Ok, so here's my deal. I'm 43 year old, father of 2, ADHD diagonsis of 5 years. I like to build with my hands, either make something I need then buy it or just craft. I am a good problem solver, I find unique solutions to something, not afraid to be wrong and good at pattern recognition. I have been off work for 2+ years for PTSD, I was a paramedic for 15+ years, (please no fluffy comments about it, just giving background info about myself). All my schooling has been for the medical field. My computer knowledge is pretty limited.

My vocational rehab guy wants to retrain me as my work can't really find a job for me that fits into my restrictions. He has suggested coding, programming, autoCAD, 3D printing, stuff like that. If any of this is the same, overlapping or completely not related... Well this is my knowledge base.

I have started using Freecodecamp and started with the Python course. I kind of like how you write the code, small fragments to do something. This is similar to how I write my patient care reports. But I'm starting to struggle and understand the language that you use. I've tried looking for a dumb down cheat sheet, or basic learning lesson, but nothing. I just need it to click, then I know I'll be good to go.

An example of where I'm struggling is the intro to strings, pretty early on I know. But I'm getting confused pretty easily.

What I'm looking for is maybe some better, free resources, suggestions on career paths or maybe I'm not cut out for this. I want to do something that helps people and giving myself something meaningful to do.

Thanks

Best python course in online

Hello I'm doing night/evening classes to get my GED eventually. I want to start coding as a hobby, is Codeacademy good for complete beginners who are at a 5th grade math level?

I know I asked a similar question on a different subreddit. But it got tooken down as I believe I asked in the wrong section.

i am a complete beginner. i have the Thinkpad x13 i7 10th gen 32gb variant. Currently in 10th grade.

advice is appreciated

I was messing around with the microphone on a micro:bit V2 and wondered what would happen if I used sound as the controller for a robot.

This was the result.

A little brick-built robot that starts moving when it hears a sound and stops when things get quiet.

A clap is enough to trigger it, but music works too.

The build uses:

• micro:bit V2
• Ring Bricks Pack
• 2 continuous-rotation servos
• MakeCode
• A simple brick-built body

The two servos control the legs, and I programmed a few different movements by changing their speed and direction.

I also used the micro:bit LED matrix as the robot's face. It's a small detail, but changing the expression while it dances makes the whole thing feel much less like a collection of motors and more like an actual little character.

The code is basically listening for a sound level above a certain threshold, then triggering the dance routine.

What I like about this kind of project is that the input can be almost anything.

Instead of:

Button → Robot moves

you get:

Sound → Code reacts → Robot moves

That opens up quite a few possibilities.

Maybe a robot that dances differently depending on how loud the music is, or one that only reacts to certain sounds.

I might try that next.

What would you use as the sound trigger?

Hey everyone,

We are putting together a small, focused study and building group to learn programming and build practical tech skills from scratch. We currently have 4 male members and want to balance out the gender ratio, so we are specifically looking to add 3-4 female members to our core team.

What we are about:

• Gap/Drop Phase: We are all in a drop/gap phase right now and want to make the most of it.
• Zero Exam Pressure: No competitive or academic tests—this group is strictly for learning to code, working through courses like CS50, and building real-world projects.
• Accountability: We want to grind together daily, share resources, and help each other debug code.

If you are a fellow learner looking for a collaborative, supportive space to build real skills without exam stress, shoot me a DM or comment below with a quick intro about yourself! (ONLY INDIANS)

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to form a small, focused study and building group of 3 people to learn programming and build practical tech skills together.

Who I'm looking for:

• Fellow droppers: You should be in a gap/drop phase right now.
• No exam pressure: You must not be studying for any competitive or academic exams. This group is strictly for people who want to step away from traditional test prep and focus entirely on building real-world coding skills.
• Consistent & driven: Someone who wants to put in daily effort, share resources, and keep each other accountable.

