Programming: how to improve day by day

How can you improve your programming skills in order to become a point of reference in your field? Here are some practical tips to put into practice each day.

The first thing to do is to carry out a detailed analysis of the problems to be resolved, so that you can first evaluate all possible solutions before identifying the one which best fits the specific requirements. Our suggestion is to start with simpler issues first and work up to dealing with the more complex ones.

The next step consists of defining the precise features of your software, deciding who it is aimed at, what it should do etc. After that, it is essential to draw up a rough outline of the work to be done, which varies according to program size (small, medium, large).

During the code developmental phase, it is advisable to include accompanying notes with the code explaining why certain functions were chosen and what they allow users to do. It is also important to use standard terms when referring to variable parameters, so as to facilitate any future modifications.

When producing code, it is best to use indentation in order to visualise the blocks of instructions better and make them clearer for everyone. Furthermore, testing of the various online forms are essential to ensure that everything is working well.

To guarantee a real improvement in one’s abilities, it is best to get plenty of practice, while at the same time being ready to adapt to any sudden changes which may arise in order to meet requirements not previously considered.

However, in order to excel in programming, the above-mentioned points are not sufficient. It is also essential to:

• Show humility and admit that there is always something new to be learnt;
• Not be obsessed by the need to always be right
• Understand that when you manage to get a code to work, there is still a lot of work to do;
• Write a code once for yourself, once to see if it is correct and once more to make it impeccable;
• Read others’ codes to understand them and find out how various problems were resolved;
• Write codes outside your professional field in order to achieve continuous improvement and increase your skills;
• Stay in close contact with other programmers to develop new skills;
• Learn the basics of programming, rather than tools or languages that may change over time.

Now that we have explained what to do to be a better programmer, let’s look at the qualities every programmer should have in order to be able to call himself such: intrinsic features which we will list below.

• – Passion

Having a passion for your work is essential in order to achieve good results and satisfaction in programming. It is indispensable to put your heart, effort and a lot of patience into your work.  Therefore, being passionate about the subject is absolutely fundamental.

• – Independent learning

Independent learning is very important in this field, because that is what allows you to improve and grow. Studying with a passion even when you are not obliged to do so (for example for academic reasons) helps to develop important skills.

• – Intelligence

Intelligence is absolutely indispensable for any programmer, in as far as it allows then to come up with theories and improve procedures, guaranteeing greater simplicity. In other words, it is a characteristic which is not only necessary, but a priority.

• – Experience

The more experience a programmer has, the better-equipped they are to deal with the problems encountered during the development of a program. Mistakes lead to personal improvement and with time these are reduced dramatically.

• – Technologies

A good programmer is one who is able to switch from one form of technology to another without difficulty. Of course nobody can be familiar with all of them, but every new piece of technical expertise should serve to enhance one’s skills.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith