learn a new topic, you want answers to these questions: What topics should I learn first? What learning tactics should I use, and how do I apply them? How do I retain everything I’ve learned? Enter Principles of Learning. It’s a free learning guide that…

Most people want to get better at problem-solving, but aren’t sure how to go about it. So they default to what I call the “problem-solving treadmill.” The problem-solving treadmill is all about quantity: solve as many problems as quickly as possible. Solve one problem, move along to the next. …

Programmers often mistake a working program for an effective one. Their code could be a nightmare to read and debug. It could take forever to run. It could be filled with poorly named variables. No matter. …

The hosts of the Crafting Code podcast raise an interesting question on an episode about deleting code: is code an asset or a liability? It’s a good question to consider, since most of us think we make something better — from a recipe to a piece of art — by…

I was like a fish out of water without my laptop by my side. I needed a new computer battery, so I left my MacBook at the Apple store. I was hoping that they’d simply swap out the old battery with a new one on the spot. That was wishful…

You’ve probably heard of deliberate practice: an intentional and informed type of practice that’s used to enhance performance.[1] It means entering your practice with purpose, rather than mindlessly going through the motions. …

Programming is a fantastic skill to develop. But, as a self-taught programmer, I’ve found the learning process unnecessarily ambiguous and complex. …

Something about Julia Child caught my attention. This American author, teacher, and television personality is famous for bringing French cooking to America. Indeed, mastering the French cuisine and having such a remarkable cooking career is impressive. But what’s equally impressive is that Child found her “life’s calling” — French cooking…

There’s so much new and dense technical information coming at you when you begin learning to program. How do you learn and retain it all? That’s a question I’ve asked myself many times on my own programming journey. In an attempt to find an answer, I’ve experimented with many learning…