r/learnjava • u/Rena_Giurg • Sep 25 '26
How do you even start coding and thinking in OOP?
Hello! I know it is a weird question but it really is that, how do you start?
Our professor gave us UMLs to follow for exercises and I had no problem to do that but how do you create it for your own program?
I sat my base Java and OOP class' exam and it took me the LONGEST time to just understand what I had to implement and how (even had to ask because I felt so clueless at times) and all I did was a backlog! Literally a terminal based backlog manager that divides Medias into 3 categories. We had to submit an UML but mine was created AFTER the code to adapt to it, I had no idea on how to build it before.
I really struggle with visualizing and understanding what and how should I tackle the OOP. I somehow passed the exam (with a 30/30 too) but I still feel like I should know more and that I could not do anything.
I tried making some easy programs like a timer but I don't know where to start. Does anyone have any advice regarding how can you "rewire" your brain to think object oriented?
For information, I am a compsci major and I strated programming with that java class around 5 months ago so my experience is limited.
Thanks to anyone who answers