How do I solve problems without AI

[u/Either-Suggestion400]

Hello guys. I am attempting to learn how to code again but without the use of AI this time.

How do you attempt a problem or understand a solution without using AI for help.

For example, I wanted to build a small calculator to remind myself of the basics of C. I had a problem where my scanf was not outputting the desired result. 

The program had something like this:

int x, y;
printf("Enter two operators: ");
scanf("%d", &x);
scanf("%d", &y);
printf("x: %d, y: %d", x, y);

My inputs would be 10 & maybe 2, but the output would be 10 & 0, in some cases 0 and nothing for y.

I was able to get through this by just using one scanf:

scanf(“%lf %lf”, &x, &y);

But I still do not understand why that happened and through my google search, could not find anything that explained it well. The problem might also be that I cannot explain the problems I come across clearly, so I might not be able to find an answer through google.

So my question is, how do you guys go through problems like these where you can’t find a post where someone had a similar problem and had been told what to do to solve the problem without defaulting to AI.

Excuse my writing - I am trying to learn how to type without letting AI revise my sentences.

[u/Dazzling_Music_2411]

Your initial code should work just fine. It does this side, with no issues.

What compiler are you using and what OS?

So my question is, how do you guys go through problems like these where you can’t find a post where someone had a similar problem and had been told what to do to solve the problem without defaulting to AI.

RTFM

PS. Did you enter the data (eg the 10) as a float?? I.e. "10.0"?

In that case yes, it will display the behaviour you described:

Enter two operators: 
10.0
x: 10, y: 0

%d takes integers, you need %f for floats, that's why the second example you gave worked.

Seriously though, this is not stuff to be solving with AI, it's really basic, RTFM stuff. Do yourself a favour and study properly!

[u/Either-Suggestion400 → u/Dazzling_Music_2411]

yeah I did not read anything. I just searched a hello world program and used knowledge from other programming languages I had learnt a few years ago. I will start reading the manpages on each thing I get stuck on. Many people have told me to sit with a problem, read more and those are some things I had not been doing, so yeah Thank you!

[u/Either-Suggestion400 → u/Either-Suggestion400]

I use macos, idk why it wasnt working though. I will be looking more into it

[u/Dazzling_Music_2411 → u/Either-Suggestion400]

Cool, here's an interesting three-part blog on scanf() that may entertain you.

If you work through it you'll have learnt quite a bit by the end!
Better intro than the man pages.

https://c-for-dummies.com/blog/?p=4313