Most important concepts to learn for a new developer (Top 50)

[speedfixer]

Perhaps almost as valuable as the important concepts might be a list of most frequent errors, and most frequent frustrations. We have all run into them, and most of us still do.

Sometimes, just having seen what troubles others have can help a person avoid those same troubles very early in the game.

[marcov]

Perhaps almost as valuable as the important concepts might be a list of most frequent errors, and most frequent frustrations. We have all run into them, and most of us still do.

Sometimes, just having seen what troubles others have can help a person avoid those same troubles very early in the game.

Well, that is IMHO the second most important thing. First is debugging, finding your way around sources etc, getting your own answers.

The second most important is documentation, forum and community in general, iow answers from others for when you need more input.

[ecxjoe]

Best things that have helped me:

• Callbacks/Events
• Learning how to properly handle pointers
• Sorting
• Linked lists
• Vector math
• Interpolation
• OOP design patterns

Of course, those are more advanced topics after you learn the basics, like:

• Program flow
• Input/Output
• Variables
• Arrays
• Subs/Functions

[mrToad]

For my part, the most important debugging "tool" is the PRINT command (either to screen or to file), occasionally in combination with SLEEP and END.

I also output what's going on during the program (especially more complex parts), and reading the log after a crash is my main method of debugging. I can catch the last activity and specific variable values. Works pretty well for me.

[Boris the Old]

There are really only three concepts to learn:

1) Read -- buy a book, then repeat forever

2) Experiment -- write code and figure out for yourself why it doesn't work

3) Practice -- do this for 5 years to become a passable programmer

Failure to do all of the above indicates a lack of aptitude -- a different hobby/occupation is indicated

Rod