Learning Resources for Aspiring Programmers | Recommendations for Getting Started and Getting Better 

No BS, no nonsense, just friendly, to-the-point and knowledgable. I like that!

Please keep doing this kind of videos Chris! My younger self would be so ecstatic with this kind of advice.

Feels like oldschool RU-vid and I like it A LOT. No fluff, just a genuine guy sharing his passion.

watched this as someone with an 11+ year software engineer career (started as a hobbyist game developer back in 2010) i appreciate that you mentioned so many free resources! i had no money when i decided to learn to program, and so i learned entirely with free online stuff. didn't finish high school, didn't go to college. if it was possible for me 11 years ago it's definitely way more possible now with the huge amount of resources.

“What programmers should know about memory” is a must read pdf , quite old by today standards but it helped me a lot to understand low level. That and “Nand to Tetris”, another fun read

I started c++ about a week and a half ago to maybe try a last time at my dream of game creation and the progress is slow. I have no previous knowledge didn’t take any computer science courses and I regret that fs. But your videos I’ve seen honestly inspire me to not give up at it. Thanks a lot. I hope to come back and show myself successful in the future.

One of the main reasons I liked your previous and the current video is it feels very genuine. Also, the facts that you have presented are very very useful. Thanks a lot!

Thanks for another video Chris! really appreciate your opinions and advice, make the videos you feel are worth it!✌

Thanks, Man! for sharing and also adding the resources in the description!

Thank You for your service Chris.

excellent video Chris, thank you for sharing your experience and advice !

Thanks a million, your advice is genuine and I look forward to more videos.

glad to see more!

Thankyou so much Chris. Really appreciate the content you're providing us with. I wish you well

What a great man! Thank you! Keep your work!

Keep it up man, love the energy you bring in your videos!

I watched your last video too, and your advice is great. Thank you so much! Please keep posting similar content!

Thank you brother. Amazing video

Thank you for another great upload. Your videos are brief and to the point.

Starting coding at 40, dunno if there is time for me to get a job at this age , but...hope is the last to die. learning Python/HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT! cheers!

So glad to see another video here brother. Please carry on, your point of view is just great

Thanks for the knowledge you share.

I'm very glad you posted again! This was another great video with very solid advice.

Thanks for the video man. Really helps. Now I need to mentally get back on track. Thanks again for the tips

I love that you are growing day by day

this really helping man thanks!

Thank you for starting this journey. Means a lot when you can hear from more expirienced and, above everything, calm and persons who know how to talk and transfer the knowledge! Good luck with you yt journey! 💪

Great, please keep it going! Thank you so much!

All the way from Brazil, thanks for your recommendations Chris!

I am really digging these videos and I look forward to whatever you post. No stress on what we'd like, it seems you've got a great sense of what'd be informative and helpful!

Great contest, refreshing low-key style. You are unto something good. Keep it up.

Thank you for this. Just started c++ a few weeks ago

Really glad to have come across your videos. Function over form for me with content like yours that I can feel is genuine. Please keep making the videos you want to! Thanks so much.

Great video. Thank you!

Valuable set of infos trully ndeed it! thank you for the effort you put into making these videos!

Dude your videos are a breath of fresh air within youtube! Really appreciate your editing and direct communication style. Keep up the great work!!

Love your style of delivery. It's straight to the point and it's very encouraging as well. Thank you. Keep your content coming.

Thanks a lot for sharing ! This knowledge is so precious. It's hard to know where to look and learn when we beggin, so it's good to have a departure point !

Thanks Chris!!!

Thank you so much for this video. Finishing up my associates in Computer Programming this year and moving on to a school next year for Software Engineering. Your advice is so genuine and much needed. Keep posting!

seems super genuine and friendly, u got urself a sub good luck :)

Thanks for sharing your experience in c++, I'm sure many people like me need such information

Thank you! I'll try harder to learn.

