An Experiment InRapid Skill Acquisition:

Teaching Someone How To Program in 5 days

3/24/2014

Tony Tranemail: tony@5dayprogrammer.com

twitter:@quicksorter

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DiSSS Method● Deconstruction● Selection● Sequencing● Stakes

DiSSS Method● Deconstruction - breaking up your target skill into

smaller components.● Selection - 80/20 principle. Work on things that will

get you the most bang for your buck!● Sequencing - Order/Schedule what you learn in an

efficient way!● Stakes - putting something on the line!

DiSSS+ Method● Deconstruction● Selection● Sequencing● StakesI would like to add ...● Feedback - having someone correct you

helps out A LOT!

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Patient Zero● Non-technical background● Product Manager● Been trying to learn how to program for 2+

years○ Attempted: Ruby, Python, Javascript○ Invested a lot of time/money on learning.○ Does not have strong grasp of languages.

■ Can not recall proper syntax for fundamentals

Deconstruction● Terminal

○ ls/cp/mv/rm/python● Variable assignment● Types● Helper functions● REPL● If/Else Statements● For-loops/While loops● Functions● PIP

● Exception Handling● Creating a script● Unit Testing● Using libraries● Writing libraries● Object Oriented

Programming● Generators● Concurrency● A LOT MORE...

Selection: (My Goals)● Teach students enough to be “deadly”:

○ Be able to recall fundamental concepts quickly○ Be able to write text processing scripts○ Be able to write simple libraries○ Be able to write a simple web service

● Teach students how to be resourceful○ Know where to look for answers○ Being comfortable with being uncomfortable

Sequencing:● Fundamentals first

○ Using the terminal○ types, variable assignments, functions, if/else, for

loops, built-in data structures○ Using helper functions

● More interesting things:○ Using libraries, writing libraries○ Writing scripts

StakesOn the 5th day…● Be able to write a script that reads in a file

and does some processing.● Be able to write a library.● Be able to write a simple Flask web service.

Day 1● 4 hour session● Student already knew:

○ How to use the terminal○ Familiarity with REPL○ Variable assignment

● What we went over:○ Types, helper functions, if/else statements, for-

loops, functions, data types

Day2-Day5● Homework to introduce new material

○ Review questions○ Coding Assignments○ DUE 11:59PM every night.

● Day2 - More Review● Day3 - Scripts/Writing libraries● Day4 - Using libraries/Writing libraries● Day5 - Web service

Success Factors● Consistency in practice

○ Practice everyday! No break days!● Doing homework!● Knowing your weaknesses and deficiencies

○ WORK HARD TO IMPROVE IN THESE AREAS!○ Having a coach can help immensely

■ help you identify weaknesses■ provide guidance for improvement

What I learned● I can make $$$ off of this!!!● Strategies for me to quickly acquire new

programming languages● Inspiration for me to try to learn new things

quickly! (not just programming)

Other Experiments● Boxing● French (Parlez-Vous Francais!?!)● Cooking● Quantitative Finance● ANY SUGGESTIONS!?!

Resources:● DiSSS

○ The Tim Ferriss Experiment○ 4 Hour Chef by Tim Ferriss

● Language (non-programming) Learning○ Fluent in 3 Months by Benny Lewis

● My Site (coming soon)○ www.5dayprogrammer.com

Lastly ...

If you could learn anything in 5 days, what would it be?

Let me know: @quicksorter