The art of programming is a never-ending fight, whether you’re a computer science student, a veteran using the GI Bill to select your next mission, an aspiring self-taught developer, or a participant in a coding. Here are seven suggestions on how to code more quickly, courtesy of the Coding Dojo instructors, to aid your learning.
1. Get faster at learning to code by doing.
The sooner you open experimenting with the code when learning a new subject, the quicker you will pick up the concepts being taught. Even if you breeze through a chapter of reading and an issue like for loops appears easy enough that a monkey could do it, you’ll still be baffled when asked to put the code into practice for the first time. You’ll ask yourself, “Wait, what was that one syntactic rule again?” When learning to legend, the ancient adage “use it or lose it” applies because, despite the advancement of technology, it still holds.
2. Acquire fundamental programming skills by learning them.
Fundamentals of programming must always come first, no matter how simple they may seem; the better you comprehend these concepts, the simpler it will be to learn more complex ones. As we get into more advanced content, such as back-end programming, students who speed through the beginning of our courses, where we concentrate primarily on web development foundations, are frequently the first to run into difficulties. Therefore, before skipping chapter one of an online tutorial or the first lecture of computer science 101, consider that you are missing the most crucial stage of learning.
3. Manually code. It improves proficiency, which you’ll need to land a job.
Coding by the arm is still one of the great ways to learn how to program even when computer monitors are getting smaller, hard drives are getting lighter, and programming languages are getting more powerful. Coding by hand necessitates more care, accuracy, and thought behind each line of code written in a notebook or whiteboard. Because you can’t test handwritten code midway through the sheet to see if the work is accurate, unlike on a computer, this restriction will make you a more basic sound developer, both in class and on the job market, even though it takes more time.
You will need to code by hand for college examinations and technical interviews, which are an essential part of the hiring process. Not only is this beneficial for learning, but it is also widely recognized as the best way to assess a programmer’s skill. As an output, get in the habit of starting early.
4. Request coding support. You’ll require it.
As fantastic as it would be to become the next Steve Jobs on your own, the truth is that learning occurs more quickly when peers and mentors are involved. A new set of eyes or a different way of looking at the issue could rapidly solve what can seem like an intractable issue or topic. Ignore the trolls, and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance because every programmer has been in your position, whether online or in person. In addition, most developers enjoy writing code, and knowledge sharing is something enthusiastic people find enjoyable.
Caution: At Coding Dojo, we advise adhering to the 20-minute rule. Before requesting assistance, spend at least 20 minutes figuring something out on your own. The likelihood is high that the solution is right in front of you; furthermore, overcoming challenges helps you become a more proficient programmer.
5. Seek out more internet resources. There is a ton of information.
Keep your composure if a topic is confusing, whether in a textbook or during a lecture and hunt for alternative internet resources to learn the same material. Everyone knows differently. Therefore it doesn’t indicate that you’re doing something incorrectly if one source doesn’t make sense to you. It suggests that the way the material is being delivered to you is not clicking. There are several internet tools available to learn computer programming, and there is always a blog post or lesson that will make the subject matter incredibly plain.
6. Read the source code as well. Play with it!
Understanding how it operates requires more than just reading example code. You must run the code and fiddle with it to gain a thorough grasp. With the inclusion of comments and directions, example code is packed to be by the reader; in reality, it’s hard to recreate from spam. Reading is not similar to comprehending, and writing the code yourself—or at the very least, running it—will significantly speed up the learning process.
7. Whenever debugging, take pauses.
Debugging can easily lead to hours of lost time, and there is no assurance that the issue will be resolved. It’s better to take a little break from it and come back to it with new eyes to avoid this. This will not only guarantee that the issue is resolved, but you’ll also prevent hours of agony. To follow up on our last advice about getting advice, if assistance isn’t accessible, think about taking a break to relax and come back later. The bug won’t go away in the interim, but you’ll at least regain some sanity to increase productivity.
Keeping your cool will help you learn to code more quickly.
Despite these seven suggestions, confidence is the key to learning programming more quickly. Because being an expert at anything takes time and effort, you should be prepared to fail frequently while making progress. And if even the slightest doubt ever creeps into your mind, remember that every programmer who has gone before you on this journey was just as meant to become a developer as you are. The only issue standing in the path of success at college or a coding is your effort to put in the effort and endure.