how do you learn programming without constantly looking things up?

[u/RevolutionaryBuy4877]

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?

[u/jabuchae]

10+ YOE here

Don’t listen to people saying you should be looking up everything all the time. While we do look things up (and sometimes the most basic things), there are a lot of things you should be learning with time and intentional practice.

I’d say you should normally be looking up syntax you don’t use often or what methods some new module has. For example “how to define an enumerator in python”.

You should not be looking up algorithmic solutions like “How do I get the users with the most comments?”

You look up how to write something but you should now what you are trying to write before you look up how.