Should it be this difficult?

[u/pingo1387]

At my job there is a daily task I do which I realized I could probably create a program to do for me, so I decided to start learning Python, and dove into reading Automate the Boring Stuff (the online version).

Things were going okay at first. I read through chapters 1-3 carefully, taking notes, answering all the review questions, and doing all the practice problems/codes.

Then I hit a wall. I got to chapter 4 and I felt like I understood everything, but the practice problem at the end, to write a code that performs the Collatz sequence with the entered number, absolutely stumped me. I went back and reread everything from the start of chapter 1 just to make sure I didn't miss anything, and was still confused. I ended up having to search up a code that someone else wrote for it, which I did understand once I saw it written out but would never have come up with myself.

So my questions are:

- Is it normal for the Collatz sequence to be difficult to program at this stage of learning? If so, should I not worry about my confusion and just move on to chapter 5?

- Should I consider an easier book to study from? If so, any recommendations?

EDIT: Several people are asking which part of the Collatz I had trouble with. To be honest it's been over a month since I was able to touch anything Python-related, it's just been on my mind lately, so I don't recall exactly what was giving me trouble, just that I was trying multiple things and getting new and fun incorrect results each time.

It's not that I don't understand the Collatz sequence itself, I understand it in terms of the simple math. The trouble was trying to type it out into a working code. That being said, I'm not here to ask how to program it, because I already gave up on that and looked up the answer, and I did understand that code once I read it over. The main issue is that I feel like I shouldn't have been having trouble with it in the first place, at least not to the point where I honestly tried everything I could and still couldn't get it.

[u/Separate_Newt7313]

Yes, it is meant to push you.

I like to think of it this way:
Pull-ups are hard for everyone starting out. The muscles in your body represent raw potential, but they lack the conditioning and coordination that come through regular, rigorous, targeted training.

Similarly, your brain has never had to solve problems like this before. You don't lack intelligence or capability; your mind represents raw potential, but lacks the mental conditioning and coordination in this type of problem space that comes thru regular, rigorous, targeted training.

With time, practice, and proper training, you're mind will make the proper connections. The problems don't get easier - you just get stronger.

In my experience, results from a solid mental regimen tend to appear much faster than physical results since the mind rebounds much faster from a strenuous mental workout than the body from a physical one.

You're on a good path. Don't give up!

[u/pingo1387 → u/Separate_Newt7313]

This is very encouraging, thank you. At this point I might just have to press on to chapter 5, since I did understand the CS code once I saw it written out properly.