10 Ways to Keep Your Programming Skills Sharp Between Jobs

Key Points

• Maintain proficiency in skills and learn new concepts in entertainment by participating in programming games such as CodeCombat, CodeMonkey, CheckIO and CodeWars.
• Use audiobooks or text-to-voice tools to learn programming and coding related knowledge in your free time.
• Volunteering or providing discounted services to maintain programming skills and gain practical experience, especially when job search is difficult.
• Participate in online programming courses, online forums and local events to maintain or update existing projects to keep your programming skills sharp and relevant.

Maintaining a leading position in the rapidly developing fields of programming and development is an ongoing challenge for developers. If you don't have a job at the moment, this challenge will be even greater, as work will often put you at the forefront of technology and be aware of the latest technological developments.

In fact, one might say that anything related to technology is moving at a super fast pace, which means you are more responsible – and more effort – to stay ahead of the pack. .

In this industry, things change very quickly, which means you need to be alert. It will not do you any good to let your skills, knowledge or experience fade away. How can you stay ahead of the pack? Especially with no practice or using them at work, what can you do to maintain proficiency in your skills?

Believe it or not, even if you don't have a job, there are many opportunities to hone your skills or maintain proficiency in your skills. And, not all methods are boring, meaning you don’t have to study hard thick textbooks or online guides to stay relevant.

1. Play some programming games

In recent years, many online courses and teaching applications have emerged, some of which combine video games with software development or coding. If this sounds fun, it's really fun!

While some games and opportunities are designed for beginners, this does not mean that the content will not ultimately involve more advanced concepts. Platforms such as CodeCombat, CodeMonkey, CheckIO, CodeWars allow you to get exposure to coding and programming related knowledge during the game.

Never underestimate the value of entertainment and learning as a collaborative experience. You will be surprised at how much information and ideas you have retained.

2. Listen to audiobooks anytime, anywhere

Okay, this is a difficult problem. It’s not fun to read a lot of textbooks and online resources, especially if they’re full of programming and coding references. No matter how much you like software development or any type of development, there is nothing attractive about these resources. They are sometimes very boring.

Unfortunately, many resources (including official documentation) are must-read. They detail important elements and concepts that can be used when using a specific language, IDE, or tool set.

This is where audiobooks or text-to-voice tools come into play. In your free time, you can listen to audiobooks instead of reading boring books. Some examples include on your morning commute, while showering, while exercising, or while cooking. Any free time is a great opportunity to listen to audiobooks.

3. Volunteering or providing discounted services

No one likes to work for free, especially for any creative, including programmers and developers. However, if you are unemployed and want to maintain proficiency in your skills, you may need to make some compromises, especially if you have a hard time finding a job.

You can volunteer for ongoing projects, or if you are unwilling to work for free, you can offer discounts or cheaper services. This method is not ideal for everyone, it doesn't matter.

It is best to participate in sports or programs you are passionate about, as they will provide more than just monetary rewards. For example, if you like games, you can help friends or colleagues complete their game development projects.

Also, try to stick to the type of work and content you will use in a more professional environment (e.g. the same language). This helps you improve your current skills and keep everything relevant.

4. Take one or two online programming courses

Want to refresh your knowledge or be more experienced in a certain topic or language? Take one of hundreds or even thousands of available online programming courses. The best part is that not all courses are designed in the same way. If you prefer visual learning, there are many platforms to provide visual presentations. On the contrary, if you prefer practical operations, there are many courses that will involve you in the actual development and programming work you are used to. That's why online programming courses are so feasible.

View platforms such as Lynda, Treehouse, CodeSchool and SitePoint Premium. Almost all platforms offer a free trial period where you can try out the courses offered. If you don't like the profile on one platform, just go to another platform.

5. Go to YouTube

YouTube provides a constant stream of entertainment and educational content, and the same is true when you learn to develop or program. The same is true if you just want to review it or want your skills to remain relevant.

The YouTube community offers thousands of videos in almost any topic and type you can think of. Not all videos are in the tutorial or guide type, so there are plenty of opportunities to improve your knowledge.

6. Online forum or discussion area

What better way to learn from peer industry influencers and developers or improve your skills? Have trouble with a particular topic or topic? Why not ask the experts? That’s the idea of ​​participating in online discussions, forums and chats.

You can directly contact experienced professionals who work in programming and development every day. You don't have to just talk about coding. The forum always has a non-theme section where you can share ideas or experiences with like-minded people.

7. Enhance some gadgets

Smart home technology and the Internet of Things are important disruptors today as the devices around us become increasingly smart and efficient. However, one problem with these platforms is that, in terms of development, support may be seriously insufficient.

For example, a smart home center is designed to interact with similar devices in the home (such as smart thermostats, smart locks, security cameras, etc.). However, the richness of the product and the diversity of the brand make it difficult for the company to keep up with the market. This means you end up with devices that are incompatible or unable to collaborate with each other, and they should be able to collaborate.

This is where you work as a software developer and programmer. You can enhance support for these products for others or yourself. This is a great way to get you to do some problem solving and actual coding work by yourself.

