A question for those seasoned with experience, say I want to learn some new technique or method, and to do so I would primarily need to learn two things, one is theory of the topic itself, and the other is the tool that allows the application of the theory. Both tasks would be rather intensive, that is, it would probably take me 6 months to a year of intense study to feel comfortable with either one. In situations like this, how do you decided which to learn first ? In your experience, what has been more beneficial?
Also I should add, with either one there is some learning of the other but no where near as deep.