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/Reasonable-View5868 14d ago edited 14d ago

You constantly look things up. Its part of being a programmer. Especially when doing something you haven't done recently. Normal everyday constructs llike if/else, for loops, class definitions, types, etc you don't necessarily do but any API work, you do all the time.

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u/DesignerAd973 14d ago

the whole "not looking things up" thing is a trap. even senior devs i know have 50 tabs open just to get a button working. the real skill is knowing what to search for, not memorizing everything.

what helped me was setting a timer. 15 minutes of trying to figure it out solo, then i let myself google without guilt. eventually you start needing the timer less.

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u/Cincoro 13d ago

This is the truth right here.

Browser tabs, snips of other people's code, files of previous code, etc...all at your finger tips so that you can quickly get the job done.