Thanks for this video 🖤 Can't wait for more! :D

Hey, First off, I wanted to express my gratitude for starting this RU-vid channel. I genuinely believe that your content will have a positive impact on many people's lives. I'm reaching out because I'm hoping you might have some insights to share regarding my current situation. I apologize in advance for the lengthy comment, but I feel it's important to provide some context. To give you a little background, I'm 26 years old and pursued an associate degree in auto body work. After spending around a year in a body shop, I realized that while I love cars, I didn't want to make a career out of working on them. However, I've always been passionate about building PCs and helping friends with their computer-related issues. This led me to secure a job in Apple tech support, where I further expanded my knowledge. Later on, I found a position building and bench testing PCs. This experience allowed me to deepen my understanding of each component's functionality and learn how to conduct effective tests. Around that time, I also transitioned to a tech support role in the medical device industry. However, a stroke of luck presented me with an opportunity to become a helpdesk supervisor when a supervisor unexpectedly quit. With my tech background and continuous self-learning, I took the leap and landed the role. I held this position until 2021, but as the pandemic hit, I found myself growing bored with the job becoming too routine. Additionally, the company's reputation for low pay and subpar treatment of employees didn't sit well with me. This dissatisfaction prompted me to pick up a book called "Sam's Teach Yourself C++," which served as my introduction to programming. At the time, C++ was the only language I had heard of, so I dove into it headfirst. I read the book and started working on projects like to-do lists, tic-tac-toe, and hangman games, all within the console. Soon after, I landed a job where I dealt with server testing. I gained knowledge about server communication and even wrote Python and Bash scripts to automate tests. However, this job was primarily focused on hardware testing, limiting my exposure to software development. My interest in C++ grew further when I discovered its applications in game development and graphics. Companies like Pixar, Blizzard, and Riot Games, which I greatly admire, utilize C++ extensively. Intrigued, I decided to explore Unreal Engine and learn how to use C++ within it, along with Blueprints and various macros. I aimed to create a multiplayer game, but I faced difficulties and eventually lost most of my assets and code due to GitHub mishaps (lack of me knowing how to use it yet). It was a valuable learning experience, but the project's scope was simply too ambitious. Undeterred, I participated in game jams and created a not-so-fun scuba diving game, followed by a networked tic-tac-toe game in Unreal Engine. While I grasp the basic concepts, I'm aware that the engine handles much of the replication work, so I don't consider myself an expert. After that, I tackled a slightly more extensive project called "Hi, I'm Ron," a short story game based on an episode from a Dungeons & Dragons podcast. While the game may not be the most entertaining, my main goal was to gain valuable insights, and it took me a few months to complete. Towards the end of the development process for "Hi, I'm Ron," I realized my aspiration to work at a AAA game company someday, even if just for the experience. Unfortunately, opportunities in that realm are limited where I'm from (Kentucky), so I made the bold decision to sell my house and move 3000 miles away to Seattle, WA. After arriving here, I secured a job at a mid-size tax company, where I technically work on the helpdesk. However, given that it's just me and the IT director handling all IT-related matters for a 300-person company, I find myself fulfilling the role of a junior system admin. My responsibilities include managing on-premises Active Directory, Azure, Intune, the server room, VMware, and our overall IT environment, in addition to providing helpdesk support. While I appreciate the company and the decent compensation, it would be nice to have a job title that accurately reflects my role. Having shared my journey thus far, I find myself at a crossroads. As I near the end of my computer science degree program at WGU (which is self-paced and allows for transfer credits), I've attempted to secure internships or entry-level positions before the summer but haven't had much success. This realization has made me question whether I'm adequately prepared for the job market. To bridge the gap, I've embarked on my next project, "Think Ahead," a puzzle game that I've been working on for a few months. Unlike my previous endeavors, this game resonates with me, and I believe it has the potential for improvement. However, I understand the importance of moving forward and not getting stuck in a single project. My ultimate desire is to focus more on programming rather than game design. In conjunction with my studies, I've also started working on a CPU-based renderer to gain a foundational understanding of 3D graphics without relying on libraries. Additionally, I've begun developing an editor plugin for Unreal Engine to showcase my ability to create tools, although I'm currently struggling with limited documentation. Despite the challenges, I'm determined to persevere. I've also dedicated some time to solving coding problems on LeetCode. Today, as July 11th marks almost a year since my move to Seattle, I can't help but feel somewhat disheartened. I often question whether I'm working on the right projects or acquiring the right skills. Finding mentors has proven difficult, and most people offer generic advice that doesn't address my specific concerns. That's why I'm reaching out to you. I genuinely appreciate your expertise and wondered if you could offer some advice on how to navigate my desired career path. Since I'll be graduating soon, internships may no longer be an option, and I'm uncertain about my chances of landing a job. I just feel like every project worth anything will take 6 months to a year to complete and that doesn’t seem effective. Initially, I had hoped to secure a C++ job for hands-on experience, but it seems that everything I've worked on thus far is primarily game development oriented. I'm not sure how to address this issue. I've attached my portfolio and GitHub links for your reference, and I would greatly appreciate any insights or assistance you can provide. If you're unable to help currently, I completely understand, and I encourage you to continue doing the fantastic work you're already doing. Thank you for taking the time to read my message, and I'm truly grateful for any guidance or advice you can offer. Portfolio: leemclafferty.com Github: github.com/LeeMclafferty Lee

Thank you so much! Awesome source of information

I liked your way of displaying and presenting your ideas

You sir are doing a great job posting such videos. Never give up on this channel brotherman. Looking forward for more such excellent content. You've earned a follower!

