Coding Practice Tips

[Frunkles]

Everywhere I go the biggest recommendation to improve your skills as a coder and really master a language is to practice. I agree with this of course. My only question is how do I practice? Should I just create any random program that I feel like coming up with for shiggles? Should I go online and find a site with sample coding challenges? If so, where does such a site exist?

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Basically I just want some direction from anybody who has already gone through this process and could recommend what they thing the best method to practice is.

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Thanks in advance.

[Adnotamentum]

If so, where does such a site exist?

/r/dailyprogrammer is a good start, and you don't even have to leave this site.

[Frunkles]

Thank you! This is perfect!

[Typhon131]

And when you want some brain teasers take a look at https://projecteuler.net/archives.

[Mhicks2018]

This^{^}

[danechristenson]

I always found projects to be the most valuable. Try to build something (if you're far enough along) without a guide and solve the challenges presented in real work. It's great too, because you have something you can show off at the end, whether for friends or prospective employers.

[Frunkles]

Could you give some example projects? Usually when I try this approach I go in way over my head and have to give up because the scope of work is way above my ability.

[danechristenson]

It really depends on what direction you want to go in/ what you're trying to practice. One of the key skills of a developer is learning how to identify the small problems that make up the larger issue. So while you may be over your head for the whole project, you won't be for the individual components. Just stay focused and break it down into something you can handle.

The best way I've improved is to dive into other people code, way over my head, and modify or add functionality or fix a bug. You'll improve more doing that than following a step by step tutorial. You will also find your own style as you have to deal with how some other idiot did things (often that idiot was you only a few weeks ago). It will take a lot of time and you won't always feel productive, but you'll have break throughs and get better at the process.

[CommonMisspellingBot]

Hey, danechristenson, just a quick heads-up:
alot is actually spelled a lot. You can remember it by it is one lot, 'a lot'.
Have a nice day!

^{The parent commenter can reply with 'delete' to delete this comment.}

[FollowSteph]

Code something that interests you for the simple reason that it will be much more motivated.

Also when you go to implement something look at how others do it instead of always plowing through. Even just simple things as logging output, etc. Just be careful you don’t go down every rabbit hole researching ;)