4-step guide to solving coding problems (with JavaScript code examples)

My early career as a self-taught software developer can be defined by three distinct traits:

1. Absorbing and practicing everything I could, wherever I could, whenever I could, in order to understand my craft;

2. Feeling consistent urges to gouge my eyes out and go back to working at the United States Postal Service whenever a missing semicolon would break my program for six hours or more;

3. Suddenly receiving 6-10 daily coupon deals from local chain pizzerias once I started learning PHP and didn’t have the physical or mental fortitude to make dinner myself.

The first six to twelve months of learning software development on your own are brutal. Not only are you stuffing your brain to the point where it feels like it’s about to literally explode, you’re also perhaps competing with naggingly negative thoughts about your competency.

Nothing quite destroys confidence quicker than failing a so-called simple coding challenge, or having a hard time reading JavaScript examples from the Mozilla docs.

Going from Level 0 to Level 1 in this industry takes time, patience, and failing. Lots of failing. Leveling up here is more difficult than any other level. It’s also where most people who are trying to become developers not only quit — but stay quit.

If you feel like you’re at that level 0 and are ready to take a step forward, today I’m going to help you by showing a four-step process to assist you in solving any single coding problem.

Whether you’re doing coding challenges on places like Code Wars, figuring out a feature for one of your personal or portfolio projects — you could even use this technique at technical job interviews to really illustrate to your employer what a process-oriented thinker you are — save this video to a playlist and come back to it when you need guidance in solving a coding problem.

#code #programming #codenewbie
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[reet]

Litterally searched “why can’t I solve a single codewars problem” and this video popped up. I feel so lost and drained. I want to understand JavaScript with all my heart. I’m still learning to think like a programmer and solve problems. Litterally cried watching this video. Thanks for your uplifting commentary and describing your 4 step process.

[tofulosophy]

My brain was literally hurting from coding and problem-solving when I stumbled across your video. I am new to js and it's all overwhelming. I found your video at just the right time. It soothed my mind and gave me hope. Thank you!!!

[guitarbuddha]

This was really helpful for any language. Even being in IT currently it’s easy to feel dumb and you have to keep trying. Glad you mentioned too how you can feel tired from these mental exercises and that’s okay

[ayanshukla]

I felt oddly safe in the first 2 mins of the video, I literally judge myself so hard and consider myself logically incompetent when I do the simplest of problems. Thank you for addressing that.

[MilMike]

I have been doing this "rewrite the problem in my own words in notepad" for years. And also the pseudocode part. Solid advice.
Sometimes the problem is so complex that you need to group it in smaller problems.
If I am still stuck, I try to reverse the solution. I start with the output and pseudocode my way up.
It can also happen that you think the solution needs to be complex, sometimes a complex problem can be solved in a simple way, which you don't know yet, search for similar problems or solutions, even from different industries which can be applied in your code.

[orincywhytedesigns]

Gonna watch this again. Thank you so much !!! I’m struggling with the problem solving. The wildest part is every time my brain is always almost there that’s always when I check the solution and then feel horrible that I didn’t push through. Man what a crazy venture I’m on

[sera]

Your method is a neater version of what I've been doing all along. You've helped me streamline this process, while also making me feel less insane in the process.

Such a huge confidence boost to know my thinking skills were already on the right track. Now to hone and refine by problem solving abilities. Thank you so much!

[joelmatthews]

The opening of this video really put into perspective my journey so far. Thanks!

[joetrsm]

Thank you so much! You described and gave the best examples! I feel so much more confident approaching any coding challenge now. Sometimes all you need is someone to just lay out the simple steps that need to be taken and the rest of the path becomes clear. Thanks again!

[michaelkornblum]

Hi, Miss Candy. Color me impressed. This has to be one of the most informative videos you have done in your entire YouTube career. Excellent work.

[EddyMunsta]

I feel like you made this video for me. Thank you. It's made a huge difference in my ability.

[MattMacEgan]

Im currently at the gouging my eyes out part. it can be so frustrating some times but this video helped a lot thank you!

[deansolistino]

Let’s be honest— the wording to problem is often ambiguous to the Nth degree

[sonoftroy]

That is a great idea for practice exercises, taking small math word problems and thinking through them like a program issue to solve

[sherribooher]

Wonderful advice! I wish I had known you (and your YouTube channel) when I was learning to code!

[TJ-rwjn]

This is great "Candy", A little "Tough" to chew at first and surprisingly "Real" sweet! Your intelligence is quite apparent with this approach to a particular coding problem. Love it ! Nice Work!!!

[asherintech]

Ok I'm only a minute in and wanted to say thank you for the reassuring intro! I've been self-teaching for the last 6 weeks and am still struggling to solve basic JS Kata on Codewars thinking it must just be me...None the less I know I'll eventually get it if I'm persistent and work hard everyday.
Going to enjoy coming back to this video whenever I need that reminder, you've earned yourself a subscriber, so thank you :)

[zpiyzuh]

Awesome, thank you so much for making this!

[Eddy-lyml]

Please do more of these videos it's really inspiring and helps with breaking down problems! Even easy problems!

[detroitbuffalo]

This was great! Please do a few more examples of turning problems into language (using javascript, of course). If you wrote a very short ebook on this subject, I'd gladly buy it (hint, hint)!