The KEY To Thinking Like a Programmer (Fix This Or Keep Struggling)
Summary
TLDRThis video script delves into the mindset of a programmer, debunking the myth of a 'secret sauce' taught at elite institutions. It emphasizes that programming is fundamentally about solving problems through code. The speaker suggests adopting a methodical, scientific approach to problem-solving, breaking down complex issues into manageable parts—a technique known as decomposition. The script also introduces the concept of thinking algorithmically, akin to following a recipe, to achieve desired outcomes in programming. The speaker encourages viewers to apply these strategies to enhance their coding skills and potentially embark on a career in software development.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Thinking like a programmer is not about a 'secret sauce' taught at elite institutions but rather a set of tangible strategies and mindsets that can be learned and applied.
- 💡 The core of programming is problem-solving; programmers write code to address specific problems, whether they are small or large-scale.
- 🔍 Adopting a methodical approach to problem-solving is crucial for programmers, which involves having a structured and orderly thought process.
- 🔬 Drawing an analogy to the scientific method, programmers should approach coding with a hypothesis, experiment, and iterative refinement process.
- 📚 Learning the syntax of a programming language is essential, but it's equally important to develop an ordered and structured way of thinking about problem-solving.
- 📉 Decomposition is a key concept in programming; breaking down large, complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts facilitates easier problem-solving.
- 🍃 Like a leaf decomposing into its elemental parts, programmers should decompose problems into their fundamental components to tackle them systematically.
- 🛠 Programmers excel at not seeing an application as a monolithic entity but as a collection of smaller parts that can be individually addressed and built.
- 📝 Thinking algorithmically means creating a 'recipe' or step-by-step process to achieve a specific outcome, much like following a cooking recipe.
- 🤖 Recognizing that computers do not 'think' or guess what the programmer wants is vital; programmers must provide explicit instructions for every desired action.
- 🚀 Starting with simpler projects helps new programmers to grasp the concept of algorithmic thinking and gradually build up to more complex applications.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video script about programming?
-The main focus of the video script is to explain how to think like a programmer, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving, methodical thinking, and the process of learning to code.
What misconception does the script suggest people have about programming?
-The script suggests that people often believe there is a 'secret sauce' taught at prestigious universities that is not available to the general public, which is not true. Programming is more about adopting certain thinking strategies.
Why is problem-solving an essential part of programming according to the script?
-Problem-solving is essential because programming is fundamentally about writing code to solve problems, which can range from small to complex ones, like creating applications like Facebook or Gmail.
What does the script suggest as a way to demonstrate methodical thinking in programming?
-The script suggests adopting a 'scientist mindset' where you set up experiments, record observations, and iteratively test hypotheses, similar to the scientific method.
How does the script define 'decomposition' in the context of programming?
-Decomposition, as defined in the script, is the process of breaking down a large, complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts to make it easier to approach and solve.
What is the significance of thinking algorithmically according to the video script?
-Thinking algorithmically is significant because it involves creating a step-by-step process or 'recipe' to achieve a specific outcome, much like following a recipe in cooking.
Why does the script emphasize the importance of not seeing an application as a whole but as individual parts?
-The script emphasizes this because it allows programmers to tackle each part methodically, making the development process more manageable and less overwhelming.
What is the role of the user interface in the problem-solving process described in the script?
-The user interface is part of the problem-solving process where programmers must consider the components that will be on the screen, how data will be displayed and interacted with, and the overall user experience.
How does the script describe the common mistake made by beginners when learning to code?
-The script describes a common mistake as beginners assuming the computer can read their mind, expecting it to understand what they want without providing the exact steps or 'recipe' in code.
What advice does the script give for those starting to learn programming?
-The script advises beginners to start with simpler projects, learn the programming language syntax well, and practice thinking in terms of steps and structured processes.
What does the script imply about the nature of the computer in relation to programming?
-The script implies that the computer is 'dumb' in the sense that it cannot guess what the programmer wants; it requires explicit instructions through well-structured code.
Outlines
🤖 Understanding the Programmer Mindset
The speaker addresses the common question of how to think like a programmer, emphasizing that there is no secret knowledge exclusive to top institutions. Instead, they highlight the importance of adopting a structured, methodical approach to problem-solving, akin to a scientist's mindset. The essence of programming is to write code that solves problems, which can range from simple to complex. The speaker encourages viewers to think more methodically, comparing the process to a scientific method, where hypotheses are tested and refined through experimentation. This approach is fundamental to learning to code and becoming a software developer.
