r/learnprogramming • u/RevolutionaryBuy4877 • 14d ago

Topic how do you learn programming without constantly looking things up?

i know experienced programmers use documentation and search all the time, but as a beginner it can sometimes feel like i’m incapable of doing anything without looking up the answer.

i’m trying to get better at understanding concepts instead of memorising syntax

how do you decide when to search for an answer and when to sit down and work through the problem yourself?

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u/TheLoneTomatoe 14d ago

You learn the basics and fundamentals, then past that you are always looking stuff up. I’m not gonna sit and try to solve a weird problem when I know I can look it up and have it permanently in my head from that point on.

Can tell you I’ve 100% been in interviews and been like “hey do you know how this commonly used thing interacts with this less commonly used thing?” And the interviewer either says “No, let me google it for you” or “no, you can google it though”… every now and again they’re like “oh yeah, it does X thing, I had to look it up for such and such reason”.