Have 6 months of free time - what should I learn

You should do what this guy did :

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/may/31/siberia-cabin-lake-baikal-russia

Alright, listen up! Girls only want guys who have great skills....so here's what you need to work on!

1 - Nunchuku Skills

2 - Bow Hunting Skills

3 - Computer Hacking Skills

It doesn't hurt either to be pretty good with a bow staff. Also, no more flying solo. You need somebody watching your back at all times. And you gotta learn to discipline your image.

P.S. Computer programmers don't break 50....ever! Forget about it! Maybe try a local 5k or something....

"1- I assume Java and JavaScript are way different. Am I correct?

2 - is it either/or for python and Java? They are both backend programming involving PHP right? Is one better than the other? Or dshould I learn both?

3- what are all the 'C' ones and what is the difference? What do these do/ are used for and what is the difference between these and web development backend like Java?

4- I use WordPress.org for my sites currently. I really like it so would perhaps prefer to learn a backend programming language that caters to this. Is it python or Java or ...

5- I always thought HTML was programming. Haha this is how little I know. Thnaks for all the tips!

"

1) Yes, Java and Javascript are way different. They are not related at all. They share using semi-colons for statement delimiters and clury braces for block delimiters and have which makes them look vaguely similar, but that's about it. You use Javascript primarily in the web browser, and Java primarily on the back end. But there are ways to use Javascript on the back end (node.js, etc), and you can use Java for just about anything, but for the most part its Javascript in the browser, and Java on the backends.

2) No it's not either Python or Java, but in 6 months, then, yes, it either or. In 6 month you will learn a lot more about programming using Python. With Java you will spend a lot of time learning how to work in a Java environment, which can be quite a task in itself. Neither has anything to do with PHP. PHP is yet another programming language used for the backend of websites like Letsrun (which tells you a little about the quality of some PHP programmers. It's possible to write good PHP and there are some good PHP programmers out there, but there are lots of total hacks using PHP as well).

3) 'C' is the lingua franca of systems programming. Operating systems are written in C. Interpreters and compilers are written in C. Almost all of Linux is written in C. C++ was supposed to be an improvement of C. Except in a few cases, it's not. It's a big, complex, nasty language. Do not learn it, unless you have 10 years to become an expert. At the current time you can earn a lot of money being a C++ expert (at least I can), but by the time you learn it, that might not be true any more (of course, it might be even more true as well). C++ was the language of the 90's. Not much brand new work is done in it. But lots of existing C++ is still out there running every day. Both C and C++ produce Native code which can run on the system/os you compile your program for (and only that system). C#, like Java, requires a runtime to execute, but any system with the same runtime can execute your compiled code. C# is not at all related to C or C++. It is Microsofts answers to Java. There is an open source project (Mono) to run .Net programs (which C# produces when you compile it) that can run on Unix systems, but it's not used all that much.

4) WordPress uses PHP. WordPress strikes me as an example of good PHP, but I have not spent that much time with it. I could be wrong.

You need to decide what is the purpose of your learning. Are you after general knowledge or just a specific skill for a specific task (extending your WordPress sites). If the later, then learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP (in that order). If you are looking for general coding knowledge, then learn Python (or Ruby). If you want to be a big time coder one day. Then learn Python, Scheme, and C (in that order). Expect to spend 10 years (during which time you can work), but if you master those three you can learn any other language, tool you will ever need with relative ease. I sense that this is not your goal, though. I sense that HTML, CSS, javascript, and PHP is all you are after. These will serve you well for a while (mabye 10-20 years or more). Eventually, this knowledge will be less relevant. Like Cobol or Fortran are today. Just my opinion (as someone who has been doing this for 25 years).

How old is the OP? You say you have "already traveled" and backpacked everywhere. . . where have you backpacked? Where have you traveled to?

pike beat me to it. As another person coding for several decades, go with what he said.

SQL is a bit different. You need to understand relational databases and a few basic SQL commands. But if you work on a database backed web site you will pick this up by osmosis pretty quickly.

To anchor it all, I would strongly suggest

1. installing Linux on your PC (it can be dual boot or a virtual machine if this scares you)

2. getting an account with somewhere like WebFaction

3. Going through a basic tutorial on, e.g, Django (a Python web framework which talks to a database)

4. Making a little site

5. Deploying it live.

Then spend a bit of time playing with the front page and the front end stuff.

In a week or two (which might involve some headbanging and confusion) you will have a good sense of how the bits fit together.

Then pick one to learn first.

6 months and you want to send it coding? You fail at life. Get a forge and learn black smithing.

I had a year off some time back.

I ran 70-75 mpw and basically just hung out. No other goals outside of getting faster in races. It was fun not to have pressure.

I set four major PR's that year.

I remain surprised at all of the software related advice, out of the hundreds of things that could have been suggested.

alearnedman wrote:

Reviewing so far I am still at:

1 - Html

2 - Spanish

3 - Working out (this is only 1-2 hours a day and not included in my 8-10 hours)

why spanish? it's not a marketable skill anymore in many places because it's so common.