📚 Breaking Down Problems and Decomposition
This paragraph delves into the concept of breaking down large problems into smaller, more manageable parts, a process known as decomposition. The speaker illustrates this by comparing it to the natural decomposition of a leaf into its elemental components. In programming, this involves dissecting a project into its core functionalities and user interface elements. By understanding the individual parts that make up an application, such as inputs, displays, and buttons, programmers can more effectively approach building the software. The speaker also discusses the importance of recognizing that a computer requires explicit instructions, much like a recipe, to achieve the desired outcome, rather than assuming the computer can infer the programmer's intentions.
🍲 Algorithmic Thinking and the Recipe Analogy
The final paragraph focuses on algorithmic thinking, which the speaker describes as akin to following a recipe to achieve a specific result. They use the example of cooking a dish like chili to illustrate the need for precise steps and ingredients to achieve the desired outcome. This concept is crucial for new programmers who must understand that the computer requires clear, step-by-step instructions to perform any task. The speaker advises starting with simpler projects to grasp this concept and emphasizes the importance of learning the programming language's syntax to think more algorithmically over time. The paragraph concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts and an offer to join the speaker's mentorship program for further learning opportunities.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Programmer
💡Software Developer
💡Problem Solving
💡Methodical Thinking
💡Scientific Method
💡Decomposition
💡Algorithmic Thinking
💡User Interface (UI)
💡DOM (Document Object Model)
💡Mentorship Program
Highlights
The key to thinking like a programmer is understanding the fundamental nature of programming as problem-solving through code.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no 'secret sauce' taught at elite institutions that is withheld from the general public.
Tangible strategies exist to adopt a programmer's mindset, making learning to code and entering the field more accessible.
The speaker's experience with clients in mentorship programs provides insights into the transition from novice to software developer.
The necessity of adopting a methodical approach to problem-solving in programming, akin to the scientific method.
The importance of viewing programming as an iterative process of hypothesis, experimentation, and refinement.
The analogy of a scientist's structured approach to experimentation as a model for programmers' problem-solving.
The distinction between learning programming syntax and developing a structured thought process for problem-solving.
The concept of decomposition in programming, breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts.
The challenge of overcoming the feeling of being overwhelmed by large projects by decomposing them into elements.
The practical example of building an expense tracker application to illustrate the process of decomposition.
The necessity for programmers to visualize both the user interface components and the underlying actions of an application.
The importance of understanding that an application is a collection of features and functionalities that need to be methodically developed.
The concept of thinking algorithmically, akin to following a recipe, to achieve a specific outcome in programming.
The common mistake of assuming the computer can read the programmer's mind, rather than providing explicit step-by-step instructions.
The importance of starting with simpler projects to build a foundation in algorithmic thinking before tackling more complex applications.
The speaker's mentorship program as a resource for those interested in learning to think and program like a professional developer.