8. Be the hero your community needs

Many of the tips in this article suggest getting help from other developers, and to be honest, you can also provide this kind of help. With communities like Quora, Stack Overflow, and XDA Developers, you can support and advise other developers. In fact, when you connect with the community, it’s entirely possible that you will find your next project or job offer.

Some good ideas for helping others include sharing and discussing your favorite development tools that other developers may not know about. For example, you can use front-end tools to prevent problems from happening, and sharing this information with other developers will have benefits. Who knows – you might even provide the advice the team needs to complete the project, inspiring them to hire you for future work.

9. Maintenance or update existing projects

You are a developer at heart. You may well have worked on projects or opportunities in your spare time, even if you keep them private. Developers usually update and maintain a piece of software until they are ready to move on. Maybe you have other responsibilities, or feel that this particular project has been perfect.

Anyway, you can return or revisit existing projects to handle new updates, new features and even bug fixes. This is a great way to get back into the work, especially something you are passionate about.

10. Gather or local event

You are using software, digital tools, and programming languages, so it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that all your opportunities are in the digital space. This is not entirely true. In fact, you can attend local events or gather with like-minded developers, where you just have the opportunity to interact and interact with other people.

If you don't know where to start, don't worry. There are many platforms and tools to help you find a community or group of people you will resonate with. Programming Meeting is a good example.

Hackathon is also a worthwhile event in which the developer community participates in marathon programming conferences, whether it is jointly or individually.

Reward: Take a break for a while

Obviously, if you have spent some time away from the programming and development community and you need to improve your skills and knowledge, then this doesn't work for you. But sometimes we are so devoted and integrated into our work that we forget to enjoy the fresh air.

If you are such a person—we are willing to bet you are likely to be such a person—why not take a break for a while? Why not spend some time away from language, computers, and complex problems? Why not give your brain, body and fingers some rest?

You can get back to work with energy. Who knows – when you come back, you may even have a completely different view of things.

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Want to learn more about employment and salary? View the following link:

• Salary Negotiation Guide for Software Developers
• How to find a development job without experience
• 3 unexpected signals the employer sends before firing you
• 10 Popular Technical Skills That Don't Need to Coding
• The best programming language by job needs and salary
• 11 high-paying remote jobs in high demand in 2016
• 5 simple strategies to double your salary
• How to retain employees and avoid employee turnover
• How to negotiate a higher freelance rate

View SitePoint Premium for more books, courses and free screen recordings.

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FAQs on Keeping Programming Skills Acute (FAQ)

What are the effective ways to practice coding every day?

Practicing coding every day is one of the best ways to keep your programming skills sharp. You can set aside certain time every day to write code. This could be dealing with personal projects, solving coding challenges on platforms like HackerRank, or contributing to open source projects. The key is consistency and make sure you keep challenging yourself with new questions and concepts.

How to effectively learn new programming languages?

Learning a new programming language can be a daunting task, but it is crucial to keeping your skills up to date. First choose a language that matches your career goals. Then, use online resources like Codecademy or Udemy to learn the basics. Practice regularly by building small projects or solving problems in new languages. Joining the coding community can also help with help and feedback.

How to understand the latest programming trends?

In this rapidly growing field, it is crucial to understand the latest programming trends. You can do this by following relevant blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels. Participating in online forums like Stack Overflow or Reddit can also keep you up to date on the latest trends and discussions in the field of programming. Additionally, participating in webinars, seminars and conferences can help you connect with other professionals and learn from industry experts.

How do you improve my programming skills by reading code?

Reading code written by others can significantly improve your programming skills. It exposes you to different coding styles, techniques and best practices. You can learn how to write cleaner and more efficient code and understand how complex systems are built. Open source projects on platforms such as GitHub are a great resource for reading code.

Teaching others how to help me maintain my programming skills?

Teaching others is a powerful way to strengthen your understanding and memory of programming concepts. It forces you to break down complex ideas into simpler, easier to understand parts. You can do this by coaching junior developers, writing tech blogs, or creating tutorial videos.

How to use coding competitions to enhance my programming skills?

Participating in coding competitions can significantly enhance your programming skills. These competitions will ask you complex questions that require innovative solutions, prompting you to apply and expand your knowledge. Platforms like TopCoder and Codeforces regularly hold competitions you can participate in.

How to maintain my problem-solving ability in programming?

Maintaining your problem-solving skills is crucial to programming. It can be helpful to regularly solve coding issues on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. In addition, learning and implementing data structures and algorithms is the key to improving problem-solving capabilities.

How to improve my debugging skills?

Debugging is a key skill for any programmer. You can improve this skill by practicing problem solving, understanding the nuances of programming languages, and using debugging tools effectively. It is also important to read and understand error messages.

How to use project-based learning to keep my programming skills sharp?

Project-based learning is an effective way to keep your programming skills sharp. It allows you to apply the theoretical knowledge you gain in real real-world scenarios. Start with a smaller project and then gradually take on more complex projects. This also helps you build a strong portfolio.

How to use online resources to improve my programming skills?

There are many online resources that can help you improve your programming skills. Online courses on platforms such as Coursera, Udemy or edX provide a comprehensive learning path for a variety of programming languages. Coding challenges websites, blogs, podcasts and forums are also valuable resources to learn and stay updated.

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