The hottest Learning Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Learn Skills For Free

Day One • 359 implied HN points • 22 Jun 20
🚌 Education Learning Skills
  1. Self-education is valuable for personal growth and development.
  2. Taking action is crucial for seeing significant changes in your life.
  3. Learning a skill can open up opportunities for success, and it's possible to start for free.

Mastering the Craft: Why Reading Other People's Code Makes You Code Like A Pro

Weekend Developer • 39 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Coding Software Development Collaboration Learning
  1. Reading code written by experienced programmers exposes you to different techniques and approaches, enhancing your problem-solving capabilities.
  2. By studying established best practices in code, like proper organization and naming conventions, you develop good coding habits from the start, resulting in more maintainable and readable code.
  3. Understanding complex systems through reading code helps you build crucial skills for professional software development, such as the ability to work with large codebases and collaborate effectively with other developers.
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Paper Summary: The Koha Code - A Biological Theory of Memory

Sigil • 19 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🔬 Science Neuroscience Biology Memory Learning Cognition
  1. The Koha model proposes that dendritic spines are computational units that scan for specific temporal codes in the brain.
  2. Excitatory and inhibitory neurons can form neural circuits that use lateral inhibition to suppress other neurons.
  3. Dendritic spines change shape to amplify or dampen signals, encoding temporal patterns and competing to become the 'winning neuron'.

Why 97% Fail to Learn Software Engineering

Brain Bytes • 19 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Coding Learning Career development Programming
  1. Imposter Syndrome can make you doubt your abilities as a beginner coder, but it's important to set small, achievable goals, seek feedback, and believe in yourself.
  2. Creating a structured roadmap with daily tasks and clear goals is crucial for effective self-teaching in programming. It helps in visualizing progress and staying on track.
  3. Balancing theory with implementation by working on real projects is key. Dedicate time to writing code, fixing issues, and consistent practice to become a proficient programmer.

How To Identify A Good Programmer

Morad’s Substack • 7 HN points • 24 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Programming Learning Intelligence Experience
  1. Passion is a key indicator of a good programmer - they should be enthusiastic about programming, even outside of work.
  2. Good programmers love learning and are self-teaching, constantly exploring new technologies without needing formal training.
  3. Intelligence is crucial for a good programmer - they are smart, have various interests, and usually start programming before university or formal education.

Two Years of Frame-Changing Ideas

Creative Destruction • 36 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🚌 Education Ideas Newsletter Learning Community Building
  1. The newsletter saw significant growth in subscribers and views in 2023, reaching around 2,360 subscribers and 12,000 views per month on average.
  2. Top posts of 2023 focused on reframing productivity, promoting climate action, and transforming worldviews.
  3. Plans for 2024 include focusing on audience growth, establishing clear branding around the concept of reframing, and aiming to make the newsletter financially viable.

The Rubber Duck Method for Debugging [Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Programming Debugging Interviews Learning Career
  1. The Rubber Duck Method is a powerful tool for debugging code, helping identify both logical and runtime errors as you explain your code to a rubber duck.
  2. Speaking out loud while explaining your thought process can help you make connections and insights, preventing your brain from skipping steps and making more errors.
  3. In interviews, treating your interviewer as a rubber duck by verbalizing your thoughts can improve your problem-solving skills and communication, impressing the interviewer.

Linear Inequalities [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 30 Aug 22
🚌 Education Math Coding Learning
  1. Linear Inequalities are crucial in math for coding, although they may seem trivial at first.
  2. Linear Inequalities help codify bounds and constraints efficiently, aiding in filtering out bad solutions and narrowing search spaces.
  3. Practicing breaking down real-life situations into equations and inequalities is key to mastering Linear Inequalities.

Asking the dumb questions

Sunday Letters • 159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
🚌 Education Learning Mindset Teamwork Communication Development
  1. When you're new to a situation, it's good to watch and listen first. This helps you learn more about what's going on.
  2. Asking 'dumb' questions can be really powerful. They often bring up thoughts that others on the team might be too shy to voice.
  3. Encouraging new team members to ask questions keeps the team flexible and open to change. Celebrating these questions can help everyone grow.

Thinking together about not-knowing.

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🚌 Education Learning Discussion Innovation Philosophy Workshops
  1. People often face decisions with incomplete information, which is called not-knowing. It's important to develop skills to navigate unknown situations well.
  2. The series aims to explore how to think clearly about not-knowing and improve decision-making in both personal and professional contexts.
  3. Understanding not-knowing can lead to better happiness and innovation. Learning to embrace uncertainty is essential for adapting to a complex world.

Talk to Smart People (And Read)

Rounding the Earth Newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🚌 Education Learning Research Discussion Critical Thinking Note Taking
  1. Engaging in discussions with knowledgeable people can enhance understanding and promote learning. It's beneficial to connect with those who are willing to explore and challenge ideas.
  2. Organized note-taking is a useful habit that aids in retaining and processing information over time. Visual aids like graphs can make complex ideas easier to understand.
  3. Taking the time to read and research independently is important for developing one’s own understanding. Personal exploration may lead to a deeper grasp of topics than simply consuming others' interpretations.

