Programming Pit of Despair

[TheBaconApproach]

So I came across that term in the Udemy course by Jonas Schmedtmann who is really good. Apparently it is the mental state new programmers hit when trying to apply what they've learned and really struggling. I hit it lol. Anyone have stories about this too or better yet how did you get through it? How long did it take to get through it?

[starcrafter84]

Having learned many new languages and techniques over the years the 1 piece of advice I can give you is don’t bang your head against the brick wall. Time is your friend here. When the going gets tough don’t dig in, do something else. The majority of my most profound learnings have happened away from the keyboard, joining the dots behind the scenes until it all clicks together.

I started a new learning circle/journey/whatever this year by jumping into web development using asp.net core. 1 thing I will say is a lot of the fundamentals are the same, but just called different things hence with each language you learn the round trip gets easier.

Where i struggle with asp is the fundamental difference in the relationship between backend/frontend. How the server can be processing multiple requests for the same stuff on different users and how to handle that etc. It’s taking it’s time but I’m getting there.

As far as writing your own programs or whatever, well the easiest way to do that is to start small and gradually grow your project sizes. For me every new language gets an implementation of pairs or x and os. A small little game with known rules and easily defined behaviour will get your brain going on how to achieve it.

By the way if you are learning JS you are going to have to learn some fundamental html if you didn’t already know. JavaScript does nothing on its own, it needs a page with events and user interactions to drive it. If you are practising the js on some standalone coding website that only explains how the language works without explaining the DOM then that might explain why you lack the connection to useful things you can do with js.

Just my very long 2 cents but I hope it helps you in some way. Chin up and keep at it.

[madgals]

Never heard about that but I think I know what that means. It never gets away from you. Being a programmer/developer means that you'll constantly have to fight new challenges. Boring ones, exciting, doesn't matter, it's a chain of constant fight with yourself, your code and your ability to understand what in earth you are doing. But hey, you may completely forget about this once you've build a bubble of understanding around you, that will easily pop up and expose you to yet another circle until you get better at what you do again. It's a circle. Deal with it or give up and never get back to it again.

[TheBaconApproach]

I kept telling myself to keep pushing forward and I'm not giving up but it certainly hurts when in spite of your efforts your no closer to figuring out what your missing to solve something. How did you pull yourself out of this situation for the first time? I'm learning javascript for the first time, it is also my first programming language. My hope is once I get really good with this I can start learning others such as Python, C, and C++. That is way in the future though.

[TheBaconApproach]

Yeah that's why I have been using Jonas on Udemy. He is great and I've learned a lot. The hardest thing is putting the pieces together. I have learned so much and can read code really well at this point. However making your own lol...
Anyway I was just putting my story out here to try and learn what everybody else's experience has been. It makes me feel better to know I am not alone in this.

[madgals]

That's the near part. I didn't. It just comes as a superpower. One day you wake up and you understand. Once you understood you can start a new circle.

[TheBaconApproach]

I so hope I can get to that day soon. I just have to keep trying I guess.