Advice on how to manage learning different languages and technologies?

Question

Do you guys have any tips or advice on learning different languages and technologies at the same time?

Answer 1

Download a sample project in the language you want to learn, read some forums/blog....maybe even SO. Then start going gangbusters with code changes and learn through the pain of compilation failure and runtime errors.....

Answer 2

Yes.

Would you like to hear them?

Answer 3

just do it! it's more fun this way :)

there are a few tricks that can help you keep them apart, like reading each one on a different machine, or different rooms if possible. if not, try to keep something different, either on real life (drink coffe when reading one, coke when the other), or on setup (different backgrounds, browser, editor). anything that is always in the context but not interfering.

Answer 4

The best way I manage to learn anything relating to the programming field is to start a project that utilizes the topic I am trying to learn.

My suggestion in this case, is to try to start a project that would encompass all the technologies you are attempting to learn.

Answer 5

It is always advisable to learn one thing at a time so as to master it. Yes it is a competitive world and one has to be familiar with multiple technologies, but it would be better to master one technology and be average in the others. Think about it.

Answer 6

Yes, first, don't do it! Considering that you will just ignore the first line, start by feeling, at least, comfortable with a language before passing to another one.

Answer 7

If they are related, you can mix them in a project (think something like SQL+PHP+Javascript and XHTML+CSS and ajaxy stuff).

If they do the same thing, study first their differences (when ones are better than others).

And another hint: Don't ever try to learn something very different ! Don't mix Assembler with ActionScript (been there, done that, my brain hurted a lot ;) )

Answer 8

Yes, I use the total immersion technique.

For 30 consecutive days, I eat, sleep and work with it. You need to expose yourself to the technology in every possible way and depth.

After the 30 days, you can then choose to focus on specific tasks and use the knowledge.

The Samurai Coder, Hideo