How To Learn Fast And Efficiently (as a software engineer)

In this video, ex-Google and ex-Facebook software engineer Clement Mihailescu shares four techniques to learn coding faster. If you're wondering how to learn programming efficiently, use these four techniques.

[MaratAmanzholov]

1. Buy a white board with dry erase markers, and use it for brainstorming and practicing whiteboard coding.

2. The most important: when you learn a new concept (a new algorithm for example), try to explain it to someone/something (yes, you can find dummy to practice on), and if you have struggles explaining, go back, re-study, and try explaining again. Once you can explain the concept in very simple words, you got the whole idea.

3. Doesn't apply to learning, but more to solving coding interview questions: once you solved the problem, try tweaking and changing a problem statement and solve that new problem. Helps also sometimes.

4. Think outloud. Ask questions to yourself and answer them, also outloud.

[SajeelCodes]

Learning becomes automatically faster when you get interested in that

[kevincen]

Summary:
1. Don't spread your attention to a lot of things; don't try to get profoundly good at everything, sometimes better to just focus on less
2. Know which things you should focus on and be good on; i.e. recurring themes, concepts
3. Do it everyday (frequently), will make you improve faster than if you did the same number of hours more spread out
4. Don't put 100% of your trust into someone else. Everyone is different, if doing something others recommend (for quite a bit of time) makes you worse, then do your own method. However, don't just ignore criticism, sometimes it's free info, but just have a grain of salt in case it (definitely) doesn't work for you - used 'definitely' in case people just ignore criticism and say 'it doesn't work for me'.

[lfxmlfxm]

Love your honesty and down-to-earth nature, you will definitely reach at least 0.5 million subs one day

[fawazaljohani]

I'd say project-based learning is the key, make small to medium projects from scratch

[AparnaVadlamani]

1. There are certain things which can be learned just superficially.(I agree with you)
2. There are certain things which you should know very deeply.
3. Do the thing which you want to learn repeatedly
4. Stick to what works for you

[LegendaryGamer]

Interviewer: Why should we hire you?
Me: I mastered the card tricks in 2 weeks by watching Clement.
Interviewer: Congrats, you are hired

[malthaelaoc]

Great video, Clement! How many hours did you study during your first 6-7 months before you got into Google? What was your day-to-day schedule like, and where did you start? Did you start with first learning the syntax and data structures, and then the frameworks, and then the algorithms? Can you make a video of what you did on a day to day basis? How did you divide your time on a day-to-day basis? Also, do you prefer learning by reading, watching, or a combination of both?

[ryanzwe]

It's amazing how strong your speaking is now. I think it was your first video where I commented that I couldn't stand your lisp (but subbed anyway since I found you on techlead channel and seemed really knowledgable) but now it's barely noticeable! And now your channel Is a lot higher than 100 subs

[fardinshahriar]

I learn faster, when I start doing a project and get stuck, and then learn that thing.

[rishisankhla]

Maintain your curiosity in the subject while learning, then you will never stop learning in your life!!😎

[shreyanshsingh]

I was literally listening to you yelling at the camera at 2 AM here

[Max-othh]

You're a good guy Clem. Thanks for the videos.

[alefalfa]

"You want to learn something fast? Put in the hard work". Very well put indeed

[cnerdmahadi]

The best of advice from a coder Ive ever heard till date <3

[gauravkulkarni]

Thanks a lot bro, I will follow the 3 techniques but I will find my 4th technique now. i haven't found it yet. You are a legend!

[faisalahmed]

- focus on learning the things that actually matter.
- there are certain things you should know very deeply.
- if you want to learn something fast, do that thing a lot.
- follow your own rule, if it works well for you.

[snlagr]

This channel can turn into a podcast. ♥️

[ching-anwu]

Thanks for sharing your tips about learning, Clément! Couldn't agree more with your techniques.

[srafez]

Technique 1 and 2 can be combined into the Pareto principle: In a field, focus on a few concepts that can yield vastly more results than the other menial concepts. In the case of passing a coding interview, data structures and algorithms contain the few vital concepts needed to pass coding interviews. The rest can be learned and improved as you go along in your career if you so desired.