I decided I would sign up for the Codecademy in order to improve my understanding of how programmes are made. Codeacademy is free learning service that is trying to teach the world code in a single year.
It would help my research if I knew something about how games are made. My studio practice and BFA (studio) back in the day, helped me understand works of art in a tactile way that I found was lacking in a few of my art historian colleagues. So in learning code I am hoping to gain a similar insight (or at least familiarity) into videogames. (Also it will maybe help others be less off put by my art historian-ness when they realize ‘oh, you actually know something about something.’)
I’m already behind. I’m only on the first week and I already find it difficult. I find the wording of the lessons at times a little confusing. Also, I haven’t coded anything since my old 90s html days. It’s not a type of learning I’ve engaged with in a long time. So, it will take time for my mind to get use to it and to stop being so lazy.
My first problem is that I want to go fast. As a result, I skim read the instructions and end up mindlessly playing with the code. I really should stop, read it, and understand it. I haven’t taken the lessons seriously, but as a weird game to get achievements. Which certainly gives me something to think about on achievements, learning, and their counter-productiveness.
I am going to make this work out.
Once I give myself a proper schedule and clear goals, it will be much easier for me to commit to this project. Today, I am going to finish week 1 and start week 2. I’ll finish week 2 tomorrow and then be on track to start week 3.
I need to start taking notes. Information falls out of my brain when I don’t write it down.
Also, it will be nice in a year to be able to edit and sample other programs to make things that I need. Maybe that’s ambitious, but screw it, I’ll be blissfully unrealistic.