Transcripts
yes the million dollar question for many
of you guys who watch my channel is
how do i think like a programmer right
like how do professional software
developers people who are getting paid
to do this thing
versus how i think what is the
difference there what is the gap well
many people will think that there's some
secret sauce taught at mit or stanford
that they're not teaching the general
population that's the thing you're
missing but
the truth is it's not really like that
at all in fact there are some tangible
ways to think
more like a programmer and if you
utilize these strategies let's call them
or ways to think like a programmer
it will make your life easier and it
will set you on a better path
to learn to code better to get that
first job and that's exactly what i want
to cover in this video
i want to base it more off of my
experience of seeing
many people go from not knowing much to
actually becoming software developers a
lot of the clients who i work with in my
mentorship program
and even to just distill it down to it's
very basic so
without any further ado let's just kind
of dive right in here to get to the core
of what it means to think
like a programmer you first have to
really get crystal clear about what
programming is because i think
people think you're just like writing
code all the time and that's all it is
really what being a programmer is is
you're writing code
to solve a problem that's the that's the
simple as you can really get
right so the problem could be very small
or it could be very big
right so for example if you want to take
something that everybody pretty much
knows like facebook for example
was at one point it didn't exist right
mark zuckerberg was sitting in a dorm
room and he thought wow if i get people
to connect
that'd be really cool and i think that's
a problem so he solved that problem
by creating a large software application
a very complex one
or maybe it was something simpler than
that but still complex let's say google
back in the day they saw that all the
email clients out there weren't very
good
so they're like let's go ahead and
create our own email client and they
created gmail something that didn't
exist they thought could be really good
could solve a lot of people's problems
and a bunch of software developers coded
that up so
when you hear that you have to be a good
problem solver that's where this idea
comes from
that's where this buzzword comes from
because ultimately as a software
developer you're solving
some sort of problem you're creating a
solution using code
so with that all being said here i
really want to introduce this idea of
thinking more methodically right so if
you're going to solve problems you
have to think more methodically which is
basically means
you have more structure to how you think
you're more orderly in your thoughts
and i think the best way to demonstrate
this for if this doesn't really make
sense
is to think about a scientist and adopt
what i would call a scientist mindset
when it comes to programming
so scientists like you know go back to
your high school days when you're
learning about chemistry when you're in
the lab and you're mixing elements and
you're recording everything
that's basically the way that you want
to be as a software developer just like
if a scientist had a problem right to
say they wanted to create gold
from just random elements in the
periodic table which is a really cool
idea by the way you should definitely do
this
hint it's not possible so say you wanted
to do that you'd set up an experiment
where you mix
certain amounts of two elements and you
try to make gold now
if that didn't work you'd examine and
try to figure out why didn't that work
when i mix
nitrogen and oxygen together obviously
that didn't work why didn't that work
maybe you'd come up with another
hypothesis
maybe you change the amounts the the
chemical amounts and try to mix it again
and see what happened and you keep doing
that over
and over and over again and the
scientific method is a good
analog to software development and
thinking more methodically right so
a lot of people when they get into this
they struggle with
learning to code because they learn the
syntax but when it comes to the actual
problem solving part of it
they don't have an ordered and
structured way of thinking about things
so that's the first thing i really want
to plant in your head as far as thinking
more like a programmer now before we go
on to my next point here i just want to
briefly stop and say if you've enjoyed
this video thus far please go ahead and
go
down and smash that like button below
also if you haven't subscribed to my
channel i cover
all things self-taught programmer
related so definitely go down there and
smash the subscribe button
also make sure to hit the bell icon so
you get notifications anytime i put out
a new
video okay so if you understand that
thinking like a programmer means being a
good problem solver and thinking
methodically well from there then the
next thing that i noticed that really
separates
a lot of what i call amateurs like
people who are just struggling to learn
to code they're watching tutorials not
really getting it
to those who are starting to get
traction and is really starting to
understand how to think more like a
programmer
it's really about breaking down problems
like big problems
into smaller problems right so you bring
break down something big into its
smaller
little requisite parts and this is
called decomposition
just like when a leaf falls from a tree
and it dies it breaks down into its
smallest parts its elements
its cells that's the same way that you
want to approach
problem solving i've worked with so many
people when i signed them a really hard
project to do a really hard problem to
solve
the most people just get overwhelmed by
it right they see that there's a really
hard problem it's a really big
project they get overwhelmed they're
like i don't even know what to do
well what they're the problem with them
is they're seeing the problem as a whole
they're seeing the project as
in its hole in its entirety and they're
unable to break that down into its
smallest parts
so when you have a problem when you have
an application a project that you want
to build instead of seeing it as this
big problem you have to solve and
not really knowing what to do you want
to methodically break that down
into its requisite parts and this is
what programmers do really really well
they don't see an application they see
some
they see something a piece of software
that does a bunch of stuff and hey maybe
