How I Quickly Find Answers to Problems and Research New Things

Summary

In this video, a software developer shares his process for efficiently researching solutions to programming problems or general inquiries. He emphasizes the importance of starting with search engines like Google and YouTube, followed by utilizing documentation, forums, and GitHub issues. As a last resort, he explores source code and leverages chat platforms. He also advocates for a hands-on, question-driven approach to learning and refines his skills by revisiting concepts through books and courses. Throughout, the speaker encourages viewers to share their own research methods and resources.

Takeaways

• 😀 Research often starts with Google and YouTube, as they provide quick answers for common programming problems.
• 😀 Stack Overflow is a go-to resource for finding solutions to frequent programming issues.
• 😀 Blog posts are more valuable for understanding complex concepts, as they often provide examples and explanations of thought processes.
• 😀 Videos are preferred for step-by-step guidance, especially for tasks that benefit from visual explanation.
• 😀 Don't limit yourself to the first page of Google results—deeper pages may contain valuable information.
• 😀 Alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo can offer unique results and hide useful content that Google may not show.
• 😀 Documentation is essential for understanding specific technologies and frameworks, though some can be hard to navigate.
• 😀 GitHub Issues and Pull Requests can offer solutions to niche problems directly from contributors and maintainers.
• 😀 Forums, mailing lists, and discussions are great places for gathering broader insights and tackling specific use cases.
• 😀 Diving into source code is a reliable method for solving problems when other resources fail to provide answers.
• 😀 Platforms like Slack and Discord are useful for last-ditch problem-solving but should be used sparingly to respect others' time.
• 😀 Nick prefers hands-on learning before turning to books or courses to understand a technology deeply, and uses them later for best practices.
• 😀 Learning by doing—such as creating real projects—helps to solidify understanding and encourages refactoring with new techniques.
• 😀 Research and learning should be an ongoing process, where one’s knowledge evolves through real-world experience and feedback from others.

Q & A

What is the speaker's preferred method of learning new technologies?

The speaker prefers to learn new technologies through hands-on experience, focusing on building real-world projects first. They then supplement their knowledge with structured courses and books to refine their skills and adopt best practices.

Why does the speaker not immediately use courses or books when learning something new?

The speaker believes that courses and books are better suited for learning broad concepts or large frameworks, but they don’t provide the immediate, specific solutions needed for smaller problems. They prefer to learn in isolation first to solve real problems.

What does the speaker mean by 'question-driven development'?

'Question-driven development' refers to the method of learning where the individual forms questions based on the problems they encounter and seeks answers through independent research, instead of relying on predefined courses or books.

How does the speaker integrate learning resources like Google and YouTube into their process?

The speaker uses Google and YouTube primarily for troubleshooting and problem-solving. They look for answers to specific questions and focus on videos or articles that provide quick, direct solutions, which helps them continue progressing with their projects.

What is the role of refactoring in the speaker's learning process?

Refactoring plays an important role as a rewarding activity after gaining new knowledge. It allows the speaker to revisit their earlier work and apply newly learned best practices to improve and optimize their code.

How does the speaker feel about the process of refactoring their code?

The speaker finds refactoring enjoyable because it feels like a reward for the hard work put in. It provides an opportunity to improve the code by incorporating best practices learned through independent research and external resources.

What does the speaker suggest about learning without the guidance of formal courses or books?

The speaker suggests that learning without formal guidance can be effective for solving specific, immediate problems. This approach allows learners to form their own understanding based on practical experience before turning to structured resources for refinement.

What is the benefit of building something real before turning to books or courses?

By building something real first, the learner gains practical experience, which helps them form their own opinions and understandings. This makes it easier to absorb more advanced concepts later when they refer to books or courses.

Why does the speaker encourage sharing different learning strategies in the comments?

The speaker is interested in discovering new and effective methods for problem-solving and learning. They value different approaches and want to learn from others' experiences to improve their own strategies.

What does the speaker recommend for those learning a specific sliver of information rather than a whole technology?

The speaker recommends using practical, hands-on learning methods for small, specific problems. Books and courses are best suited for learning large-scale technologies, but they are less effective for smaller, isolated learning goals.