Ask HN: How do I get better at solving issues (while coding)?

#1

Post by hsxd » Tue, Oct 24, 2017, 2:08 PM UTC

I've been hobby coding for 4-5 years (I'm in my early 20s) because I find it fun. Despite being diagnosed with ADD, I recently decided to pursue a SWE degree and it's been intense but fun. I had an exam today and failed it, largely due to inability to solve an issue. In hindsight it was a fairly easy issue, but I'm pretty disappointed in myself. I know the syntax and how it all goes together, it's just the solving part that's so damn hard for me.

How can I improve my problem solving skills?

Re: Ask HN: How do I get better at solving issues (while coding)?

#2

Post by wu-ikkyu » Tue, Oct 24, 2017, 2:31 PM UTC

Working together with others (i.e. pair programming) can be very useful in helping you gain alternate perspectives on how to solve different problems.

Edit: I should add that I learned more in a 2 hour pair programming session as a junior dev with a senior dev than I did in a semester long programming class at university.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get better at solving issues (while coding)?

#3

Post by togusa2017 » Tue, Oct 24, 2017, 11:13 PM UTC

I think it's about finding a pattern in the problem you have solved before . With experience and spending time on a problem things will become more clear . But I would recommend spend time and try to understand the root cause and it would help in the next problem you have