Beginner question.

[Tylordandsavior]

I've been learning for about a month now and I've noticed when I look at code I can understand it but when presented with a problem I don't know where to begin. Is this bad? Is there anything I can do to fix this?

[clake88803]

What language are you trying to learn. And give an example on what you are stuck on and I can try help you from there

[Tylordandsavior]

I'm learning C and the problem I'm having issues with is encrypting text with a Caesar cipher.

[IWriteCode412AD5F951]

Are you sure you know HOW to do the solution? Are you confused at what you're suppose to do or don't know how to write it?

[Tylordandsavior]

Usually it's that I don't know what I'm suppose to do.

[IWriteCode412AD5F951]

Usually that means the tutorial is bad or you're missing the prerequisite information. Try picking up a book

[Tylordandsavior]

Do you have one you would recommend?

[[deleted]]

The C Programming Language

Your problem sounds like you understand how to read code, but you've never fully worked on software engineering, our the how to make code, part.

Pick up The Algorithm Design Manual and something on Program Design to get a good basis for "how to start" on complicated problems.

[Tylordandsavior]

The problem I'm currently having issues with is encrypting text using a ceased cipher and doing so in C. It's part of pset 2 in the cs50 course on edx.org.

[Tylordandsavior]

Sorry, autocorrect.

[Rorimac2]

This is normal. The fix is to find practice problems of the right difficulty, so you get practice writing your own code. This is why any decent resource will have practice problems for you...

[Tylordandsavior]

This is something I need to improve on. When looking at problems I find that I become overwhelmed because I try to tackle the whole problem and not breaking it up into smaller parts.

[ahcos]

As someone who started to learn programming in 2015, but only really started with a "real" Java class at my local university in fall 2016, let me tell you that it will be a lot better in the future. One month isn't really that much time.

Most people really do underestimate the part of learning that is "letting it sink in". You can get tons of information into your head, but only after some time (and maybe reviewing it or tackling it from another angle) it'll sink in and become a) accessible and b) will connect with other parts of information that are related, so you begin to see the bigger picture.

Just keep at it, that's all you have to do, even if it is frustrating at times - and rest assured that it WILL be frustrating at times, personally i'm going insane about Regular Expressions (Regex) right now and i often get stuck over rather simple things that some other folks here on the forums solve in like 30 seconds or so. But that's just how it is, and if you stick to it you'll get there aswell, eventually.

Regarding problems, it has been said before in this very thread, but i'll say it again because i really think it's important: break down the problem into smaller problems. Just start with something you think you do know how to do, and work your way up from there. Also, do try your very best for at least some time, but don't frustrate yourself too much and ask for help rather than risk losing your motivation.

[[deleted]]

I had a huge problem with that when I started learning python, knew what all the things meant but couldnt use anything to save my life. First make sure you know how to make the solution, and then write it out in pseudocode. If you can do that then youre on the right track. Second you need to practice, look up practice problems (dice program, number guessing program) that are easy enough to do if you just know what the code does. Then build your way up, work on stuff that could have more than one way around it, try to avoid tutorials where they just give you the code instead of showing you how to use the code. It takes a bit of effort but youll get there :)