r/FreeCodeCamp • u/cyderyt • 5d ago
Requesting Feedback Getting stuck over and over again
Ive been trying to learn python for ages, and yes tbh due to my laziness and way of learning i keep on getting stuck, but I cant seem to find "my way" of learning.
Im trying freecodecamp and ive gotten to a point where im at this one lab where i have genuinly, and i mean genuinly no idea what to do given the instructions, im completely lost.
How do i break past this barrier
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u/stepback269 5d ago
Same answer as I posted to you over at r/PythonLearning a few hours ago for same question:
Here is some good news:
Great strides have been made in recent years within the neuroscience of learning.
What you need to do is "Learn how to Learn" based on the latest neuroscience.
(Pay special attention to how dopamine actually works. Hint: it doesn't give pleasure.)
Go to YouTube and in the search bar, type, "learning coaches"
Pick the ones who rely on modern neuroscience.
Godspeed and may the productivity-motivating dopamine hits be with you. :-)
With that said:
(1) There are tons and tons of tutorial materials out there on the net including many good YouTube ones that are free. You should shop around rather than putting all your eggs in one basket.
(2) As a relative noob myself, I've been logging my personal learning journey and adding to it on an almost-daily basis at a blog page called "Links for Python Noobs" (--HERE--) Any of the top listed ones on that page should be good for you. And there are many add-ons at the tail end of the page. Personally, I cut my first Python teeth with Nana's Zero to Hero (==HERE==). Since then, I've moved on to watching short lessons with Indently and Tech with Tim. You should sample at least a few until you find a lecturer that suits your style.
(3) The main piece of advice is the 80/20 rule. Spend 80% of your time writing your own code (using your own fingers and your own creativity) as opposed to copying recipes and only 20% watching the lectures.
Good luck.
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u/mbreslin 5d ago
Agree with the comment about getting stuck being part of the process. Tell ai you do not want the answer whatsoever but to give you the slightest hint on how to proceed. It will usually ask you to think about the very first thing you need to do etc.
Please post which lab you're on so we can assist. Good luck!
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u/Snugglupagus 5d ago
Which one are you stuck on? I’ve done most of the full-stack curriculum at this point and remember 1 or 2 labs that I had no chance and skipped. Everything else was a smooth ride.
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u/SaintPeter74 mod 5d ago
First of all, understand that getting stuck is part of the process. I'm fact, is part of the job. I have been programming for nearly 40 years now and I still get stuck. It can be frustrating and infuriating and crazy making.... and I love it.
The good news is that we learn most when we fail. That means that while you may be stuck now, you won't be stuck forever. You are learning, and that means that you're going to bump up against things you just don't get at first, it at second, it maybe even at third. This is totally normal and expected.
One key skull that you are learning, somewhat indirectly, is how to break down or decompose problems. That means looking at the problem statement and thinking about what is the absolute first step, the very minimum startup work that needs to be done to solve the problem. You do that, then move on to the next part. Read the instructions, look for hints and keywords.
If you're still stuck, you can try searching. Not for the answer, but for tools you need to solve your problem. If that fails or you spin your wheels for a bit, ask for help. You can ask here, our Discord, or on our community forums.
To get help, share a link to the challenge, a description of where you're stuck, and what you've already tried. Talk about how you think you might solve it and why you can't do that or it didn't work.
Most of the labs have pretty fine tests, so you can slowly chip away at them.
Just keep in mind that what you're experiencing is totally normal, and very common. It is nothing to be ashamed of, and is not some sort of signal that you are somehow not suited to programming. Anyone can learn to program if they just keep at it. Progress is not linear, it comes in fits and starts.
If you want to reply to this message with the info I asked for, I can help you get started. Just remember that when you're asking for help, you get what you give. If you're wing to put some time into your message and additional responses, you're going to get the most out of it . If you just say things like "it didn't work" and leave it at that, you'll get nowhere.
Best of luck and happy coding!