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How do most programmers know what exactly to type when coding?
How do most programmers know what exactly to type when coding?
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16 answers
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David’s Answer
It's fair to assert that the majority of programmers aren't immediately sure what to input when faced with a coding challenge. Typically, the process involves a substantial amount of contemplation, strategizing, and investigation to formulate an effective solution. Key factors to contemplate prior to crafting lines of code include comprehensibility, sustainability, and proficiency. Naturally, the more seasoned a programmer is, the quicker they can generate sturdy solutions. However, this doesn't negate the fact that Google is one of their most valuable resources. Mastering the art of utilizing Google to their benefit is a skill that most programmers gradually acquire to assist in their routine work responsibilities.
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Christopher’s Answer
Programming is a implementation of logics.
When typing, you need to implement your logic for the problem exactly.
So you should THINK FIRST and then type in order according to your logics.
And then you need to know SYNTAX of each programming language. Logics are similar but syntax different.
Hope to be helpful for you.
When typing, you need to implement your logic for the problem exactly.
So you should THINK FIRST and then type in order according to your logics.
And then you need to know SYNTAX of each programming language. Logics are similar but syntax different.
Hope to be helpful for you.
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Indu’s Answer
Programmers should initially focus on thoroughly reading and understanding the problem statement before beginning to code. It's crucial to comprehend the issue fully and devise a solution strategy. Once a solution is conceptualized, they should jot down pseudocode or outline the steps in simple English in a notebook. This preliminary planning helps in structuring their thoughts and ensures a clear roadmap for coding. Only after this preparation should they translate their pseudocode or outlined steps into actual code. I wish you Happy Coding!!!
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chandrashekar’s Answer
The secret lies in practice. Strengthening your basic skills is crucial. Once you've got a firm grasp on the basics, you'll start to recognize patterns and know how to solve problems correctly. It's similar to learning how to ride a bike - the more you practice, the simpler it gets. Keep going, you're doing great!
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Fred’s Answer
Coding is really 90% thinking, and 10% typing.
You spend a lot of your time thinking about the design, about what you want your code to do, and researching how (and if) someone has already done something similar.
As you get more experience, things get easier. You spend less time trying to figure out some of the low level details. You may figure out you need to iterate through a list. If you've done that sort of thing a thousand times, you don't spend much nailing down those details, as you can almost code them from muscle memory. But if you DON'T know how to do it, you spend time researching.
You spend a lot of your time thinking about the design, about what you want your code to do, and researching how (and if) someone has already done something similar.
As you get more experience, things get easier. You spend less time trying to figure out some of the low level details. You may figure out you need to iterate through a list. If you've done that sort of thing a thousand times, you don't spend much nailing down those details, as you can almost code them from muscle memory. But if you DON'T know how to do it, you spend time researching.
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Rob’s Answer
You can't and won't ever know it all from memory. It is too much and is constantly changing as computer science improves.
Focus your effort on learning the concepts of programming. How to use variables, arrays, matrices, basic logic, order of operations, and the foundations of computer science. These can all inform you in any language and help you successfully write code. Then as you choose a language learn the basic syntax, and how the lanuage works. As you get familiar with using it you will begin to remember the parts you use frequently. Become familiar with Google, how to search for code, and how to understand if the result it gives you will work for your use case. Sometimes it can take a few tries to get the natural language search to return the correct code snippets, but you can almost always find what you need.
Doctors don't know every disease... they take time and look things up... coders can (and do) too.
Focus your effort on learning the concepts of programming. How to use variables, arrays, matrices, basic logic, order of operations, and the foundations of computer science. These can all inform you in any language and help you successfully write code. Then as you choose a language learn the basic syntax, and how the lanuage works. As you get familiar with using it you will begin to remember the parts you use frequently. Become familiar with Google, how to search for code, and how to understand if the result it gives you will work for your use case. Sometimes it can take a few tries to get the natural language search to return the correct code snippets, but you can almost always find what you need.
Doctors don't know every disease... they take time and look things up... coders can (and do) too.
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Sean’s Answer
When working on a solution while coding, there is a lot of thinking that has to be done. First you want to figure out, what is the problem I am trying to solve, and what might be the best way to go about it. Think about breaking it down into smaller and easier chunks of logic, and then tackle each portion one by one.
This is a lot easier to do the more that you know about coding, as well as syntax. I recommend learning about basic programming logic and the different things you are able to do with it (if, if/else, loops, arrays, etc). Even if you don't necessarily know exactly what you want to do but can explain it, google is a great help. Learn to get good at googling to find different answers because there are so many resources available to view different syntax or methods that you can use that are built into the language, or forums where people have asked similar questions.
Taking all of this together, instead of a giant daunting problem, you are just solving a lot of smaller and easier tasks that end up leading to the end goal of a fully working program. It also makes it a lot easier to debug your problem as you can go through each smaller section and figure out where any issues are (I highly recommend getting good at commenting as well to know what you were thinking as you look through code, both during a project, and in the future if you want to go back and reference).
The longer you are in this field and continue to solve these problems, the less you'll have to be googling things as you already know what code you should be writing. It's all about experience for knowing what to put in there. Don't worry about not knowing things in the beginning and making mistakes, you learn and grow the more you code!
codecademy.com has some great resources for learning the basics of coding/syntax
This is a lot easier to do the more that you know about coding, as well as syntax. I recommend learning about basic programming logic and the different things you are able to do with it (if, if/else, loops, arrays, etc). Even if you don't necessarily know exactly what you want to do but can explain it, google is a great help. Learn to get good at googling to find different answers because there are so many resources available to view different syntax or methods that you can use that are built into the language, or forums where people have asked similar questions.
