Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Android

Posted by Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
14,189 Points

Should I stop using Treehouse?

Well, I am one of many who is just about fed up with the way that things suddenly changed on the Android track. I'm a beginner Android developer, and I'm really motivated to learn the latest and greatest skills for developing. I went through the Java track, and was making my way towards the finish line of the Android track when all of the sudden.... I was watching videos from over two years ago that used an old version of Eclipse (not Android Studio), and expected us to follow along using deprecated libraries etc, etc, etc. What I find even more upsetting is that NO ONE from the Treehouse community has answered whether the courses will be updated. There are 7 month old forum posts about this issue and they've been ignored. Honestly, I love treehouse. I have learned so much from it.... but I am also paying monthly for it. I think many of us feel cheated that the courses just sort of drop off the end of the earth like this... and we're left paying for confusing and inaccurate course material. I really cannot decide whether I will end my subscription (with tears in my eyes)... or if I can muster the patience to wait it out. It's a road block to our learning... Ben Jakuben ... please tell us when we can expect to see up to date material... I don't want to leave this behind.

troy beckett
troy beckett
12,035 Points

I'm having this same problem with treehouse currently. Once you've learnt the html, css and a bit of javascript. I find the content of nearly all other videos are really poor. For example I was doing the PHP development track and it hit me 3/4 of the way through that I'm learning nothing.

But in the back of my head I'm thinking stop being lazy. What's hard is Treehouse is a product I believe in. The website is clean, friendly and trustworthy. There is no place I'd rather learn but and the end of the day I want to learn.

The best course on Treehouse is the one you start with the 'How to make a website' course. Not because it's easy but because of the way it's structure. I think every course should be structured like this. For example When I'm learning PHP rather than a load of videos of 'this does that and that does this'. I would prefer you start with a simple website that each step you add something to. Then at the end you have this cool website you can reference to. Not only would this be more mentally stimulating but also much more quicker to learn.

I'm finding nothing is being explained in context anymore which makes it hard to learn. I can only speak for myself but the way I like to learn is through constantly getting shown why. Why use this? this is what you can do when you learn this? You can't do this without that? and so on. Recently it has just felt like code that has no purpose

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
14,189 Points

I agree, Troy. I went through a good portion of the Web Design course and loved it. I learned a HUGE amount. Enough to get some clients and start a small business. I decided to switch to Java programming because to me, Java is such a powerful and fun language to code in. Plus, it's a language that is in such high demand right now. I am with you, I believe in Treehouse, their goal and mission, the way they want to reach students. It's not easy learning to program... not at all, but I do think that some of the courses here are a bit shallow in the sense that it leaves us wanting more. Someone once mentioned to me that that was the whole point. We're meant to feel challenged and left wanting more because that's the best way to learn. I can agree with that. There have been moments where I have had to really push myself to learn things the right way by doing hours and hours of research that could have been explained in one video. But I remember the material, and I don't make the same mistakes again. That being said... when the course material gets SO far from reality that one is left without a CHANCE of finding their way.... well... that's when things really become a problem for learning. Teachers are meant to point in the right direction, and we are meant to find our way to Oz from there. They are not meant to point in some direction that leads to nowhere, where we students end up dying of thirst in a desert of confusion and doubt. I got to thinking last night about all this... and I came to the conclusion that regardless of the desert I feel I might have been pointed to... there's a road between that desert and Oz that I can create using the resources available all over the internet. It won't be easy, but the strongest are those who have to make their own paths... so I'll get started on that today.

3 Answers

Jeff Wilton
Jeff Wilton
16,646 Points

I've done quite a few course here, including the entire Android App track, and that was the only one that kept changing for me. It was a bit frustrating, yes, and a lot of times they seemed to decide that the students should go back and learn more Java (which personally I didn't really need to do), but with knowledge being the ultimate goal I just stuck with it and kept pushing through and was finally able to finish the track. I found that I couldn't skip to the end of the Java videos and get credit for completing them, so I watched them at max speed :). I'd also like to say this, the field of computer programming is changing at an extremely rapid pace. I think by the time they release the Angular course it will be made obsolete by Angular 2 :). But tools, technologies, and versions aside, hopefully in your time here with Treehouse you are inadvertently learning principles of good programming (which apply to just about every language). And Just about every course I've taken here shows you where to go to find the answers you need. They take you about 50% of the way here, and then you need to continue that last 50% yourself. It goes back to the old saying "give a man a fish and he eats for a day. teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime".

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
14,189 Points

That's a good point Jeff. I too went through the Java course since the point of these courses is to learn, not just rack up the points. I've not had any trouble thus far in adjusting my code from what was taught in the courses to what was actually needed in Android Studio. I think though that Android programming is now SO very different from what is taught in the lessons that it becomes almost impossible for one to even find where to start searching for the answers (I've found that many times even the teachers notes hint to deprecated code). However, like you say, the objective here is to learn so that the next time we don't have to suffer as much to adapt to changes. It would just be nice if when we were learning things for the first time (like fragments in layouts) that things be a little closer to what is good practice now. I will just stay strong and do my best to finish the track at this point. After all, the basic concepts are what matter the most.

Jeremy Franklin
Jeremy Franklin
8,512 Points
Jeremy Franklin
Jeremy Franklin
8,512 Points

I started out on Code Academy and switched when their advice became "too sneaky". Sounds like I will have to switch teachers again when I get to Android :(

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
14,189 Points

It's really quite tragic in my opinion. The Android track was great up to this point. All the stuff was MOSTLY accurate and it wasn't too difficult to figure out slight differences. Once I hit the "Self-Destructing Messaging App" though, it was all down hill. No longer using Android Studio (back to the old Eclipse) and WAY outdated code (some of the key concepts have been deprecated at this point). Fact is, the video was filmed a LONG time ago, and I feel that Treehouse absolutely should have updated this by now. It's a little bit crazy that they haven't. I'm so hungry for more knowledge and info... but we're getting hung out to dry by the material. :(

Jake Nisenboim
Jake Nisenboim
3,374 Points
Jake Nisenboim
Jake Nisenboim
3,374 Points

I just started the Android Development track a few days ago. If you don't mind, I am curious what you think of their Java track? Should I take that first and then move to udacity and basically forget about their Android Dev course? Thanks a lot and I really appreciate your honesty and integrity ! I hardly know any code and I would love to have your opinion on how I can have the best shot at becoming an android developer.

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
14,189 Points

Hey Jake! If you haven't got any experience with code I'd say it would be a good idea to start in the Java track. You absolutely COULD get by simply starting the Android track, but I think learning the Java language from the ground up is a better idea. I speak from experience. I had some Java experience (from self teaching Java using books and other guides before Treehouse), but I decided that I would do the Java track first. I felt that it would make sense to have a solid foundation on which to build. Man was I right. The Java track will teach you the programing language used to design Android apps, but without all of the weight that comes with a GUI (Graphical User Interface). You'll start with the very basics, work your way through writing command line applications, and eventually reach the point where you will be ready to take on a GUI (like Android Studio). Once there, you will understand the core concepts being integrated into the GUI, and this will make your learning Android 100 times easier! I'm excited to hear that you're starting out. It's not an easy path, but you can do it! Every time a challenge arises and you feel like you're going to be stuck forever, just remember that you WILL make it through... there is help everywhere... and you must not lose determination and drive! In particular, take time to understand Data Structures... because this will be the most important concept you will apply later on. It took me weeks to get through that course, but thank God I took the time to do it right. Best of luck to you, and feel free to contact me at any point with questions or concerns as you make your way through the tracks!