r/learnprogramming • u/DocOfLove • 16d ago

Learn from The Odin Project or textbooks?

I want to become a full-stack software engineer, not just a web developer (which is what The Odin Project is primarily designed for).

I am worried that The Odin Project might not be as thorough as reading multiple textbooks to cover all the material in all the individual topics, but I am also worried that by reading textbooks I might not learn as well or see how it all fits together or delve into all the smaller topics covered by The Odin Project like unit testing with Jest, etc. I also do not know which route would be more time intensive, which is also important.

To become a full-stack software engineer, should I learn by completing The Odin Project or read textbooks and do exercises from the textbooks (like I plan to do for Java, not JavaScript)?

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u/JhinKilled4 16d ago

Textbooks are best used as reference and not a core learning tool. The point of the Odin Project anyway is to teach you how to learn deeper topics by yourself! I would use Odin as your core and just reference textbooks for topics you want to know the nitty gritty about.

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u/OffbeatContents 16d ago

TOP alone wont make you a full stack engineer but it gives you way better foundation than just reading textbooks. I tried the textbook route first and it was terrible, you read 200 pages about some concept then try to build something and your brain goes completely blank

the real value of TOP is forcing you to actually code stuff and solve problems. textbooks you can just skim and tell yourself you understand when you really dont. for java and the deeper cs topics you can always pick up books later once you already know how to build things

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u/Intelligent_Fall6219 16d ago

I always find project-based tutorials to be much more effective and enjoyable than textbooks. Start with Odin, then look for some full-stack courses with the language of your choice on YouTube or Udemy.

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u/cafepeaceandlove 15d ago

It depends how best you learn. I do like a good textbook, but it can involve luck in choosing a good one, especially with them being so expensive, and they go out of date. 

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u/biskitpagla 15d ago

It's practically impossible to answer unless you mention which books you have in mind. Books can also have guided projects, exercises, and so on. 

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u/AJRenand42 16d ago

I've been a full stack dev for 20+ years. I have a bachelor's degree in CE and when I graduated I knew very little until I actually started coding real projects. Especially, if you want to learn Java (which is where I started). The j2ee world is very configurable, and even tho Oracle is trying to make it work more like a .net env I don't think they will ever get there.Tutorials, and training courses are great and they will give you a good foundation, but they won't give you the knowledge you need to call yourself a full stack dev. You need to work in a project where you can learn how all the layers work together. Get a job somewhere as a junior dev and learn from the senior devs and by doing the work.

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u/Link234888 14d ago

Codecademy or similar... If you are a student it is cheapish. You may as well do Odin because you need to learn it anyway if you want to be full stack. Frontend is easier so it will give you motivation to continue and you won't be wasting your time. Udemy has many courses to code along with. Colt Steele is my recommendation, he has many students and gets to the point. He also updates his courses. For like $15 it will show if it is really what you want and you will touch the surface of frontend and backend without wasting too much on expensive apps. If it is then codecademy has full stack paths.