Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Jimmy J
Jimmy J
2,168 Points

How do you start ? Which lesson to take ?

So I just joined treehouse a week ago and tried the 7-days free trial, now time is up and it's time to decide whether or not to start the journey here.

Let's say I'm a total beginner with 0 experience, well not really 0 but my experience doesn't count at all. So, here is my experience during these 7 days.

I sat down, watched, listened and learned what's presented, and I answered all the tests at the end of each lesson quite well. Finished the course. Rinse and repeat until maybe 4 or five days. I took a break on saturday and sunday, and the free trial is up now.

Where I am at now is, I forgot all those that I just learned ! I can't even remember how to do hello world. I don't remember anything like at all how to start. Not until I open and refresh my memory for a bit. Also the more I go to the next next lesson, it keeps bombarding me with something new and more new things on top of it.

When can I expect to absorb all that and really GOT IT! for even the simplest thing so I can later practice it on my own ?

English is not my native, so I don't know if I explain my situation well and can be understood, my point is it's just hard to memorize everything.

4 Answers

https://teamtreehouse.com/tracks choose your language and follow the track to success.

Emin Grbo
Emin Grbo
13,092 Points

If you finished html/css courses you should be able to build a simple site. But it is ok if you don't memorize everything. The important thing is that you understand how everything works. But you need some time to let everything sink in and you need lots of PRACTICE :))

so, i would suggest you make your own website or website for a friend. Lets say you know someone who owns a small shop or does design...haircuts...anything basically. for me it is easier to do a webiste for someone else than for myself. And if course, you can use the lessons as a reference or some sites they mentioned W3c, MDN....

The trick with that is that you will slowly build up your knowledge and get that "muscle memory" for coding. Never memorize everything :)

It's like if you are learning english and someone tells you a new word. You will never remember it if you don't use is often or at least try to say it couple of times :) It is very similar.

Hope this helps ! Everyone has different learning style, i hope this one is something that could work for you.

Jimmy J
Jimmy J
2,168 Points

Yes that's exactly what I meant, the 'muscle memory' for coding, I sit down, open text editor and I'm blank. It's like I didn't catch anything during these seven days, unless I get back here and refresh for a bit.

I did follow the tracks though.

I'm familiar with other language like autoit, but even though I know a little how to code with it, everytime I create a new project, I still use my old projects to refresh how things work.

Aren't we suppose to be able to work in any environment and type codes fluently based on what's inside our head?

One of the teacher said it though, we learn to code and build it by mistakes, the more mistakes we corrected, the more stuffs we learn. Coding actually needs more time investment and commitment than I thought.

Thanks for the advice, I'll think it over and decide later on.

Emin Grbo
Emin Grbo
13,092 Points

Glad i helped a bit :))

But yeah...i thought coding is a bit easier too XD I thought once i learned the HTML and CSS basics i would be able to build the site 90% on my own...but it appears we need a bit more help, and like they always say in the videos "google is your best friend"

I would definitely suggest you take on a small project and build a strong base for html and css. Since if you just keep looking at the lessons and learning, you will forget how to "DO" the stuff you learned :)

Also, don't forget to mark the best answer once you want to close this thread ;)

Cheers man, and all the best !