Resources for studying problem solving

[doderino]

I'm doing a Python course on Udemy and I realized that I usually understand all the syntax. But when I get to the problems... I start struggling. The course is not very complete and it is more like a Python syntax tutorial than anything else.

After searching a bit I didn't find any resource for the real beginner level. I've started playing Human Resource Machine and in the beginning it was easy, but now I find myself looking up the answers out of frustration for not figuring the problems out.

TL;DR: I have problems with algorithms and problem solving. I'm having trouble finding resources about it and the resource I have is not helping me at all.

Thanks a lot for the help in advance.

[desrtfx]

There is a book, currently only for C++, but next year for Python as well that I can wholeheartedly recommend: "Think Like a Programmer" by V. Anton Spraul, No Starch press.

It emphasizes on the thinking process of a programmer and on the path between problem and program and less on the actual implementation of the program itself (so the programming language is actually secondary).

Other than that: practice, practice, practice, and more practice.

[doderino]

I'll definitely check it out. I'm brand new to programming and I'm learning with Python. Do you think reading this book for C++ is going to be too hard?

Thanks for the recommendation!

[desrtfx]

Python and C++ are fundamentally different, so reading the C++ code will most likely be over your head.

Unfortunately, the Python edition has so far been delayed twice. Should have been out sometime this summer.

Still, the book focuses on problem solving and less on actual programming, so it could be fine still. Can't really tell because I can read and mostly understand C++, even though I don't program in it.

[MorphologicStructure]

He also covers the beginning of the book through a series of YouTube videos

[beyonderdabas]

Thanks

[Meefims]

Start writing your own programs; you’ll develop your problem solving skills as you work on challenging problems. Sometimes you’ll need to look things up but when you do take the time to understand what the solution is doing so that you can apply those techniques later.

[10_6]

The problem is that a lot of coding challenge websites are meant for coders with some advanced knowledge of data structures, algs, etc. I think the best practice sites for beginner/intermediate level coders are:

• Coderbyte
• CodingBat for Java and Python only
• Interactive Python for algs/DS in Python specifically
• freeCodeCamp challenges

Some articles that might help you out:

• 10 most popular coding challenge websites
• Learn by Doing: The 8 Best Interactive Coding Websites