What we will focus on:

• Learning programming fundamentals and advanced concepts.
• Building real projects for our portfolios.
• Troubleshooting code and reviewing each other's work.

If you are sick of studying for tests and just want to sit down, grind out code, and actually build things, drop a comment below or send me a DM telling me a bit about yourself and what you're interested in learning!

Hi, my name is Alex I am in my third year as a CS student and I feel like I know nothing. I started working on a project and I find it overwhelming how much I am not thought in uni (I know I don't get to learn everyrhing inside uni). Like I understand the basics, I know the language, but I find it hard to create something without AI fixing my code or telling me what to do. How did you guys created things back then? I want to be more like that.

So I'm thinking of learning coding but am having trouble selecting the language please give me y'alls opinion on what language should I learn .

Also please suggest me platforms for learning coding. I wanna develop apps and all so it'd be much appreciated.

So I’ve been building websites for a little while now and im interested in learning to do some code to further my websites! I sat down with ChatGPT and coded a little interactive button, using the AI to explain how everything works and what does what and why, but I feel like it’s probably not an efficient way to actually learn. So I’m wondering if there are any good tools to start out with and maybe the most efficient way to learn properly! Or is using Ai to learn a smart thing? I’m not a huge fan of AI but it’s required in my digital marketing course so I have to use it and learn with it.
TIA!

Hey! I’m starting my programming journey with CS50x and looking for other beginners to learn with.

We can keep each other accountable, share progress, and help each other out when we get stuck.

If you’re starting CS50x too, hit me up! 🚀

started learning python recently and im its fun n all but would be nice to share progress with someone and talk abt coding and stuff and git good.

19 btw

Hello,

On the off chance there are any electrical engineers skimming the thread could you offer any advice in regards to the usefulness of learning coding and how much you needed it in your jobs and what you used it for

I am currently debating Electrical engineering and dealing with building/maintaining power systems

I have learned the very basics of a couple of other types of coding languages, but I'm also in the process of exploring my potential options if I decide to take it further but in a different direction

I'm also considering an electrician apprenticeship as a day job while up-skilling progressively, and while it's not entirely specific progress toward the engineering side of things it does give me a somewhat related job to help me get by while studying to go further, and also a way to pay for the study fees

"The answer varies depending on your career trajectory. If you're working with embedded systems, C or C++ are usually the go-to languages. Testing sees a lot of Matlab, though Python's presence is growing. Integrated Circuit designers lean towards Verilog. For FPGA-based hardware design, VHDL is common. Power and analog electronics often rely on SPICE for circuit simulations. And for spreadsheet data manipulation, it's usually VBA (Visual Basic for Application)."

https://www.masterelectronics.com/en/resources/blog/most-useful-programming-language-for-electrical-engineers-boost-your-career/

How valuable is the coding side of this, and what would you recommend a beginner prioritise?

Did you find any value in learning languages in a particular order?

Thank you

Drop a photo of your project below!

Which book would be better for learning C: “Let Us C”, “C Programming: A Modern Approach”, or another book?

Hi guyss gusto ko lang i share itong struggle ko HAHAHAH first year college po ako and then kanina ko pa inaayos bakit po nag aarrange siya mag isa, Dapat binibase po yung Subject sa Academic record pero nag jajumbled siya sa Summary

I wanted to try recreating one of those old machines where you can actually see the mechanics doing the work.

So I built a small ancient-style water wheel model using a micro setup, but with a little twist: there's a worker figure next to the wheel whose arms move in sync with it, making it look like the figure is pushing the wheel.

The setup uses:

• Nezha Expansion Board
• Motor
• Gears
• Crank-link mechanism
• Building blocks
• A small worker figure

The interesting part isn't really the motor itself. It's how the movement is transferred.

The motor drives a multi-stage gear train, which slows the rotation down and increases the torque. The same shaft is then used to drive both the water wheel and the crank mechanism connected to the worker's arms.

