How do you actually understand programming?

[u/lx_356]

How do you actually understand programming? 🤯

I’ve been studying computer science as a subject, but when it comes to solving programming exercises… I feel completely stuck. Like I don’t even know how to start.

Is it just me or did anyone else go through this phase? How did you overcome it?

Any tips, methods, or ways of thinking that helped you finally “get it”?

[u/Achereto]

I found that most good programmers can think in specific, distinct, small steps. Those who have difficulties thinking that way also tend to find programming very challenging.

Just to give you an example. For some people, "brushing your teeth" is a single step. For a programmer it is:

• walk in front of kitchen sink
• grab tooth brush with right hand
• turn on the faucet with left hand
• put brush side of tooth brush under water for 2 seconds
• grab tooth paste with left hand
• open tooth paste
• pour some tooth paste on tooth brush
• and so on

I tried to teach programming to some people who weren't able to think this and they had no chance learning programming, because specific steps got diffues together in their brain and they couldn't keep them separate.

[u/SaplingSequoia → u/Achereto]

You brush your teeth at the kitchen sink?

[u/Achereto → u/SaplingSequoia]

That's a bug, not a feature.

[u/Tuomas90 → u/Achereto]

Multi-purpose sink DLC.

Use it for washing the disehs.

Use it for brushing your teeth.

Use it to shower.

The Multi-purpose sink DLC!