How to learn programming correctly: self-study vs. courses

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Remember, a good IT specialist loves to solve logical problems. And the first of these puzzles for future code gurus is what approach to use when learning a new language so that the knowledge is enough for employment. Let's look at the options and choose the most effective one. A small spoiler: we will not consider studying at a university to become a programmer. Only a five-year plan in a short time frame, only hardcore!
Self-study

People call this method self-instruction. This path is definitely samurai, and not everyone can become a samurai, unlike an IT specialist. Get ready to listen to your heart, mind and chaotically consume information from forums, conferences, get-togethers, meetups, self-study guides and thousands of "useful" books. Yes
, you will quickly immerse yourself in the topic and start coding almost immediately.

BUT! There is one nuance: "useful" books and social media marketing service materials do not teach anything, they only show how to do it - i.e. they demonstrate to you, and you reproduce without always understanding what exactly.

And that's not all, you will have to independently determine the sequence of training. Of course, no one forbids you to spy on a detailed program on the websites of schools teaching programming, but the probability that you will be able to follow it is 50/50. It is worth recognizing that people who conscientiously complete all tasks, do not violate the regime and walk the required 10 thousand steps daily without mentoring are in the overwhelming minority.

Specialized courses

It will be difficult for an unprepared person to independently raise complex IT knowledge from scratch. Therefore, the option with specialized courses, where experienced mentor programmers teach using proven, constantly updated methods, will be the right decision. There is a high probability that you will get a high-quality result in a short time. A high-quality result means the opportunity to find a job, and a short time means a period of 5-10 months (depending on the direction in programming).

However, you need to approach the choice of the desired course with full responsibility, so as not to gild the palm of the first institution you come across. We have already written aboutWhat to pay attention to when choosing IT courses.

Even on the "first date" with such a desired, but still distant profession, you need to understand that you will still have to spend time and effort (a lot of time!), but, unlike self-taught people, without such fanaticism, panic, feelings of hopelessness, self-flagellation and other joys of life.

Instructions for successful success: take a deep breath, tune in to painstaking work with constantly changing conditions, technologies and requirements, enjoy the process and become a Junior specialist.

But seriously, high-quality courses will show you, tell you, teach you to write code, check it (yes, cherry on the top of paid courses is a review) and find errors over and over again. Another prize sector on the drum is a finished project that can and should be added to the portfolio and trump it in front of IT recruiters.