it has a user interface
so if you're going to build a let's say
an expense tracker right you want to
keep track of your expenses on a
day-to-day basis
it's going to be really simple you have
to think to yourself not only from a
user interface perspective okay so if
you're going to build the ui the look
and feel of it you have to think
like what are all the components going
to be on the screen right so maybe
you're going to have some inputs where
you can input some information
you have to figure out in your head okay
where are they going to go and then how
are you going to display
that data they're going to be is going
to be like a table there what are the
columns in the table going to look like
and how can i delete
items from each one of those so they
have to have a delete button
can i edit each one of those so you
start to think about this
even if you think about it in your head
you can just sort of see exactly what
you need to do what the user interface
is comprised of
so that's sort of the what now each
application or project that you're going
to do is also going to have
an action to it right what is it going
to do
right so for example your expense
tracker application is going to allow a
user to
create an expense it's going to allow a
user to edit an expense and it's going
to allow a user to delete an expense now
maybe you're going to add more than that
maybe you're going to allow users to log
in so we can save that to a database
maybe maybe not but either way you're
kind of deciding everything that your
application is going to do because once
you've broken this down into its
requisite parts
then it's a lot easier to not only
approach building it right so you can go
through one by one and sort of either
build out the user interface or
you can actually start creating the
functionality right you can actually
make
the expense tracker create a new expense
but even beyond that before you start
writing any code you can see the big
picture and see
all the different parts and see what you
maybe want to throw out and maybe if you
are going to build this in a certain way
because you see
all of the different features that
you're going to build so that's the
first thing i've noticed about thinking
more like a programmer is programmers
are really good about not seeing
everything as a whole
they see thing as little tiny parts that
they can go through one by one
and build it out the last piece of the
puzzle when it comes to thinking more
like a programmer is
by far the most challenging to i'd say
explain but also the most challenging to
actually adapt to your normal thought
pattern
the next thing i'm going to show you is
really how to think algorithmically
so thinking algorithmically is a fancy
way of saying
thinking more like a recipe right when
you create a certain meal
you follow a recipe that's basically
what you do as a programmer you create a
recipe to provide a
specific result because if i'm going to
create chili achilles one of my favorite
dishes by the way definitely recommend
it
you know i know the certain amount of
ingredients i have to have tortilla
chips onions simmering sauce to name a
few
and i have to cook that in a very
specific way if i don't cook that the
exact way if i turn the temperature on a
little too long or i cook it a little
too long or the temperature's off or i
mix the ingredients the wrong steps the
wrong intervals the result i'm going to
get is dramatically different from what
i want
and so this is really really important
for you guys who are new
and this is really important as well for
why you want to start on simpler
projects
projects that are easier to do than
jumping into some of the harder projects
for example i assign people when i work
with them one-on-one to do
something like a to-do app for example
one of the you know most common
applications
that you're going to do but what i'm
able to observe when people first start
coding is that they often assume that
the computer
knows what they want to do right they
can sort of read their mind like hey
when i press a button i want a
thing to show up on the screen i want a
little li a list item to show up on the
screen
and that's one of the problems that
you're going to have instead of thinking
that
in order to show something on the screen
i have to access the dom
i have to create an li element i have to
add some text into that li element
you sort of just assume that the
computer knows what you want to do
and this is the the biggest leap and by
the way all the stuff i'm explaining to
you can't really be learned through a
lecture i can't just go through a
lecture and say okay here's how to think
more algorithmically
one of the things you have to do is just
go and try to do it
you have to learn the programming
language the syntax better and it
becomes more clear
over time how you have to think more in
terms of steps like step-by-step process
as opposed to just like i write some
code and it does what i want
because if you've ever heard this term
before i think i've said it on my
channel a few times
the computer is really dumb so you can
write some software to the for the
computer to
do pretty much anything by the way like
pretty much anything that you write
and code can be done on a computer but
the problem is that the computer doesn't
ever really can't really guess what
you're trying to think and that's where
most people get wrong when they start
getting into code is that they think
that if they
learn to the syntax of a programming
language that
that will be enough to get any outcome
they want but they don't realize that
they have to
get the exact recipe down for whatever
outcome they want whether it's
to do app whether they want to create a
financial trading application you can
actually create bots now that
you know trade currency and that sort of
thing or trade stocks
but you are the director of that and you
have to really break that down into it
step by step so that's where it sort of
ties in with decomposition
with thinking more methodically and
thinking more algorithmically alrighty
so those are my thoughts on how to think
more like a programmer if you enjoyed
the video or want to share your thoughts
on how to think more like a programmer
please go down below and leave me a
comment other than that if you're
interested in working with me in my
mentorship program i will leave details
down below in the description of how
you can potentially join the program
other than that thank you so much as
always for watching and peace out
everybody
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