Learning to think like a programmer can be challenging. Yet, it is something that can help you greatly improve your programming skills. This article will help you learn and master this important skill. Learn to think like a programmer and become better at your craft.

How to Think Like a Programmer Part 1.

See problems and challenges as opportunities to learn and get better

In the first part, you’ve learned about the importance of being persistent and patient. These two qualities are crucial if you want to learn to think like a programmer and to become a good one. One way to make this easier for you is re-framing. Stop seeing problems as problems, as something to be avoided.

Next, what you should do instead is see problems as opportunities, opportunities to learn, grow and get better. This is what problems are. Every problem is yet another opportunity for you to test your knowledge, skills and expertise and gain new experience. What if you fail? What if you encounter problem that is above what you can handle?

This means one thing and one thing only. It doesn’t mean you are failure or fraud. It doesn’t mean you are not good enough. It only means that there is something you can learn. There is a room for you to improve your skills and get better. It means you are not as good as you can be, yet. That’s it. Nothing personal.

Learn to deal with problem, the rational way

Every experienced programmer knows that feeling when you feel you are not getting anywhere. When you are stuck on some problem that seems to be well beyond your skills. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Remember what you’ve learned about giving up in the previous part.

If you want to get from beginner to advanced or veteran programmer is to keep going. You will never become a better programmer if you always run away when you encounter some difficult problem. Nor will you learn to think like a programmer. This is not a solution. When this happens, when you encounter a difficult problem there is a better thing you can do.

First, stop. Take a few deep breaths to bring back your rational thinking self. Second, analyze and understand the problem. Third, break that probably into smaller and more manageable parts. Fourth, create a plan to tackle, and solve, each of these parts, one by one. Fifth, start executing your plan.

#design development #programming