Doctor, how can I get better at computer languages?

When I teach hacking, I often meet friends who ask me about computer languages. They come to me with questions. (Ah, but these days, I don’t usually teach one-on-ne. I used to do it a lot in the past.) Honestly, I might be the best and worst teacher for this question. I’m the best because I started without knowing much about Python, and the worst because there’s still so much I don’t know.  

I started my journey in hacking and computer science when I was a university student. I always liked solving puzzles and reasoning problems, and as I read more books, I realized how logic and computer science are deeply connected. One step at a time, I learned about logical discoveries through Bertrand Russell, Kurt Gödel, and Alan Turing. That’s when I understood how important logic is in computer science. It’s fascinating, right? So, I majored in computer science, and around the same time, I began exploring hacking. Hacking felt like solving a mystery, which really grabbed my interest. Oddly enough, programming itself didn’t feel that exciting at first.  

When I started hacking, I didn’t even know Python. I bought Python books and read them cover to cover. But just reading wasn’t enough— had to practice a lot. I tried writing Python code and explored different ways to use it. Still, I didn’t feel like I understood it well. Even so, I kept hacking in my way, figuring out things step by step. When I didn’t understand something, I Googled it right away. “How do I solve this? How do I convert this?” I thought deeply and spent a lot of time on it.  

Back in college, I didn’t find the C language very interesting. But later, after playing with Python and JavaScript, I started enjoying C as well. A few years after I thought it was boring, I found myself experimenting with it naturally. Once I got the hang of it, I spent a lot of time analyzing C code using tools like Godbolt, running experiments, and disassembling programs.  

You might wonder, “So, what’s your point? I don’t know anything about computer languages.” Here’s what I always say: “The best way to learn a computer language is to read and practice a lot.” That’s the most straightforward advice I can give. There’s no shortcut—it’s about reading as much as you can and practicing as much as possible.  

I also tell people this: “We are professional hackers but amateur programmers. And there’s nothing wrong with being an amateur. Being an amateur means you enjoy programming. As professional hackers, we just need to enjoy it as much as we can.”  

For me, I go to places like Nomad Coder almost daily to take on challenges, watch tutorials, and practice consistently. We’re professional hackers, but we can also enjoy programming for what it is. And what’s amazing is that all the time I’ve spent on programming has helped me so much in hacking.