So, I'm just starting out in programming, and I'm feeling a bit lost. I'm a non-technical founder of a startup and want to learn coding so that I can build a prototype or MVP myself while waiting for a technical co-founder. But I have a lot of questions about how this all works. Do programmers really memorize all the syntax for coding, or is there a different approach? With AI tools out today, I can often just copy-paste code and even ask AI to debug it, yet I'm told that it's not the best method long-term. I also want to know if my journey as a beginner will be the same as someone who aims to land a Software Engineering job. How can I transition out of tutorial mode and actually start coding effectively?
3 Answers
The syntax is actually the easy part of coding. What's tougher is writing something that meets your real needs. You’ll want to ensure that whatever you build can be expanded and is market-ready. So it's more about understanding the problem and coming up with a solution that fits than just memorizing syntax.
You definitely don't need to memorize everything! Just like learning any other language, you pick up vocabulary and concepts over time as you use them. You will have to look things up occasionally, but that's totally normal. The more you practice, the more you'll start to remember key elements naturally.
I think you're looking at this from the wrong angle. Start with small tasks and make specific changes to code. When you hit a wall, that's when you look up how to solve the problem. Each time you find a solution, you learn what's necessary, which helps you gradually remember syntax and principles. Once you start breaking down larger problems into smaller tasks, everything will come together.
That makes sense! So, it's more about problem-solving than just memorizing. I'll focus more on hands-on tasks to learn.