Tips to Become Excellent Programmer

What is Programming

Computer Programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages (such as Java, C++, C#, Python, etc.). The purpose of programming is to create a set of instructions that computers use to perform specific operations or to exhibit desired behaviors. The process of writing source code often requires expertise in many different subjects, including knowledge of the application domain, specialized algorithms and formal logic.

Why We Need Programming

Programming helps automating lot of time consuming activities and reduces the human errors. Every computer program needs to be written in one of the multiple computer languages which are available. One such programming language is Java.

Note the following points about Java

• Before Java was invented there were other languages like COBOL, FORTRAN, C, C++, Small Talk etc., these languages had few disadvantages which were corrected in Java.
• Java is related to C++, which is a direct descendant of C. Java uses C syntax and many of the object oriented features are influenced by C++.
• As with every programming language, Java also innovated many new features to solve the fundamental problems which the previous languages could not solve.

Please note that the art of programming and the programming languages are different. As the environments change and as new problems arise, there will be new programming languages and new technologies which will be created. But the art of programming might not change so radically. As computer programmers or would-be programmers, it is really important to learn the programming skills along with languages. When we have strong programming skills, learning new languages or technologies will be far easier.

Two important points about Programming Skills and Languages.

• If a programmer is excellent in one language, he can naturally excel in any other language. Learning new technologies should be easy.
• Learning one language thoroughly is better than having limited knowledge in multiple languages.

How to Become Excellent Programmer

Learning a computer programming language is very easy compared to writing good programs and using the language effectively. For a beginner, it might take 4-5 months to learn a new Programming language whereas perfecting the programming skills including the design, debugging and maintenance might take more than 3 to 4 years. To become an excellent programmer, one need to work hard.

Some important tips to become good programmer.

•  Problem solving skills and aptitude: Every programmer must constantly strive to improve the problem solving skills. Since every program we write will be a new problem and without proper problem solving skills, we cannot effectively solve those problems. Aptitude is not just for clearing the rounds of job interview, but it is something which has to be practiced continuously even after getting the job. It is really important to keep them sharp throughout the programming career. There are good books like RS Agarwal for Aptitude and websites like indiabix which help in improving the problem solving skills and also keeping them sharp.

•  Ability to learn new things and be ready for change: With aptitude and problem solving skills comes the ability to learn new things. As you all know the world is changing fast, but programming languages and technologies change even faster. It is really important that we are willing to learn new technologies and methodologies and improve upon our existing capabilities to become an excellent programmer. If the real-time problems demand, it is necessary to quickly learn the new technologies and use them effectively to solve those problems. Also note that every new technology will not solve all the problems and be cautious while choosing whether the technology is suitable for your needs or problems.

• Keyboard Typing skills: In the initial days of programming, please focus also on improving your keyboard typing skills. Typing properly will really help in writing the programs faster and help in not losing or forgetting the ideas we just thought. Typing skills once learned wrongly or improperly, will make it even more difficult to correct it later. So it is better to learn typing properly in the initial days. There are many good tools and websites online which help in improving the typing skills or even more better would be to go to proper typing institute at your location, Typing skills help you to become a good programmer.

• Work on Basics: As it is true for any industry and any job, the conceptual understanding is the key for success. Unless one has strong conceptual foundation, he/she can never be a good programmer. The core conceptual understanding helps you in designing and implementing the best solutions in the best possible way. If still you feel gap in core computer science and your programming language specific concepts, it’s never too late to go back and review the basics. 

• Start putting question tags (how, what) with every set of code you write One thing that I realized creating a clear separating line between good programmer and rest is that zeal to know what and how it is happening. There is small group of people who can never leave a code without knowing exactly what is happening when it executes. I understand that in tight deadlines, we don’t get this liberty always and hence have to leave the code just knowing that it’s doing its job. Although this is a bit different topic of how to handle such situations, but as a programmer one can always try the level best to dig into as much as one can. And believe me, this becomes a habit with time and then you do it unknowingly every time.

• You learn more by helping others:

Most of us have a common tendency of turning our heads towards forums or groups only when we need help. And again a clear separation between the good programmer and rest that the former visit these places more often to help others. This makes them learn more then they learn getting their problem solved by someone else. Within a team as well, help others to solve their problems. Believe me, understanding others’ problem in their context, investigating on that and providing solutions; will leave you much more learned than before.

• Write simple, understandable but logical code

As in almost every aspect of life, the formula of KISS (Keep it simple and short) works in programming as well. Write more logical code and avoid complexity. Sometimes people do write complex code just to prove their capability to write such codes. My experience says that simple but logical codes always works well, resulted in fewer issues and are more extendable. I remember an excellent quote

Good code is its own best documentation. As you're about to add a comment, ask yourself, "How can I improve the code so that this comment isn't needed?"

• Spend more time in analyzing the problem, you’ll need less time to fix it

Spend more time in understanding and analyzing the problem and designing solutions for it. You will find the rest of the things quite easily doable. Designing not always mean using modeling languages and tools, it can be as simple as looking at sky and thinking solution in your mind. Those who have habits of pressing keyboard (for coding) the moment get the problem, usually ended us something different than the requirement.

If you cannot grok the overall structure of a program while taking a shower, you are not ready to code it.

• Be the first to analyze and review your code

Although a bit difficult, but try to break your own code before others can and with the time you will learn to write close-to-bug-free code. Always do a close and unbiased review of your code. Also never hesitate to take others view on your code. Working with good programmers and taking their feedback's will surely help you become a good programmer.

• Don’t dismay yourself by looking at changing technology world

Over these periods in IT industry, I met with many people who are either disappointed by their work or even left it to search new job saying they want to learn and work in latest technologies. I don’t see any problem with this aspiration but the very first incorrect word is the ‘latest technologies’. What we are hearing every day and mean here is new tools, APIs, frameworks and others means coming up every day to make the programming easier and quicker. This anyway will continue in technology world. But what needs to be understood is that the core and basic technologies changes with much lesser pace than frameworks, tools and APIs around it. This is like the sea where the surface water moves very rapidly but the deep water is relatively calm and concentrated and most of the aqua lives survive here. So, feel yourself in that deep water and close to core technologies. For e. g. in Java enterprise world, lots of web frameworks exist and new ones coming every other week. But the core concepts of request based client-server communication, MVC pattern, filters/servlets/JSP, resource bundling, XML parsing etc remains same. So spend more time in learning these core concepts rather than worrying about ever changing frameworks and tools around it. Believe me, with the foundation of core concepts, you will always find easier to learn new frameworks, tools and APIs.

• Read documentation

One of the essential habits of good programmer is that they read lots of documentation. May it be specifications, API documents, tutorials etc. Reading documents helps you creating that essential foundation based on which you program in best of the way.

• You can learn from others code as well

I interacted with some excellent programmers who actually have java source project inside their IDE all the time and read/refer that in daily work. They do it not only to fulfill their appetite of knowing the basics but also to learn ways of writing good programs. Reading and referring reliable and known open source code or your senior’s code, can also help you making your programming better.

• Ability to learn new things and be ready for change: 

With aptitude and problem solving skills comes the ability to learn new things. As you all know the world is changing fast, but programming languages and technologies change even faster. It is really important that we are willing to learn new technologies and methodologies and improve upon our existing capabilities to become an excellent programmer. If the real-time problems demand, it is necessary to quickly learn the new technologies and use them effectively to solve those problems. Also note that every new technology will not solve all the problems and be cautious while choosing whether the technology is suitable for your needs or problems.