Programming seems great as it is super relevant and I'm demand.

Blacksmithing I hope was a joke.

And also I understand the travel thing but for many reasons I am not doing that. Very well travelled already and want to spend this time picking up a useful skill.

So far the nod goes to programming and web development but I'm open to suggestions.

I'm on day 2 right now.

This is awesome perfect advice.

I've done this several times, planned it between jobs. Met incredible people (women), had great times, saw great cultures and art.

See The World. (And get laid if you like).

WTF is with all the advice to learn a coding language? Good coding is a talent. You can't learn it. I mean, you can learn how to be completely mediocre at coding, but at that point, you may as well pay someone that's good to do the job.

It's the same reason I don't attempt plumbing, carpentry, or electrical work around my house. I suck at that stuff. Spending 6 months on that, for me, would be a waste of time, because I will ALWAYS be more efficient hiring someone else to do the work.

What you want to learn over the next 6 months is something you're interested in. Not something that will be valuable in the marketplace.

There are a ton of options. Reflecting on my group of friends:

Learn some physical skill like rock climbing, or yoga, or wrestling, or whatever.

Learn any musical instrument.

Learn some form of art (pottery, painting, photography, etc)

Learn how to brew beer.

Learn how to seduce hot chicks.

Learn a lot of little things...

How to cook a good steak.

How to patch sh!t around the house.

How to do car maintenance.

Get certified for scuba diving and/or skydiving

Become an expert in something you like...

Civil War history

wine

travel

There are so many options. Learning a programming language, unless that is going to be your next career (and it probably shouldn't be) should be at the bottom of the list, unless it fits into one of the categories I listed.

How does it not fit into those categories?

I feel it is similar to a hobby like learning an instrument/ how to patch a tire etc except much more useful as now i can edit & build websites and also potentially monetize it.

Also looks way better on a resume.

(exp. I know how to code in python & html looks better than I am well read in the civil war and know how to oil change and tune my car)

I don't find myself needing to outsource and pay people to patch tires and fix my car for me but I constantly need little updates on my website that I could probably easily do myself. Plus for career path (GIS) the more I know about coding the better it looks on a resume.

Stop the coding nonsense. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

How old are you? Height/weight? You sound reasonably athletic, being a 400 meter runner who knows what a dead lift is. What about dedicating the next 6 months to becoming an NFL kicker? Sounds crazy, but I know a man that did it (sort of). He didn't make it to the NFL, maybe someday, but he is an active arena football kicker and does well...

Dedicate a couple hours a day to strength and flexibility training, and 6-8 hours to skill-based training. 6 months isn't long, but with total focus and dedication you might succeed at open try-outs and get on a team and make more money than you ever imagined, living a fabulous lifestyle.

alearnedman wrote:

I have 6 months of free time before my job contract starts. I want to dedicate this time to training and learning a new skill.

I can dedicate myself entirely to something and am leaning towards a technical skill that is useful and can help make me $ and something that is free to lean.

I can work about 8-10 hours a day on this

Do this:

For some reason the new thread I started on my learned man adventures was deleted.

Anyway my quest began today!

Tuesday Nov 26:

Up at 9:45: Going to decrease by 5 mins each day so I'm getting up earlier. In a late night habit at the moment.

Workout: 20 minutes skipping sets. 5x bodyweight circuit. 2 vanity lifts.

Coding: Did 2 hours PHP. 1 hour HTML recap & 1 hour CSS.

Spanish: rocked out 2 hours of language study.

The only question on my mind is do I eliminate alcohol & mindless entertainment (movies, Facebook etc) to make this a real learned man experience or will that kill the joy of this?

2 hours ago I thought about reviving this thread, specifically to ask whether to focus on PHP or js... odd it gets bumped.

alearnedman wrote:

How does it not fit into those categories?

I feel it is similar to a hobby like learning an instrument/ how to patch a tire etc except much more useful as now i can edit & build websites and also potentially monetize it.

Also looks way better on a resume.

(exp. I know how to code in python & html looks better than I am well read in the civil war and know how to oil change and tune my car)

I don't find myself needing to outsource and pay people to patch tires and fix my car for me but I constantly need little updates on my website that I could probably easily do myself. Plus for career path (GIS) the more I know about coding the better it looks on a resume.

From what I can tell, I would recommend you improve your writing skills and develop your sense of humor. I find a sense of humor to be perhaps the most invaluable tool in any situation.

Forgot to add diet in yesterday:

10 - ceral, iced tea, coffee

12 - apple/pear/carrot/spinich smoothie (all blended, NOT juiced, together)

2 - ritz crackers with 1/2 can tuna

6 - tortillas with salsa

8 - buffalo burger on bread with chips and iced tea

12 - bread, candy, cheese, iced tea

Lost that battle at midnight but looking to improve every day. Have decided to attempt a 2 drink max rule as well. I probably booze a wee bit too much and this way I can cut down a lot and still have a couple sociables if the occasion calls for it.

Wednesday blog post to come soon!