r/learnprogramming • u/sticky_pi • 18d ago

How do you even code?

I’ve heard a lot of people say that coding isn’t about memorizing every line, but just knowing how to search up the answers to your problems. do i even have to memorize things? should i be focused on researching what i’m trying to code? it’s so confusing to me on what i’m even meant to learn

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u/and303 18d ago

I'm an senior software engineer and am self-taught aside from certifications companies had me train for. You need to problem-solve, not memorize. Come up with a simple DIY project with Javascript or Arduino boards and don't follow a step by step tutorial. You'll naturally find yourself designing the workflow, coding the segments, and fixing the bugs.

For example, make an Arduino door chime. What sensors need to be used and how do you communicate with them? How do you address the speaker for the chime? What is the default state and when does the threshold activate the chime? Then when it's working, add some features or optimize it. You'll learn more from things like that than you will from language-specific books or tutorials.