What’s the Best Way to Learn from Reading Other People’s Code?

Choose projects you actually use and start from an entry point you understand. Aimless reading might not yield results, but fixing issues or adding features could enhance your learning experience significantly.

Instead of just reading code line by line, try rewriting it! Change variable names and adjust parts as you go. This will force you to think critically about why things are done a certain way. If you stumble upon something confusing, just look it up! Rewriting helps reinforce the concepts better than passive reading.

When you're tackling someone else's code, start by understanding what the code is trying to achieve. Make an assumption about how you would solve the problem yourself, then compare your solution with theirs. It's a good idea to look at various criteria like speed, readability, and reusability. If you're really stuck, try researching the problem itself before diving into the code.

It's way easier to read code for projects related to something you’re already familiar with. Look for projects that provide documentation and have tests. This way, you can trace the usage from a known point, which makes it a lot less daunting to comprehend the overall structure.

If you're diving into complex projects like Linux kernels, expect to struggle a bit. Instead, look for simpler projects or self-contained demos. These are much easier to grasp and can provide better insights without overwhelming you.