Thanks Chris! A. Lot. This tips are gold, no kidding.

Thanks for the video, mr. SyncMain.

thanks to you - I always wanted to start learning to program on C++ so, your first (and this) video is amazing! Greetings from Chile!

Thanks for your comprehensive and trusted list of resources. This video was very helpful in starting to approach programming.

Holy cow. No fancy editing, no glamorous transitions between topics, straight to the point and great information. More videos please!

Thank you very much Chris! I was struggling to understand what was the meaning of "Strong Math Skills" on most of the job offers for gameplay programming. Even tho I have a computer Engineering degree, I'm not that confident with my math skills and wanted to see some classes again. And now you recommended this Kahn Academy and I can't appreciate you more!

Thank you for the info. I am 46 and just leaning to code. I learned a bit of C in high school back in the 90s and have been wanting to get back into it. Please keep uploading! Thanks.

Your content is incredibly helpful to me and to my daughter who is changing careers... thank you.

Man, I just love this guy, he so straight-forward and very genuine, I love you brother keep working on this content please.

please keep doing this kind of vidoes for us!

Great job, keep going!

Awesome video, pls keep posting! Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

Thank you so much!

It's a lot less directional but I've always just picked something I've wanted to make and learned what I needed to to get it to work

Very awesome videos so far! Would love to watch a video where you go through your life as a programmer/how you got a job in the industry and what or where you are working right now.

Perfect, that's what i meant in the comment from the previous video about the language choice and why it should not matter. Your video is really valuable. It is packed with information and I even got an idea from your video that i did not think about before. In my view, you are really good at distilling down important information. Almost like (a slightly random collection of) bullet points as a video, which is why you could add more structure - perhaps a brief outline (for a maximum of 10-20 seconds)? Your voice is also calming though you could add a tiny more enthusiasm. All in all, hats off!

I am brand new to C++ and just watched Jason Turner's C++ Lesson 1... thank you for the recommendations!

hi, I am new here, just like you, already watched first video, me personaly I adore people like you, keep explaining those big things in this way, thanks a lot. Good to know, just started learning java script myself (7 months time at the moment)

Thank you for another great video. +1 for nostarch press books.

😮Thank you! This is like divine guidance...❤

Great resources, its clear that your experience is very real and good.

amazing video thank you very much

thanks Chris!

thank you for this video, it was helpful. keep it up.

Woah thanks for another video !! Keep it up !

Thank you!

Your tips and views have high level value. This content is like the good old days of RU-vid when the core message meant something.

Thank you for the video! It is nice to see an experienced developer like you on the platform! I suggest a video topic on multithreading/multiprocessing learning approach in context of C++.

Keep going. I love your advice.

I love c++. Thanks chris

this video was quiet helpful, I really hope if you continue creating such content, and maybe some Cpp tutorials too, thumbs up for the great work

Great video, thank you :)

You are a true legend!

bro, thank you. i was currently in a dilemma. I got a lil bit of interest back to stay on my programming journey. Please keep making these videos. I would like you to make a video regarding how to go from being a beginner to someone who has a bit of a working mastery on a language or programming in general. for example, someone who knows the fundamentals but bored and completely dis-interested in doing the same old typical projects which makes them feel like they are just wasting their time.

Golden nuggets by Chris!

Super helpful!

im really glad that youtube recommended this to me.

Hey Chris great content!

you're a legend man thank you!

thx a lot for that info. I was just looking for my self some websites with more new programming info

thank you for the amazing content

I have just recently started getting into game development. My current objective is learning Unreal Engine blueprinting but I'm sure my future development will take me to coding. So, I hope you'll continue to provide more useful tips and tricks into the industry.

i subscribed. Good stuff man. Keep it up.

Tnx for the resources !! appreciate

loved it !!

Thank you for making another video! It's really nice getting advice and tips from someone who's been in their career for so long, I don't really have anyone I know IRL who's into programming that I can get advice from (since I haven't started a programming career yet, still learning!), so having people like you talking about stuff is honestly so helpful. That first tip is a great idea, I definitely get overwhelmed when I see all these job listings with so many different kinds of requirements and it feels like I have to know SO much stuff to have any kind of chance. I feel like just breaking it down, looking for commonalities between postings and then trying to build a project with specific skills in mind is just a great idea, thank you! Getting set up with a source repo while making personal projects is also a great idea I'll be sure to do. Also yes, i HIGHLY recommend The Cherno! He's such a great C++ teacher and the way he breaks stuff down and explains/shows WHY things work and what's going on under the hood helps me understand so much more about the code I write.

Thanks so much.

Thank you man

Love your content, keep going please

Please keep doing this kind of videos! New subscriber here!

Thanks!

Thanks bro!