New Programmer’s Survival Manual

Module 1: Getting Started as a New Programmer

⏳ 1 hour

• Topics: Setting up your workspace, choosing your first language, understanding the learning curve

• Hands-on: Install an IDE, configure Git, and write your first “Hello, World!” program

Module 2: Core Language Concepts

⏳ 2 hours

• Topics: Variables, types, operators, control structures, and basic I/O

• Hands-on: Solve simple coding challenges to reinforce loops, conditionals, and functions

Module 3: Data Structures & Algorithms Basics

⏳ 2 hours

• Topics: Arrays, lists, stacks, queues, hashing, and simple search/sort algorithms

• Hands-on: Implement and test core operations (push/pop, enqueue/dequeue) and sort routines

Module 4: Version Control & Collaboration

⏳ 1 hour

• Topics: Git fundamentals—cloning, branching, merging, pull requests, and code reviews

• Hands-on: Contribute to a sample repository: create a feature branch, commit changes, and open a pull request

Module 5: Debugging & Testing

⏳ 1.5 hours

• Topics: Using debuggers, writing unit tests, understanding stack traces, and logging practices

• Hands-on: Write and run test cases for existing code, step through with a debugger to locate bugs

Module 6: Writing Maintainable Code 

⏳ 1.5 hours

• Topics: Naming conventions, modular design, DRY principles, and code documentation (comments/README)

• Hands-on: Refactor a monolithic script into organized functions/modules with clear documentation

Module 7: Tooling & Build Automation

⏳ 1 hour

• Topics: Build tools (Make, npm scripts, Maven/Gradle), linters, formatters, and continuous integration basics

• Hands-on: Set up a linting/formatting pipeline and configure a basic CI workflow to run tests on commit

Module 8: Career & Growth Strategies

⏳ 1 hour

• Topics: Estimating tasks, seeking feedback, learning from open source, and planning your learning roadmap

• Hands-on: Draft a 6-month learning plan with milestones and select a small project to apply new skills

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