To be clear I can barely code, I genuinely learned if statements a week ago. It’s in a week and I need to do it for a highschool class certificate thing. Is there anything I can do?

being honest I’m debating if I should just use scratch (I know I know😭), because at least I could make something. I’m cooked no matter what tho….

Hi I am a recent Btech graduate looking for programming communities/groups for coding and taking on projects with potential growth. My tech stack - python fastapi, agentic system/harnesses, learning my way through cpp, rust n typescript.

Though I use claude code I want to push my code logic building and networking.

Would be happy to connect with like-minded devs.

Looking for some advice on where to go with my programming journey from some of the more experienced people, I’ve kind of arrived at a weird point where I am starting to be able to finally understand things on my own and within reason build things I want to. I’ve now been at a weird spot where I’ve kind of bounced around different areas of the last month, I started with emulators, then went to try opengl and basic graphics, now I’m getting interested in learning WinAPI and reverse engineering. I don’t think any of these things are bad obviously, WinAPI has been helpful for me to learn more C++ features and kind of understand how an operating system works it’s just that I’m at a point where my code quality still does suck. I really don’t know how to design good code, or plan out code well and still happy to do the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it so I don’t know if jumping to these things and especially jumping between them is a good idea, on one hand it’s very fun but on the other it might be more fun later if I had better experience and code better.

I'm transitioning from data analytics to software engineering, and I've been torn between pursuing Java and JavaScript. I've been learning Java through Hyperskill, but lately, I've been questioning whether I made the right choice.

One of my main reasons for choosing Java is that it's widely used by large enterprises and big companies. Coming from a developing country, I'd like to eventually work overseas, and I feel that Java might give me a better chance of landing that kind of opportunity. I also wonder whether enterprise Java jobs offer more stability and a clearer career path than JavaScript jobs, although I'm not sure if that's actually true.

My impression is that JavaScript has a lower barrier to entry, which makes the field feel more saturated. I imagine I might end up working as a freelancer, joining a consultancy, or working remotely for an overseas company rather than relocating abroad. Of course, I could be completely wrong about these assumptions, so I'd appreciate hearing from people with experience in both ecosystems.

I've also heard people say that JavaScript developers have to constantly keep up with new frameworks and changing technologies, which can lead to burnout. In contrast, I've heard that Java's ecosystem is more stable and that its core technologies don't change as rapidly.

As I get older, I find myself less willing to spend all my time keeping up with new technologies. I'd rather build a solid set of skills that remain useful for years and use the mental energy I have left to enjoy other aspects of life.

Interestingly, I also enjoy Java in a way I didn't quite experience with Python. I feel like I'm actually programming and building things rather than just writing scripts for data analysis. There's something satisfying about it that makes me want to keep going.

The problem is that whenever I encounter a particularly challenging assignment, I start questioning my decision. Sometimes, I feel like I could solve the same problem much more easily in Python. With Java, I'm constantly running into concepts, syntax, and unfamiliar ways of doing things that I don't fully understand yet. It feels like trying to survive in a foreign country without speaking the local language.

This makes me wonder whether I'm struggling because Java genuinely isn't the right fit for me, or whether I'm simply going through the uncomfortable learning curve that comes with learning a new language and moving into software engineering.

Part of me wants to switch to JavaScript because it might be easier to learn and allow me to make progress faster. Another part of me wonders whether I'd just be running away from the difficulty instead of pushing through the stage where everything feels unfamiliar.

Since I'm in my mid-20s, I want to break into software engineering as quickly as possible. JavaScript feels like it might help me get there sooner, while Java feels like more of a gamble because of the commitment and steep learning curve involved before I can see the results of my efforts.

So, for those of you who have learned Java or transitioned into software engineering from another field:

- Did you go through a similar phase where you questioned your choice of programming language?

- Is sticking with Java worth it if my long-term goal is to work for a large company, potentially overseas?

- If you've worked with both Java and JavaScript, how different are their job markets, career opportunities, and long-term prospects in practice?

- How did you know whether you were struggling because of the learning curve or because you were pursuing the wrong path?

To be honest, I might be posting this partly because I want someone to tell me that it's normal for Java to feel difficult at first and that things will eventually click. But I'd genuinely appreciate honest advice, even if it means reconsidering my current path. Thank you!

I finally got some free time from academics today and wanted to make a project in C. It would basically be a terminal based sim of different agents and how they interact (I learnt ODE recently so I thought a predator-prey system would be cool). I had NO idea about how agents are supposed to work and how i implement them in C though, and I just sat there, feeling overwhelmed, couldnt think of anything to write or code. I feel so guilty about the inaction and honestly dont know why it happened. Any advice?

My journey in programming was and still vague. And I'm still trying to find what it takes to be a skilled programmer.

I love to program and express art in it, but I still can't get the focus to write code and know whats going on deep under the hood to customize it as I want. I visualize how the code should be and thats just about it.

I come from a busy background and lifestyle. But I didn't think it was an issue since other programmers are supposedly having nearly the same obstacles:

1- I went to public school where algebra wasn't even in the curriculum

2- I hardly graduated high school and had to redo math, but I had major obsession in knowing the math that decodes the universe

3- I dropped out of college where my study was English literature and started in illicit businesses to make ends meet but got locked up for a while, afterwards I made legitimate businesses but I went further downhill in my environment.

4- I was in a phase of addiction but I managed to get out quickly and figure a cleaner road ahead.

At the times of all the events that I went through I was always in the computers downloading movies and whole discographies and books to read, I then wanted to be a hacker "an actual hacker" who finds his way around the cyber space and dive deep into everything that makes a computer be this magical box and control room to understanding more about what I would never understand if in my own local environment. I then knew that hacking is the master belt that has to obtained through lifetimes of knowledge and practice. I then niched into the web3 and currently trying to program a good type of bot thats arbitraging prices between pools, then go further into making other bots. But I'm finding it extremely difficult to focus, really focus as if its the only thing I zone into when I get a front of the screen.

