Best way to use downtime with only an iPhone?

On February 17 2014 03:27 FO-nTTaX wrote:
I actually learned coding in python in my 15 minute breaks. To be fair, i already knew some other programming languages, but coding is not too hard, and can pretty good be learned in 15 minute blocks.

In my opinion, it is always good to be able to program by oneself, since computers are everywhere these days =)

On February 17 2014 03:27 FO-nTTaX wrote:
I actually learned coding in python in my 15 minute breaks. To be fair, i already knew some other programming languages, but coding is not too hard, and can pretty good be learned in 15 minute blocks.

In my opinion, it is always good to be able to program by oneself, since computers are everywhere these days =)

On February 17 2014 06:11 CatNzHat wrote:
I'm sure people have 'learned to code' by playing games on codeacademy, but speaking as a self-taught senior software engineer I would like to offer some advice.

Your career path is as a lawyer, so I don't expect that you'd want to pursue another career path right now. The most useful aspect of programming for you to learn is the overarching concepts so that if you possibly run into a technical case or pick up a hobby where writing a script or two can be helpful you'll know where to start. If you learn to write some basic python in an isolated environment you will have a very hard time finding ways to apply that knowledge.

If you read a book on data structures and algorithms and follow along with all the code samples you'll actually be able to write some code on your own. If after you read through that you're still interested in programming and want to focus on something more specific like web programming or game programming you'll actually be able to understand their content. I personally took the web programming route and added in a couple of upper division architecture night classes from a local college (x86 assembly and web application architecture).

If you find reading about coding exceptionally dry then it's probably not for you, and there's nothing wrong with that, but spending 15 minute stints on code-academy just isn't practical.

I'd recommend picking up a notebook and some pencils and learning to draw. There are a lot of really ways to learn how to draw that can be done anywhere and in small isolated sessions. I encourage you to watch a video series by Scott Robertson: http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/323/#.UwEnCkJdUz4 You can find it for free on some other sites. He also has a series on rendering matte surfaces http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/333/How-to-Render-Matte-Surfaces-1#.UwEnoUJdUz4

Watch through the videos once without following along, and then on the second round use the pause button liberally and follow along. If you complete every demo in those four videos you will be able to draw. It took me probably around 120hrs to complete every single demo from the videos to the same quality as was shown, but now I have no problem rendering pretty much any form in perspective.

Lots of opportunities to do silly things, but I'd personally recommend just letting your downtime be downtime. Play sudoku, text with cute girls, aimlessly wander about campus. Stepping away from whatever you're doing for 15 minutes at a time is actually quite a good practice. It's why we have pingpong and darts at the office, we can step away from a frustrating problem and play a game, and then return to the problem relaxed and possibly with some advice from a co-worker.

TL;DR:
Read a data-structures and algorithms book if you want to learn to code (not codeacademy)
Watch a couple video series by Scott Robertson and follow along if you want to learn to draw

Don't do either and just let your free time be free if you want to live a happier life.

On February 17 2014 07:04 KillerSOS wrote:



I think these are some great points! I'm not looking for a second career, I'm just not so good with downtime. I was more curious about how people learn to program on a phone than actually doing it myself.