The KEY To Thinking Like a Programmer (Fix This Or Keep Struggling)

Is there something special to how programmers think that makes them good at what they do? In this video I detail how software developers think that allows them to solve complex problems and build robust applications.

🏆 * Paid Coaching *

[AndySterkowitz]

Do you have a better sense of what it means to "think like a programmer"?

[guitarman]

In my opinion, programming is 20% code, 80% problem-solving. If you cannot solve the given problem in your mind, you cannot write the code for it. Therefore, think BEFORE you code!

[joeBalt]

I learned that a big part of programming is identifying the problem and asking questions, even the wrong questions, until you arrive at the right question that will lead you to a solution.

[wisdomminer]

Major Points / Summary
1) Know what programming is. It is writing code to solve a problem. To solve problems you need to think more methodically. (Orderly and structured thinking. e.g. like the scientific method)

2) Breaking down problems. Break a hard and complicated problem down into multiple easy and simple problems. (Decomposition)
3) Think algorithmically. Think about turning the solution into a a recipe. (simple step by step instructions)

[OEThe]

What really changed the game for me was actually planning the finished project and then working backwards to its most basic parts of that project. Really makes things much simpler and easier to manipulate. But you gotta know the tools and ingredients at your disposal. Once you get that down, it's not bad at all

[umziwoxolodlodlo]

Now I get why Math is closely related to programming. They both contain the basics essentials of deep problem solving and algorithmic structuring of solutions.

[thesavoyard]

The main thing is to not be intimidated. Take on tasks you may not be able to do. You get stronger when you struggle.

[KeytarArgonian]

I have been coding C++ for the grand total of one week and already I feel this. Gotta tweak your mind to think logically, to click into the code. I still have 99% more learning to go but already I see what you mean. One thing I actually find myself doing is over complicating things. I’ll have an int, give it a number, give it an upper and lower limit then square one and then a while loop to print numbers and their squares and I had my head in my hands. Then, I realised all I needed was (x < 10) and that was it.

[cybler]

This video is spot on, problem solving and decomposition are so crucial but so hard to teach people. I learned problem solving in my early 20s as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force. I've used these skills for more than 20 years in programming, operations, support, management and in many other parts of my programming career.

[shaunk]

The best math subject to study for coding is formal logic. It really helped me understand how to solve problems using a logic structure that's easier to code later.
I agree with the video also, understanding the problem before you start programming is crucial.

[johndoggett]

You speak the truth Andy. Once you step away from tutorials and start building stuff all of the points you just made start making sense.

[AnthonyNicholson]

I love the small parts breakdown idea. User stories were something I learned at my bootcamp and it's super helpful in getting me started on any project!

[randomness]

🔴 Please make a video about: When to know is enough learning, and get ready to take the first project as a freelancer

[Troncoso]

You know that you think like a programmer when every decision in your life mentally starts with "if this than that result else this other result" which has it's pros and cons

[OfoeNelson]

I learned something recently. Import code of a website template with CSS and JavaScript files included into one window of your text editor. Now start typing the code line by line into another window using the template as your reference that way you learn what every single line of code is doing. You can even rearrange the code to see if you end up with the same results. Hope this helped someone.

[JPowerMMA]

I have a physics background and just got more serious about coding, and indeed noticed that it is a lot more similar to math and physics than I initially thought. It’s high level problem solving!

[hubertvelasquez]

I feel you touched on something very true. Programming felt tough at first but, with the added knowledge of discrete math, you start seeing how it is it is to solve problems when you take the time to structure and create algorithms, pick apart the problem into small bits and then it s just watching your syntax depending on the language

[RozzmanLists]

3:00 "That didn't work - WHY didn't that work?" is the key.
Every mistake or mishap holds very valuable information. People who only want to make a mistake go away, miss the lesson this mistake teaches them. Whatever led to the (unexpected and undesired) outcome was a set of logical circumstances, not malice. If you make the effort to reveal the underlying logic and understand what caused the effect that you just observed, you'll learn a lot from it.

[LordDewi]

I think that being a musician, having written some of my own music, has helped me tremendously with learning to code, and actually coding.

[drewt]

Very good tips. To enhance the skills, I'd suggest writing the simple app you come up with in one language then write the exact same app in another language. For example, a ToDo app in JavaScript and then also in PHP. This will really reinforce your understanding of the basics of thinking like a programmer.