I've been thinking about how in school, we often had to memorize formulas, like we'd never have access to a calculator. But in reality, it was more about problem-solving and knowing how to look things up as needed. This got me curious about programming. Back in the day, it seemed critical to have a lot memorized to avoid constantly stopping to search for things. Now, with the help of AI and various tools that assist with code writing, is that still the case? How much do you actually need to memorize in programming? Is it enough to grasp the concepts and understand what you're trying to achieve, while relying on resources for the details? Or do you still need to master core algorithms and data structures to be a competent programmer? I'm interested in hearing from experienced programmers about whether they find it's necessary to have these things memorized, or if the ability to look things up is sufficient for their work.
4 Answers
You actually need to know enough programming fundamentals to understand the AI tools you're using. If you lack that foundation, you might end up writing code that’s hard to maintain. Yes, you can look stuff up, but if you're not familiar with the context, it’s much harder to integrate those solutions into larger projects. It’s definitely a mix of knowing some core principles and still being able to research effectively.
Completely agree! You might be fine just Googling things at first, but as your projects get more complex, having that knowledge base becomes invaluable.
For most jobs, you’ll find that you need to learn some core skills and concepts. However, it's also essential to continually practice how to find solutions because you will always face problems that you haven’t encountered before. AI is just a tool in that learning process. The more you practice, the less you’ll need to rely on looking things up constantly.
Couldn’t agree more! It’s not just about code; it’s the thought process behind problem-solving that counts.
Yes! And remember, it's about mastering the foundational principles before diving deep into specifics.
In the real world, programming is a lot like an open book test. You don't really need to memorize everything; it’s more about knowing where to find the info when you do need it. That said, it takes practice to get comfortable with building complex systems. Understanding foundational knowledge helps you plan code effectively, but rote memorization of concepts isn't as crucial since you can always look things up. Knowing "of" things is more important than knowing them all by heart.
Right, and it's also worth mentioning that if you rely too much on AI or tools, you might end up with what’s called 'cognitive debt.' It’s easy to think you understand something when you've just referenced it instead of internalizing it.
Exactly! It's less about memorizing every detail and more about having a good grasp of the core concepts and knowing how to find the info when you need it. It really helps in architecting solutions.
Honestly, it depends on your specialization. If you’re diving into more advanced areas, like databases or systems engineering, having a firm grasp of those concepts is key. You won't necessarily need to memorize everything, but you should be familiar enough to know how to troubleshoot when things go wrong. The more diverse your knowledge, the better you can adapt to different tasks.
Exactly, it’s like being T-shaped—broad in general knowledge but deep in certain areas. That’s how you become more valuable as a programmer.
100%! Also, being comfortable with looking things up helps you fill gaps in your knowledge quickly, especially as tech evolves.
True, having that foundational knowledge helps you decipher what the AI-generated code is doing. Knowing when to question what you’re seeing is crucial.