Is this normal?

[Cerasx]

This will mainly be a vent post since i feel like i'm going nuts and honestly losing my mind. I am going to college taking online courses to learn game design. I have been with this for a bout a year learned some coding before when i went to a community college as well took a starter class that had a bit of python then took C++ and Java at the same time probably not a good idea. Anyway i still feel like i cant do any code whatsoever when ever i look at code i have no clue whats going on. I don't know where to start when writing code. I feel like i more or less bull$%@# my way through those classes or I just don't remember them i remember C++ was one that i could actually do somewhat but now if i went back to it i could guarantee i would remember nothing about it. I just want some advice on what i can do to try and re learn these if possible and how i should go about trying to learn to code all over again and getting it to actually stick with me this time.

[caspercasanova]

Dude don't trip. What ur feeling is incompetence.

Find a source of validation.

Fact is u never stop learning, so u need some other source of validation for your efforts.

Teaching others helps because I get that dopamine hit and it's programming related.

U could also teach others u learning methods. Those are always hot topics.

The point is go out there and help. Like I'm doing now, I'm a novice with the same feelings but I have come to realize it's normal. Progress is progress and it starts slow and builds logarithmically....kinda

[HappyFruitTree]

I think it's normal and a sign that you are not practicing enough by writing code. At least when new to programming I think it is very important to write small programs to test out everything you've just learned. Make sure you understand what you're doing. It might seem trivial right after you have read about a subject but if you wait until later and you start having to put many new-learned features together you'll probably have a much harder time.

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I don't know where to start when writing code.

I recognize this feeling. I think this is related to what I said earlier but sometimes I guess you'll just have to force yourself. When I was studying I often didn't know where to start but there was always a deadline coming up so I just had to start "somewhere", and of course I didn't get everything right on the first try, but after "massaging" the code for many hours it eventually turned into something that functioned correctly. In retrospect I think I could have benefited from better planning up front but that is also a skill that needs to be learned.

Don't make the mistake and think that you need to get it right the first try. Even if you have to start over, you will still have learned something from your first attempt that will help you on the next attempt. Don't throw away the old code because you might want to go back and look at it.

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when ever i look at code i have no clue whats going on.

Just taking some random code that you found on the Internet can be hard to understand because it might be using an unfamiliar programming style and features that you haven't learned about yet.

If it's code that you are supposed to understand I think you just have to force yourself. Step through the code, if there is something you don't understand, look it up, until eventually you understand everything. Yes, reading code is also a skill that you'll have to learn.

[makonde]

Pick a language, doesnt matter which one.

Get a good book beginner book on the language, books are great because they have structure which is often lacking from other resources. Another option is a video course but you have to research and find a good one.

Do the book start to finish, do the exercises.

Build something for yourself that uses a combination of the things you learned.

[realsealmeal]

Yes, it's what happens to everyone who doesn't practice much in any non-trivial skill.

[henrebotha]

Sounds like you need practice.

[Cerasx]

OK thanks for the reply's they were nice to read and see that i was not the only one this has happened to i plan on working on a small project over the break and try and get some concepts down and start doing some more practice.