Taking all of this together, instead of a giant daunting problem, you are just solving a lot of smaller and easier tasks that end up leading to the end goal of a fully working program. It also makes it a lot easier to debug your problem as you can go through each smaller section and figure out where any issues are (I highly recommend getting good at commenting as well to know what you were thinking as you look through code, both during a project, and in the future if you want to go back and reference).
The longer you are in this field and continue to solve these problems, the less you'll have to be googling things as you already know what code you should be writing. It's all about experience for knowing what to put in there. Don't worry about not knowing things in the beginning and making mistakes, you learn and grow the more you code!
Sean recommends the following next steps:
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Ryan’s Answer
Hi Joseph, looks like you already have a bunch of answers, but I would still like to chime in. Most programmers know what to type when coding through a combination of education, experience, and problem-solving skills. They start by learning the syntax and principles of programming languages, which they then practice through exercises and projects. Over time, familiarity with common patterns, libraries, and frameworks helps them recall and apply the right code for specific tasks. Additionally, programmers often reference documentation, use online resources like Stack Overflow, and collaborate with peers to find solutions. Debugging and iterative testing also guide them in refining their code. Ultimately, it's a blend of knowledge, practice, and continuous learning that enables programmers to know what to type.
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Walter’s Answer
Before you start writing lines of code, you need to think about what *kind* of problem you have, and what the pieces of the solution will need to be, at a higher level. It is sort of like how, before you build a house or even draw a blueprint of the house, you answer questions like "how many bathrooms do I need", "what room do I spend most of my time in", "does this need to be a tall skinny house or a short wide house". You don't start by thinking "I'm going to put a board here and then another board next to it"; instead, you start by thinking about the overall layout of the house, what kind of rooms it will have, how they should connect to each other. Then you break it down into more and more detail, until you are finally prepared to start the construction.
There is an excellent book called "Design Patterns", that every developer should own. It is a collection of different "building block" concepts that you can use in your design.
Code that is designed from patterns is easier to read and understand, and more likely to work the first time, compared to code where someone just started typing without having through through the solution at the design pattern level first.
There is an excellent book called "Design Patterns", that every developer should own. It is a collection of different "building block" concepts that you can use in your design.
Code that is designed from patterns is easier to read and understand, and more likely to work the first time, compared to code where someone just started typing without having through through the solution at the design pattern level first.
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Rafael’s Answer
Hi Joseph! Experienced programmers have a good grasp of what to type when coding due to their familiarity with programming languages, problem-solving abilities, use of documentation, experience, and learning from others. They understand language syntax, break down problems effectively, and consult references when necessary. Practice and trial-and-error also contribute to their proficiency in writing accurate code. Keep coding and never stop learning.!
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Marco’s Answer
Practice, practice, practice!! Once you use a programming language enough, it can become as easy to recall as your first spoken language. Most programmers still have to look things up from time to time and that is normal. If a programmer sits down and immediately knows what to type for a problem, odds are they have seen and worked on that problem many times before.
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Tenchy’s Answer
We don't. A good chunk of our time is spent searching for code samples on Google or using resources like Stackoverflow. It's available, so why not take advantage of it? The internet is a fantastic tool for supporting your daily work tasks, as well as for learning new things. Youtube is another great resource. Remember, it's okay to be kind to yourself. We're all in a constant state of learning and relearning every day.
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Kevin’s Answer
Hello Joseph,
In my journey so far, I've found that when I receive a ticket, I dedicate a substantial portion of my time to understanding the problem, recreating it, and then seeking out a solution. When you've already got a potential solution in mind, it's quite common that you can find a comparable syntax within the same codebase to guide you. If there aren't any similar syntaxes available, then our best bet is to turn to the internet, Google to be precise, and search for similar examples. I trust this advice will prove useful to you. Thank you!
In my journey so far, I've found that when I receive a ticket, I dedicate a substantial portion of my time to understanding the problem, recreating it, and then seeking out a solution. When you've already got a potential solution in mind, it's quite common that you can find a comparable syntax within the same codebase to guide you. If there aren't any similar syntaxes available, then our best bet is to turn to the internet, Google to be precise, and search for similar examples. I trust this advice will prove useful to you. Thank you!
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Chinmai Sai Eshwar Reddy’s Answer
Hi Joseph,
Programming is more about planning your approach than just typing out code. Most of the time, you'll find yourself figuring out the best way to tackle a problem rather than worrying about the exact syntax. Once you've got a plan, you can easily find the specific commands and codes you need online.
Experience also makes a big difference. As you code more, you'll start remembering certain commands and won’t have to look them up every time. So, focus on learning how to solve problems effectively and the syntax will become second nature with practice. This strategy will make your coding much smoother and faster.
Programming is more about planning your approach than just typing out code. Most of the time, you'll find yourself figuring out the best way to tackle a problem rather than worrying about the exact syntax. Once you've got a plan, you can easily find the specific commands and codes you need online.
Experience also makes a big difference. As you code more, you'll start remembering certain commands and won’t have to look them up every time. So, focus on learning how to solve problems effectively and the syntax will become second nature with practice. This strategy will make your coding much smoother and faster.
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Jon’s Answer
The more practice and experience in the field the easier to it becomes to create and craft coding solutions based on logic and analysis of the problem at hand. At times it's hard to remember everthing and that's definitely when Google is your friend.
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Ivan’s Answer
We mostly focus on what we want to code to do (what actions does it need to perform) and does it have all the necessary ingredients to be able to perform them.