- Practice. Yeah, other people said it. It's that important.
- Find a mentor. You'll improve slowly just from practice, but finding a mentor will force you to get up to their level at a much quicker pace.
- Read things. Books, blogs, whatever. If you have an active interest in it, read it.
- Use new technologies. Never heard of Node.js before? Stop and figure out what it is. Try it. Even if you hate it, you will have been better for learning about it. (Node.js is just an example I pulled out of thin air. This applies to ANY new programming thing you read about and is new.)
- Get a job. Even if it's a crappy programming job, nothing makes you learn faster than having a boss telling you to do things faster and better.
- Find a mentor. You'll improve slowly just from practice, but finding a mentor will force you to get up to their level at a much quicker pace.
- Read things. Books, blogs, whatever. If you have an active interest in it, read it.
- Use new technologies. Never heard of Node.js before? Stop and figure out what it is. Try it. Even if you hate it, you will have been better for learning about it. (Node.js is just an example I pulled out of thin air. This applies to ANY new programming thing you read about and is new.)
- Get a job. Even if it's a crappy programming job, nothing makes you learn faster than having a boss telling you to do things faster and better.