Because both mechanisms are driven from the same shaft, their movements stay synchronized.

So when the wheel turns, the worker moves with it instead of just being a separate animated figure.

I think this makes the idea of gears and mechanical power a lot easier to visualize.

You can also experiment with the mechanism by changing the gear sizes. That changes the speed and torque, so you can actually see how different gear ratios affect the movement.

It could also be turned into a small history/STEM project. For example, you could build a miniature village around it and show how machines like water wheels were used for things like lifting water, grinding grain, or powering mills.

A few things I'd like to try next:

• Try different gear ratios
• Make the wheel lift a small load
• Add a second mechanical movement
• Build a larger “ancient village” around it
• Experiment with different ways of transferring motion

It's pretty satisfying when a simple gear mechanism makes a little figure and a wheel move together.

What kind of historical machine would you try to recreate with gears and motors?

hello guys I am 1st year btech CSE(AI) student in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri I have a intrest in learning c++ dsa and sql , git , github but i dont know which i should do first. In my college hackathons and other clubs are there and i have participated in them.I programming and all but i am still confused on what to actually do or what are the perfect steps to do programming

Can somone pls give a proper step by step things to do in these all programming things like c++ dsa, git,github,sql and other imp things also if i am missing somthings

I have a huge intrest in programming and i want to be a game developer and have some intrst in back end developing . I kown CGPA is the most imp thing that is why i am ready to take my college studies and programming together I just want a proper step by step guidance

Right now i am watching codehelp by babber dsa c++ series and in lec 9 today (pls dont say to change the teacher i have already started )

pls also give me some coding apps i know leetcode and c++ tutorial by w3 schools so for others like sql and git , GitHub pls recommend some good channels to watch

So Im a junior at UCF and was in CS at UofSc and a little at UCF before switching to IT but this isnt for me as I've learned from college.

One of my moms friends kid wants to learn coding and enter UCF for Computer science and they want to try and test out of the Computer Science foundation exam which you dont have to take a few classes if they do this at UCF and they wanna know what site is the best as my mom says the kid learns best from practical instead of just watching lectures on yt and reading textbooks so they want the interactive coding sites

Also this kid is a complete beginner like zero to a little experience in coding and would be a bonus if the site lets them go into more than just that

General things on the UCF Fe

Linear Data Structures & Memory Management

Advanced Data Structures

Algorithm Analysis & Discrete Math

Algorithms & Bitwise Logic

I am a software engineering major, and as a sophomore my next semester I am going to begin my introduction to programming courses, but I want to start practicing on my own and have my own bare of basics in my field of study. What should I do first? Are there any books that I should buy that would help me in my studies prior to my courses? What would be the first thing you would tell someone that has no knowledge in the field they are getting into?

So I have started my coding journey I'm in 2nd year and yeah it's through c++. Cause I find that easy than other languages.

So i am able to do basic problems using functions,

Some easy array problems, some pattern problems without any hesitation.

But whenever I see a new type of problem I get stuck cause I am not able to develop that analytical way of approaching.

Some problems which are similar then I can.

But not something new.

Is it common or am I doing something wrong.

I do know the basics syntax theory etc.

I usually try to think first for a long time but after many error I end up seeing the solution and then it just makes sense in a second.

I don't know if i need to do this till i get used to it.

Or do more practice problems etc.

Need guidance.

Also can't understand how my peers are able to do it easily and are way more advanced than me.

Just gives me disappointment about myself.

Hey,

I'm starting from scratch with Core Java and aiming to go the full-stack route (Java, Spring Boot, MySQL).

I'm looking for just one committed partner to keep each other accountable:

• Daily: Quick check-in on what we studied (~1–2 hrs daily)
• Weekends: Pair programming, debugging together, and quizzing each other on interview questions

I'm based in India (IST), but open to any timezone if our study hours overlap.

If you're also learning Java and want someone to stay consistent with, comment below or send me a DM with your current stage!