Programming is a creative and rewarding activity, but it also involves making mistakes. Sometimes, these mistakes are easy to spot and fix, but other times, they can be frustrating and time-consuming to resolve. How do you handle common programming errors and learn from them? Here are some tips to help you out.
One of the most essential skills for a programmer is debugging, which means finding and fixing errors in your code. Debugging tools can help you identify where and why your code is not working as expected. For example, you can use breakpoints, console logs, error messages, and watch expressions to inspect the state and behavior of your variables, functions, and data structures. Depending on the language and environment you are using, you can choose from different debugging tools, such as Visual Studio Code, Chrome DevTools, or PyCharm.
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If you've made common mistakes as a programmer and need to correct them, here are some steps you can take: ??Identify the Errors. ??Understand the Root Causes of Errors. ??Correct the Errors. ??Test the Corrected Code. ??Learn from Mistakes. ??Prevent Future Errors. ??Seek Help if Needed. Remember that making mistakes as a programmer is normal and part of the learning and professional growth process. The most important thing is to learn from these mistakes and use that experience to become a better programmer in the future.
Start debugging your code from the entry point. If it's a web application, start with chrome devtools and look for any warnings and errors in the console or in the network tab (if any requests fail). One thing i've found helpful is simulating the production environment if the code works on your local or test environment. Actually i disagree with ignoring any ideas of finding the bottleneck in your mind, check everything because everything can happen if you are not sure about your code
Debugging serves as the cornerstone for developers, especially those who are just starting out in their careers. It not only aids in unraveling the flow of code but also helps with finding the root causes of issues. Through the process of debugging, developers gain invaluable insights into the inner workings of their programs, allowing them to consider effects of each fix or new implementation.
Common Mistakes that We see is diving onto the Stories without proper analysis. We are developers must analyse our stories and then have to check what is the requirement, connect with scrum master/Agility lead so that the requirement is clear. Next step would be having an approach to how you wanna proceed with the Story, if it is a new module/feature : skeleton, then business logic. If it is a bug or an enchancement, understand the previous implementation and then identify where the changes are needed. Once coding is done, proceed with Unit Test Cases and if possible Integration Tests.
Sometimes, the best way to solve a problem is to explain it to someone else. This is the idea behind the rubber duck method, which involves talking to a rubber duck (or any other inanimate object) about your code and logic. The act of verbalizing your thoughts can help you clarify your assumptions, spot your mistakes, and generate new ideas. You can also use this method to review your code before submitting it or asking for feedback from others.
? If the problem persists after using a debugging tool, employ the rubber duck method. If unresolved, take a break and revisit later. If still not solved, proceed with analyzing the code flow to determine necessary implementations and current outcomes before proceeding further. ? In Java, it's important to tidy up our workspace and avoid having numerous windows open to prevent confusion when debugging code. ? Finally, consider the steps taken to resolve the bug.
When you're deep into troubleshooting and hit a roadblock, your mind can get stuck in a loop, making it hard to see the solution. That's where duck debugging comes in handy. By explaining the problem to someone, even if it's just a rubber duck, you're forced to articulate your thoughts, which often helps uncover the bug or issue you've been struggling with. It's amazing how just talking about it can suddenly make everything clear and help you get back on the right path
Talking about the situation in which you are working can give you a different view of the problem. I would recommend doing this after having made a few attempts and being fully aware of the problem, how to simulate it so that it is easier for the other party to explain and understand.
Mejor que hablar contigo mismo en voz alta es intentar pintar el problema sobre papel, literalmente. Revisar los flujos, analizar los caminos del programa, o de la subrutina desde el punto de entrada hasta la salida de la misma, paso a paso, variable a variable. Suele ser tiempo bien invertido, porque contribuye a la creación, a posteriori, de una documentación que es muy valiosa para el proyecto en cuestión.
Pair programing and using the rubber duck method works wonders. It is very difficult the rubber duck experience but talking about the problem with a colleague opens up so many different perspectives that it makes this method amazing, couldn't recommend enough.
Another effective strategy to overcome programming challenges is to seek help from others. You can ask your peers, mentors, instructors, or online communities for advice, suggestions, or solutions. However, before you do that, make sure you have done your own research, tried different approaches, and prepared a clear and specific question. You should also be respectful, polite, and grateful when asking for and receiving help. Remember, programming is a collaborative activity, and learning from others can improve your skills and confidence.