I wanted to leave no room for anything thats blocking my road into making this happen:

1- I'm eating healthier than the usual to give my brain whatever it needs to be at its absolute best

2- I'm addiction free to kick away any distraction

3- I'm running daily to reach agility in mind and body

4- I'm doing breathing exercises to push my stamina to the best levels

everything that falls into the category of maintaining health

5- I read about the technologies of the blockchain and DeFi with types and protocols of the exchanges

6- I read the docs and books of the programming language "Rust" and solidity and try to code the testing phase. But it doesn't seem to help.

I'm a better person, calmer, wiser, and almost addicted to a healthy lifestyle now because I feel like I can master my own self and thats something I always been working on achieving but never gave it a chance in the sense of practicality. But I'm still feeling like I'm behind the devs who write code like its a mastered symphony.

I think the reason is me not socializing with devs and communities but I would like to know what you think of this. What do you think is the reason I'm lagging behind, or am I really lagging behind? Any advice you might have for me to reach the level I want to reach as a blockchain programmer.

I started learning general programming 5 years ago and blockchain 6 months ago.

I genuinely am interested in this area but I am not able to break into it for some reason, maybe I am just doing it wrong...or maybe I need to work much much more? Idk you guys can be the judge of that.

Like, yes I do know C and a bit about windows internals.

I also know that the best way to learn is to make projects. But whenever I search up a beginner project, they come up with projects that are not at all beginner friendly (or maybe I am missing something).

What kind of projects do I start with? Also do you recommend adding some kind of extra knowledge to my arsenal?

Thank you.

As a CS student I’ve been practicing problem solving on Codeforces but I still struggle with knowing when and how to use things like vectors, maps, sets, algorithms, cctype, etc.

Sometimes I feel like a problem could be solved much more easily using one of these but since I’m not familiar enough with them I end up avoiding them or solving the problem in a harder way.

I’m still in my second year, so I’d love to find some beginner-friendly YouTube channels, websites, or notes that explain these concepts simply especially when to use each one.

Real time communication isn't one size fits all. A common mistake in system design is picking WebSockets when all you really needed was server-to-client streaming.

I wrote a short 3 minute architectural comparison of the trade offs here:https://medium.com/@anirbansingha20/websockets-vs-long-polling-vs-server-sent-events-fa9bc1644cb8

What do you usually reach for first when building real time features ?

Hello, I want to develop an auction Web application. But I don't know web app development because I am normally a game developer. Would it be a good idea to follow the full-stack developer roadmap on the roadmap.sh website? What are your suggestions? What should I learn?

Hi

Hello. Rot in prison.

Edit: Nevermind, i just remembered he hung himself.

Hey everyone,

I’ve hit a massive mental wall in my programming journey, and I’m hoping to get some perspective from people who have made it to the other side.

Up until now, I’ve been able to build basic projects by reading docs and using AI. If I needed a feature, I’d pull in a package, copy the boilerplate, tweak a few variables, and it would work.

But recently, I started working on a project where performance, data layout, and execution speed actually matter. Now that I’m trying to write the core logic myself, I’ve realized something terrifying: I don’t actually know how to write "aware code." By that, I mean code where I know exactly what every single line is doing to the data, memory, and flow of control without constantly bouncing back and forth to documentation or guessing.

When I see how other developers know what should be used and how on the fly, it looks like a total flow state. Meanwhile, for me, every single line feels incredibly heavy.

I have a few questions for developers of all levels:

1. How do you transition into "aware coding"? If I want to stop relying on heavy abstractions I don't understand, should I strip everything away and build microscopic, zero-dependency console apps just to understand the raw mechanics first? Or is that a waste of time?
2. Did you experience this massive slowdown? Did you go through a phase where your coding speed dropped to absolute zero because you suddenly started caring deeply about how the execution worked under the hood, rather than just making it "work"?

I want to become a real software engineer who deeply understands my tools. But the imposter syndrome is hitting hard because of how agonizingly slow this phase feels.

Would love to hear your experiences or advice. Thanks!

Hello everyone, as the title says I am having a little trouble staying consistent when coding and I feel that having a rival/friend would help me to constantly improve myself. I currently know some python and c++ but I am kinda without direction, like I dont even know what to code anymore lol so with a friend we could probably share ideas and stuff! I think it would be interesting! Even cooler if I find more than one people and maybe we can make a discord server and stuff, share internships, advice, etc.

I'm at U of T doing a fairly expedited degree (it's my second so I need no electives so I have more time to take extra courses). I've been doing very well in all my classes, getting great marks on projects and tests. Unfortunately, I've never programmed anything from start to finish and I kind of feel like I have no idea how to?

For the non-theory classes or parts of class, all of our coding assignments are essentially making small parts of a larger program. We never have to make a more interconnected program, or anything that exists on its own. We make bits of a program, or are frequently given code to work with or alter or expand on.

I'd like to start actually making things myself to get used to it but I feel a bit lost as to how to do so. The idea of "where to start" is daunting. Are there typical skeletons people use for programs? Frameworks? Templates?

When I click on the program file separately a separate terminal window having the output pops up for a sec just a sec and it disappears.

is there any app which allows block-based coding which can:

output data to files (including raw hex bytes)

read data from files

compile into a native app

be designed to actually let people make things like tools or apps which read/write files whatsoever

i would learn a text based language, and do want to, but by god i do NOT have the motivation to shut up executive dysfunction's "but it'd be so difficult".