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
Luca F. | emberbit
406 PointsI'm confused? Am I getting the concepts?
Hey Ben,
I'm Luca, I wanted to learn how to code and I love everything google so I thought I'd learn android. I'm a little confused on basic android programming, I've never programmed before. I watched the first lesson and made some notes because I didn't quite get it, can you tell me if there accurate? http://bit.ly/1wZiX8R
Thanks Ben, I'm loving your courses!
7 Answers
James Nelson
23,956 PointsHello Luca,
I understand your frustration, I felt similar when I first looked at Visual Basic coding. What I would recommend is giving the Basic Android programming a break for now and having a look at Jim Hoskins introduction to programming - http://teamtreehouse.com/library/introduction-to-programming
Although in this course Jim focuses on teaching Javascript, the concepts for programming are largely the same between programming languages. What changes between each programming language is the syntax. Java is not the easiest programming language to learn form in my opinion. Learn the basics of programming with a straight forward programming language and then use this understanding to learn Java.
Good luck
James Nelson
23,956 PointsWell maybe in this case Luca take a look at that video. It is important to understand what a variable, object and a method is before looking at Java. I see you have been taking notes, thats great if that is how you learn. I find with programming that your learning only sinks in by doing. So after you learn the basics of programming go out and experiment and build a small program. Perhaps a basic calculator is a great app to begin with.
Remember you will be introduced to a lot of functions that are built into programming languages during your time. Do not worry about having to know all these functions of by heart. There isn't very many programmers that know these functions of by heart. In-fact, programmers tend to use a programming languages documentation (can be found online) to refresh their memory on forgotten functions.
Good luck Luca
Lush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsWell said!
James Nelson
23,956 PointsI would say it's quality is subject to opinion. Teaching someone how to program isn't the easiest thing in the world, it can be quite hit and miss.
But throwing someone at the intermidate level of programming without them understanding the basics will add to frustration. Hence why I recommended the programming basics
Lush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsI hear ya, I just don't think that anyone (beginner, intermediate, or advanced) will get much out of that specific course. It is pretty much just bad overall. Whether it's the teacher himself, the script, or the way they chose to present it, it's just bad. It will be reworked in the near future. Or so the staff here claims. It certainly needs to be, because it is just hard to see how anyone could get anything out of it. I agree it's very hard to teach someone to program, especially doing so solely online, but this one is just plain bad. Silly mistakes, run on ramblings, no details, no explanations, etc etc. It's more like Jim Hoskins being like "look guys, I know JavaScript, see?!"
James Nelson
23,956 PointsI had a look at it in the perspective of someone who already knew programming. But I would still say it's the best treehouse currently has in terms of learning programming. Just out of curiosity did you come onto treehouse knowing how to program?
If so were you self taught or uni taught?
Lush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsNope, I came in here with minor previous knowledge in HTML and CSS. But that was from like a decade ago. Everything was going very fluid and I was learning a ton, until I met Jim Hoskins. I guess our opinions just differ on this one. I am of the firm belief (and I am not the only here, as far as students go) that the Intro to Programming track, is laughable! If someone gets something out of it and finds it beneficial, then that is great! I just personally don't see how that's possible. I don't see it as teaching, in any way, shape, or form...
Luca F. | emberbit
406 PointsHi Lush, I see you guys are having a bit of debate. Let me just get this straight, you don't recommend treehouse?
" Luca, it is of course up to you, but you will be very confused, frustrated, and not happy with Treehouse in general. This is of course, if you even have the paitence to sit through that entire course. Good luck to you! "
Treehouse seemed to be the best and I was pretty happy with the android course, I just was getting confused with some of the concepts, But he said if you practise you begin to understand it more.
Your thoughts?
Cheers, Luca :)
Lush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsNooooo, Treehouse is awesome! The courses are great and the teachers are great. The only one exception, in my opinion, is that Intro to Programming Course. The jQuery course immediately following it, seems to be great. I just have a gripe with the teacher of the Intro course, Jim Hoskins. I don't view that as teaching, and I do not think someone who is new to programming will get anything from it. But that could be different for someone else, so it's all about how you learn and what-not. Overall, Treehouse is great! So far, that is the only course that does not belong here...
Mer Gilmartin
1,529 PointsThere is a lot of introduction to programming courses taught with Java by universitys and colleges. You can also get textbooks for those courses and just work through them at home. Online, there are a few for ruby, javascript, pyton. Microsoft have a visual c# introduction course available for free and c# and java are very simular.
Luca F. | emberbit
406 PointsSorry, I've been away from a week, I forgot to thank you both for your help. Cheers guys :)
- Luca
Marie Bock
13,885 PointsLush Sleutsky Since you are not a fan of the Into to Programming Course, is there something you would recommend? I also know a bit of HTML and CSS.
Lush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsDave McFarland's JavaScript Basics is pretty good for a beginner. Other than that I just did alot of researching and building stuff - learning by doing and whatnot.
All in all, Treehouse is just a tool to enhance your toolbox. There is TONS of stuff out there that you should look into, and keep on practicing and doing as much as humany possible! Good luck to you...
Luca F. | emberbit
406 PointsLuca F. | emberbit
406 PointsThanks James, I'll take your advice!
Lush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsLush Sleutsky
14,044 PointsRecommending Hoskins' Intro to Programming course to someone who is already confused? Not a good idea at all. That course is likely the worst course on Treehouse. The staff even admits it needs reworking. It is laughably bad.
Luca, it is of course up to you, but you will be very confused, frustrated, and not happy with Treehouse in general. This is of course, if you even have the paitence to sit through that entire course. Good luck to you!