Knowing how to ask for help is very important, but you need to pay attention to some details such as: - Know how to explain the situation. - Have made enough attempts before seeking help. - Be respectful and know if the person is available.
Normalmente se suele preguntar, por orientación, a los demás miembros del equipo, sobre todo si acabas de aterrizar en el proyecto y la arquitectura te hace bola (algo más común de lo que parece). Normalmente, entre lo que te cuentan y lo que vas viendo puedes construir una panorámica completa del proyecto. Y si luego eres capaz de entender el asunto y dividirlo en piezas (para aplicar alguna metodología tipo Scrum - Kanban, Kayzen, etc...) irás enfocando en la línea correcta.
When I hit a roadblock, I have found it useful to explain my train of thought to a colleague and ask them to find mistakes or pitfalls. If solving the problem does not require deep business knowledge, I prefer asking a junior. They usually have an unbiased opinion and may consider things you overlooked. Plus, it might boost their confidence.
Refactoring is the process of improving your code without changing its functionality. It can help you eliminate common mistakes, such as code duplication, inconsistent naming, long functions, or nested loops. Refactoring can also make your code more readable, maintainable, and testable. You can use tools like Prettier, ESLint, or PyLint to automate some aspects of refactoring, such as formatting, indentation, or style. However, you should also apply your own judgment and follow best practices for your language and project.
Mistakes are unavoidable. Human beings make mistakes. You should learn from them and refrain making them again. If you are making the common mistakes again and again, you are not paying attention to programming. Some of the tips you can use are: 1. Use linters in your IDE 2. Always check the linter errors before pushing your changes 3. Make sure to dev test the changes and related logics before submitting a pull request. 4. Google for better ways to write code. You will learn a lot.
In some complex moments or situations, it may be necessary to refactor the code, it is important to be aware of this so that you do not spend time trying to fix something that is not worth the effort and may not be possible. So, don't be lazy and whenever you find something that needs to be improved, do it.
Una vez eres capaz de dividir el proyecto por piezas, eres capaz de analizar cada una de ellas y ver si se puede simplificar la programación al máximo. Normalmente, llegados a este punto, somos capaces de agrupar funciones, métodos y/o clases, de forma que se puede optimizar el proyecto, manteniendo su funcionalidad, pero reduciendo los tiempos de proceso y los consumos de recursos al mínimo.
Drawing from my experience, I've found that refactoring can sometimes incur greater costs than implementing something new. Especially when an application is already in production and the potential impact is substantial, opting for a side solution might be more suitable than a full-scale refactoring effort
If I made a common mistake as a Programmer and I need to fix them, I will go through the best references first and then use some online documentations to fix them. No matter, what is the issue, I will always try to use the best resolving tools that are always used in fixing codes, Debugging and improving code quality.
Finally, the most important thing you can do after making a mistake is to learn from it. You should not feel ashamed, discouraged, or angry about your errors, but rather see them as opportunities to grow and improve. You should also document your mistakes and their solutions, so you can avoid repeating them in the future. You can use tools like Git, GitHub, or Jupyter Notebook to keep track of your code changes and comments. You can also write blog posts, tutorials, or presentations to share your learnings and insights with others.
First of all, you're one step ahead of the game because you identified a mistake, and that's good. If the mistake is related to algorithms in general, like if you implemented recursion in the wrong way, or if it has something in regards to data structures, you should go back to the basics and re-read some chapters of a previous book (blog post and video tutorials should do well too). If the mistake is related to a specific implementation in a specific programming language, like if code is not efficient, or was poorly written, or you didn't follow the standards for that programming language, you should definitely refactor your code. The most important thing here is to learn from your mistakes, and with time you'll become a better coder.
Cada error cometido y solucionado es un aprendizaje efectivo realizado. Esto se puede registrar en una documentación individual o, si usamos JIRA o Azure DevOps, introducirlo en los comentarios de las incidencias correspondientes nos ayudará bastante, a futuro, a nosotros y al que venga detrás, que podrá empaparse de toda la documentación emitida.
Let's keep it very simple. It's good to make mistakes and awesome to find out mistakes. The best way to improve is to practise more and more and try not to do the same mistakes again and again. Best of luck ??.
As I have said on other articles, repetition is KEY, no one wakes-up an expert. it is a slow grind to the top and making mistakes is just a step on the way.
Take the time to plan your code structure and design before diving into implementation. A well-thought-out design will make your code easier to maintain and less prone to bugs.