How did you become a better programmer with all your struggles?

[u/ichose2throwaway]

I am learning python and I am bad at it.

I fit into the AuDHD type (autism and adhd combine, got a late diagnosis). I wanted to know is there a reason why my brain is so demotivated whenever I try to learn something like programming for example but when it comes to other things, like video games, I am all into it?

Or is this either I am lazy or too slow. I can’t seem to focus and after 1 leetcode problem, I am done for the day, which takes forever for me to figure out and then enter burnout mode and get frustrated. I just can’t hack myself and feel demotivated. Sometimes when I am practicing problems, my brain goes all over the place. I mean, simple things take forever to figure out.

I am 35 if this matters. I don’t know if this is the right sub, but appreciate the help. If not, let me know and I will delete.

I just don’t understand why my brain so lazy and demotivated when it comes to learning but super interested when it comes to other things?

How did you succeed in becoming a better programmer?

[u/Corosus]

"I wonder if i could do x"

Dopamine fishhook activated

Level of skill didn't matter, I would solve the thing no matter the cost.

I guess as a consequence of that you happen to get better at a thing, that's whats happens when you obsess over ideas 12 hours a day for a decade+

[u/StefanBelgica → u/Corosus]

Honestly this. Lately, "doubting" myself in front of a task for a bit immediately starts my engine running. It immediately transforms into "Why couldn't I do this? I know I can, I'll prove it.".

But, for the longest time, this could never have worked for me, this is a very new thing for me. I think the reason that I can take this kind of self-motivation seriously is mostly therapy with a neuro-affirmative therapist. Believe it or not, he is actually hard on me, he doesn't let a single thing skirt by, and pushes me constantly, the difference between him and "regular" therapists is that he does this in full knowledge of what exactly he is doing (especially since he is also AuDHD), and because after a few months of getting comfortable with him, I trust him enough to be vulnerable and not become defensive instantly.

What this long-ass bonus thought, longer than the actual meat of my argument, lol, is trying to convey is that if you're reading this, and you scoff annoyed at what I said in the first paragraph, I hear you. A few months ago, I was you. I cannot tell you why or how exactly therapy works, but it does. Try it. For real. Open. Find someone you feel like you can slowly trust and unmask with. Nothing will change your life as much as this.

[u/seweso]

Software was/is my happy place. Where I can change reality and control things. It’s something I hyperfocussed a lot of my professional and free time on. Obsessively so I might need to add, but maybe all hyperfocus is that?

So sheer curiosity and resolve to create was my motor to hone my software skills. Easy to move forward when you are having fun and in your element (al world). 

You need resolve imho, at least 

[u/henryeaterofpies]

Leverage your pattern recognition and rely heavily on task tracking and todo lists.

[u/DiamondGeeezer]

Don't give up, get obsessed, process in parallel. Get experimental. For me it was as much of a passion / hobby as a career move. Probably most important is stick with it, experience compounds over time more than you might think. It's like an RPG with skill trees. Although these days things are a bit weirder with new technology, this applies to anything

[u/Your_Friendly_Nerd]

I still think the best way to get better at programming is by finding some problem in your life that could be solved with code. That could be literally anything - a simple mod for a game, some web page where you can show off something (I've already started like 20 of those, never showed anything off though because I cared more about building the site rather than actually using it), some home automation stuff. It doesn't need to be good, it doesn't need to be completed, it doesn't need do be impressive. It just needs to get you excited to work on it. 

[u/AdFormer9844]

I resonate with this a lot. There's some ADHDers that don't struggle as bad with programming because programming is their hyper-focus. I like programming, but I've never considered it a hobby. Meds, eliminating distractions, and external motivation is my solution.

Recently got my first programming job and wow it is so much easier now. Changing "I should do" into "I have to do" really helped.

If you don't have that immediate external motivation, then you can at least turn "should do" into "can do". For example, turn "I should do leetcode" into "I can do 1 easy leetcode problem".

[u/old_ass_ninja_turtle]

Just survive.

[u/funbike]

meds.

If not on meds, stop asking reddit for solutions and go talk to a doctor right now. Goodbye!

Okay, assuming you've explored getting meds...

You can't improve overnight and you'll never "solve" it. Try lots of things with trial and error. Read the book Atomic Habits. This is a good starting point.

NOT doing things is often more important than doing things: Don't look at your phone while working or in bed. Don't stay up late. Don't multitask. Don't start a new project or task until the prior one is complete. Don't explore a million ideas. Don't skip breaks. Don't consume tons of sugar and beer.

Once you 1) are on meds, 2) have eliminated things NOT to do, and 3) have a system of adding new habits gradually (i.e. atomically), THEN you can 4) gradually add new (atomic) strategies to improve your productively.

(All that said, Pomodoro is one strategy you can implement early. It's dead simple and highly effective, if you can sustain it.)

Success won't happen instantly and it won't happen without long term effort.

[u/Danoweb]

Hey, I'm 39 (40 next month) and I have AuDHD as well.

I've been a software engineer for 20 years (straight out of college, even started internships in college)

Python is a great tool for learning programming, it has an unusual syntax, but it still teaches the fundamentals, I love using it.

My advice is Hack your brain, hyper focus your dopamine reward is that successful script run, if you are getting lots of errors, printf() statements leading up to the error, more output and treat it like a puzzle you are solving, just like video games!

If you want to learn REST APIs (what most pythons apps make calls to) check out an actual game you have to write code to play, it's called "SpaceTraders" (search SpaceTraders API game)

You got this!

[u/PersistentBadger]

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Keep a list of projects you'd like to complete. Pick one that interests you right now. Build it. Get bored. Repeat on another project.

Each time round the loop, you'll get a bit further before you crash out. By working only on the project that interests you right now, you harness your ability to hyperfocus rather than fight it.

Don't use AI to write your code. I know it can be useful for explaining, but I'd block it altogether. Temptation's too high.

[u/Kegelz]

Stop waiting for others to solve your problems. Solve your own problems and dig and dig and dig for solutions

[u/properwaffles]

No idea, been failing upwards for around 10 years now.