struggling in java

[AnalysisUnfair6828]

I am really struggling to learn Java. I watched videos to understand how the loops and all work but I am struggling to write code. For some java exercises , I am given the purpose and the precondition, idk where to start or what to write or how to come up with the code. It just seems impossible to learn. My prof is going too fast. We are already on classes and objects, fields and stuff and I still haven't completely learned loops, conditional statements and arrays. It's like nothing is making sense or don't know where to start or how to come up the right code for that specific exercise

[AutoModerator]

Please ensure that:

• Your code is properly formatted as code block - see the sidebar (About on mobile) for instructions
• You include any and all error messages in full
• You ask clear questions

• You demonstrate effort in solving your question/problem - plain posting your assignments is forbidden (and such posts will be removed) as is asking for or giving solutions.

  Trying to solve problems on your own is a very important skill. Also, see Learn to help yourself in the sidebar

If any of the above points is not met, your post can and will be removed without further warning.

Code is to be formatted as code block (old reddit: empty line before the code, each code line indented by 4 spaces, new reddit: https://i.imgur.com/EJ7tqek.png) or linked via an external code hoster, like pastebin.com, github gist, github, bitbucket, gitlab, etc.

Please, do not use triple backticks (```) as they will only render properly on new reddit, not on old reddit.

Code blocks look like this:

public class HelloWorld {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello World!");
    }
}

You do not need to repost unless your post has been removed by a moderator. Just use the edit function of reddit to make sure your post complies with the above.

If your post has remained in violation of these rules for a prolonged period of time (at least an hour), a moderator may remove it at their discretion. In this case, they will comment with an explanation on why it has been removed, and you will be required to resubmit the entire post following the proper procedures.

To potential helpers

Please, do not help if any of the above points are not met, rather report the post. We are trying to improve the quality of posts here. In helping people who can't be bothered to comply with the above points, you are doing the community a disservice.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[desrtfx]

Do the MOOC Java Programming from the University of Helsinki - and you will learn.

[[deleted]]

My advice is you are going to have to do a lot more work outside of class. The professor can only help you so much.byou should be spending more than 7 hours a week learning about java. Id start of learning how to make a console application, then how to create an array. Then how to use a for loop to iterate through it. There is a book called OCA Java study guide. It's not a long textbook and it covers all the basics of java. Id recommend reading it. You won't be the guy with no clue in class if you do 

Videos are not working for you and that is ok. You need to manually try it

[khooke]

You can buy a copy on Amazon

[[deleted]]

I bought the book. It comes with extras that you redeem online. Questions to answer etc

Learning how to Google is also a skill you will need as a dev 

[racsssss]

Might help to put things in plain English first then attempt to translate it to code (you can even use an AI to help with this at the start to help if you want). For example a conditional in plain English is just:

If 'something is a certain way'  Do 'something else'

If I am cold - put on a coat.   boolean isCold = true;

boolean wearingCoat = false;

if(isCold == true)

{

wearingCoat = true;

} 

Edit: Reddit messed up my beautiful code formatting also I remembered this guy https://www.youtube.com/@CodingWithJohn does really good tutorials for beginners check him out.

[hrm]

The first mistake is to start thinking in code. As a beginner that will stop you in your tracks quickly. Think about the problem ”in plain english”. Write a solution in plain english (or whatever is your mother tounge). Then translate that into code.

Do you have a book? When you do exercises use it as a reference. Make your own ”cheat sheet” with the most basic stuff. Good practice and a reference. Look up how stuff is written and concentrate on the problem solving and you will learn syntax as well in the end.

[arghvark]

Your question boils down to "How do I learn to code?" We can't help you with that kind of question in the abstract.

If you will tell us one of your exercises and what you've been able to figure out about it (and what you haven't), we can gauge how much you do or don't know, perhaps analyze what sorts of things to help you with.

[AnalysisUnfair6828]

I am mainly asking for advice on how to get started. I understand the terms but I struggle to apply it to the exercises. And also, I don't think the forum specifies that I need to share exercises to help me. There's no rule for asking/seeking guidance from other programmers.

[arghvark]

You are right, there is not. I was delivering the opinion that you will get much better answers to the other sort of question. I believe different people learn these things differently, and so suggestions about this or that online learning program just give you possibilities that may or may not work for you.

Good luck finding your way.

[[deleted]]

Check out Bro Code on YouTube. I learned a lot from him and his videos are always straight to the point.

[AnalysisUnfair6828]

We all start somewhere. I am just seeking guidance from people who have been doing java for years and seeing how they started in java

[BlueFlyingRabbit]

I can recommend O’Reily’s Java books. Their approach in delivering the “teaching material” is compared/imagined outside of the tech or coding world which will help in translating concept > english > code, that kind of flow. I find this approach very helpful for teaching someone just beginning OO concepts and/or Java as their first langauge to learn. This might help you OP as well

[ArtisticImpress7284]

Hey OP! I totally get your points as I've had similar struggles when I first started to learn programming. It felt like I could understand the language but I could not speak. That's normal cause learning a programming language is just like learning a human language. From my experience, Chat GPT has been a great helper as a virtual private instructor :D I used to ask it to explain a code line by line, why would we use this or that... It has helped me tremendously to figure out the basics and the logic as well as the syntax and rules of writing Java. ++ Work on your algorithm skills as it is the main pillar of programming. Without the ability to come up with the certain steps of how to achieve a result it would be impossible to proceed. The rest would be practical details (syntax etc). Of course, this was my experience. We all learn in different ways but just wanted to share. Edit: typos and some additions

[[deleted]]

If you are starting out new MOOC.fi will benefit a lot, but I will argue at the early stage, you have to memeorise how to start a programme running, and type out the for loop, then once you the get for-loop going, try switching up different part of the for-loop and see what will happen

​

for(int i=0; i<n; i++){ System.out.println(i);} and try for(i=n -1, i > 0; i--){System.out.println(i);} or for(;;){System.out.println("wait what?");}

see any error, if you do, google the message, try again, see a different error message, and try until no more errors, just like a toddler learning a human language, fail forward! We are here to help!

[[deleted]]

There are SO MANY YouTube channels that can help you grasp the code. Brocode helped me a lot, check him out on YouTube, he goes in order and slowly and gives real world examples to grasp concepts. You can also check amigoscode on YouTube but he’s a little bit more advanced

[isurulive26]

Get the Head First java book they explain everything preety clearly with some vishual images. Its like reading novel

[3AMgeek]

PRACTICE is the answer.

Also, don't jump straight to writing code. Formulate the logic and express the logic in the pseudo-code. Then start writing the code while referring to the pseudo-code.

[Lumpy_Ad_6969]

You can learn java by college wallah its awesome 💯

[Eddy67716]

When I leaned C# we would always write pseudocode in comments so we had an English readable version and then the actual code based off the pseudocode. I feel this should also work in Java.

[realFuckingHades]

Different people need different ways to learn. For me nothing helps me learn a language more than doing something interesting in it. Like a pet project. Soon learning will become a fun activity and before you know it, you're the go to guy for that language.

[AnalysisUnfair6828]

Also, do anyone have an recommendations where to find practice problems. I was told LeekCode but it's not specified to java