✂️200k Tech Layoffs,🔧 Top10 Skills in 2025,🤹 GenZ Career Gaps,🧑‍🏫 Learning Quotient

Work3 - The Future of Work • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
💼 Business Tech Skills Workforce Learning Career
  1. Connecting risk-free capital with hiring sprees can lead to layoffs and damage a company's brand, culture, and long-term growth.
  2. Artificial Intelligence will assist workers in their tasks rather than completely replacing them in the future.
  3. Employers are seeking individuals with a high Learning Quotient (LQ) who can think quickly, problem-solve, and adapt to changing technologies.

How to stay motivated while learning Java?

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming Learning Motivation Refactoring Testing
  1. When learning Java, start by writing code as if you're in a procedural language to ease the transition
  2. Writing unit test cases is important to become a seasoned Java programmer; it helps validate your code
  3. Refactor your code by breaking logic into simpler methods, identifying and grouping methods/variables into classes, and reviewing your code for improvements

Must Learn KQL Part 12: The Render Operator

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Data Analysis Visualization Learning
  1. The Render operator in KQL allows you to turn data into visualizations like area graphs, bar charts, and pie charts among others.
  2. Using KQL to create visualizations is crucial for tasks like developing dashboards in Microsoft Sentinel, providing real-time insights to security teams.
  3. Learning to transform data into graphs and charts can make information more engaging and appealing, especially for visual or hands-on learners.

When is the "Right time" for Culture Change?

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
💼 Business Productivity Technology Process Improvement Learning
  1. Delaying cultural change can hinder productivity by increasing irrational thought-patterns and the challenging tasks ahead.
  2. It's essential to address difficult tasks promptly, such as learning new technologies or improving recurring processes, to avoid accumulating a backlog of tasks.
  3. Take proactive steps to prevent delaying important changes and maintain a balance in addressing various tasks effectively.

Learning to learn, playing slowly

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 10 Oct 21
🚌 Education Learning Teaching Music Technology Mental health
  1. When learning something new, it's easy to procrastinate or feel overwhelmed. Taking a slower approach can actually help you learn better.
  2. Playing slowly is key to mastering skills, like music or coding. It allows you to understand the basics without getting frustrated.
  3. Don't be afraid to make mistakes when learning. Embracing the messiness helps you improve and learn faster in the long run.

The Hardest Part

CTOrly • 39 implied HN points • 05 Aug 22
🚌 Education Writing Motivation Self-Improvement Learning
  1. Starting is always challenging, but it's not the only difficult part; other complexities follow.
  2. Success depends on evolving definitions, simplification, and finishing well, not just starting.
  3. Knowing how to finish and what to start are crucial; consistently starting without finishing may reveal underlying issues.

Cracking the Code: Mastering the Art of Reading Code for New Developers

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Programming Code Review Development Process Learning Collaboration
  1. Effective code reading is crucial for new developers transitioning to team projects.
  2. Short on time? Quickly skim code for key elements like comments, naming, and test coverage.
  3. Investing more time in code review allows for deeper analysis, potential refactoring, and identification of tech debts.

Notes from the Week - Week 25

Notes in the Margins • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Coaching Beliefs Community Curiosity Learning
  1. After making a significant change, it's important to articulate goals clearly, have a growth mindset, and give yourself permission to be curious
  2. Building a business is challenging, but surrounding yourself with supportive friends, family, and mentors can help in navigating the ups and downs
  3. Including fun and learning in your routine, and exploring the world around you, can contribute to personal growth and satisfaction

A fun no-calculator Problem [Math Monday]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 23 Aug 22
🚌 Education Math Learning Tutoring Problem Solving Interview Preparation
  1. The newsletter shared a fun math problem that doesn't require advanced knowledge, great for problem-solving practice.
  2. The author offered a limited-time 50% discount to celebrate almost 50 questions completed in the newsletter.
  3. There was a special request for readers to fill out a form to recommend the newsletter to Substack for more visibility.

Using Visualization to create better solutions [Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 16 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Visualization Math Computer Science Algorithms Learning
  1. Visualization helps in learning and problem-solving by making connections and identifying patterns.
  2. When visualizing complex ideas, start small by breaking down components and building up from there.
  3. Developing visualization skills requires a strong understanding of the concepts and practicing visualization techniques regularly.

"Bẩn thỉu và mất dạy"

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 179 implied HN points • 10 Aug 20
📖 Philosophy Debate Learning Reflection
  1. When engaging in debates, focus on understanding the other person rather than attacking them. It's an opportunity to learn and correct mistakes.
  2. The attitude you bring to a debate influences the outcome. Debating to win might not lead to real learning, while debating to learn can lead to personal growth.
  3. Success in a debate isn't just about winning arguments; it's about being open to learning and improving by acknowledging mistakes.

Ramanujan, The Langlands Project, and Fermat's Last Theorem [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jul 22
🚌 Education Math Research Learning
  1. The Langlands Project seeks to connect Geometry with Algebra, which is a significant development in mathematics.
  2. Connecting Geometry with Algebra has helped solve important problems like Fermat's Last Theorem, leading to substantial recognition and rewards.
  3. Even if you're not into math research, being aware of projects like Langlands can impact various aspects of the world and help you benefit from advancements in the field.