problem solving and programming

How to think like a programmer — lessons in problem solving

by Richard Reis

If you’re interested in programming, you may well have seen this quote before:

“Everyone in this country should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you to think.” — Steve Jobs

You probably also wondered what does it mean, exactly, to think like a programmer? And how do you do it??

Essentially, it’s all about a more effective way for problem solving .

In this post, my goal is to teach you that way.

By the end of it, you’ll know exactly what steps to take to be a better problem-solver.

Why is this important?

Problem solving is the meta-skill.

We all have problems. Big and small. How we deal with them is sometimes, well…pretty random.

Unless you have a system, this is probably how you “solve” problems (which is what I did when I started coding):

• Try a solution.
• If that doesn’t work, try another one.
• If that doesn’t work, repeat step 2 until you luck out.

Look, sometimes you luck out. But that is the worst way to solve problems! And it’s a huge, huge waste of time.

The best way involves a) having a framework and b) practicing it.

“Almost all employers prioritize problem-solving skills first.

Problem-solving skills are almost unanimously the most important qualification that employers look for….more than programming languages proficiency, debugging, and system design.

Demonstrating computational thinking or the ability to break down large, complex problems is just as valuable (if not more so) than the baseline technical skills required for a job.” — Hacker Rank ( 2018 Developer Skills Report )

Have a framework

To find the right framework, I followed the advice in Tim Ferriss’ book on learning, “ The 4-Hour Chef ”.

It led me to interview two really impressive people: C. Jordan Ball (ranked 1st or 2nd out of 65,000+ users on Coderbyte ), and V. Anton Spraul (author of the book “ Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving ”).

I asked them the same questions, and guess what? Their answers were pretty similar!

Soon, you too will know them.

Sidenote: this doesn’t mean they did everything the same way. Everyone is different. You’ll be different. But if you start with principles we all agree are good, you’ll get a lot further a lot quicker.

“The biggest mistake I see new programmers make is focusing on learning syntax instead of learning how to solve problems.” — V. Anton Spraul

So, what should you do when you encounter a new problem?

Here are the steps:

1. Understand

Know exactly what is being asked. Most hard problems are hard because you don’t understand them (hence why this is the first step).

How to know when you understand a problem? When you can explain it in plain English.

Do you remember being stuck on a problem, you start explaining it, and you instantly see holes in the logic you didn’t see before?

Most programmers know this feeling.

This is why you should write down your problem, doodle a diagram, or tell someone else about it (or thing… some people use a rubber duck ).

“If you can’t explain something in simple terms, you don’t understand it.” — Richard Feynman

Don’t dive right into solving without a plan (and somehow hope you can muddle your way through). Plan your solution!

Nothing can help you if you can’t write down the exact steps.

In programming, this means don’t start hacking straight away. Give your brain time to analyze the problem and process the information.

To get a good plan, answer this question:

“Given input X, what are the steps necessary to return output Y?”

Sidenote: Programmers have a great tool to help them with this… Comments!

Pay attention. This is the most important step of all.

Do not try to solve one big problem. You will cry.

Instead, break it into sub-problems. These sub-problems are much easier to solve.

Then, solve each sub-problem one by one. Begin with the simplest. Simplest means you know the answer (or are closer to that answer).

After that, simplest means this sub-problem being solved doesn’t depend on others being solved.

Once you solved every sub-problem, connect the dots.

Connecting all your “sub-solutions” will give you the solution to the original problem. Congratulations!

This technique is a cornerstone of problem-solving. Remember it (read this step again, if you must).

“If I could teach every beginning programmer one problem-solving skill, it would be the ‘reduce the problem technique.’

For example, suppose you’re a new programmer and you’re asked to write a program that reads ten numbers and figures out which number is the third highest. For a brand-new programmer, that can be a tough assignment, even though it only requires basic programming syntax.

If you’re stuck, you should reduce the problem to something simpler. Instead of the third-highest number, what about finding the highest overall? Still too tough? What about finding the largest of just three numbers? Or the larger of two?

Reduce the problem to the point where you know how to solve it and write the solution. Then expand the problem slightly and rewrite the solution to match, and keep going until you are back where you started.” — V. Anton Spraul

By now, you’re probably sitting there thinking “Hey Richard... That’s cool and all, but what if I’m stuck and can’t even solve a sub-problem??”

First off, take a deep breath. Second, that’s fair.

Don’t worry though, friend. This happens to everyone!

The difference is the best programmers/problem-solvers are more curious about bugs/errors than irritated.

In fact, here are three things to try when facing a whammy:

• Debug: Go step by step through your solution trying to find where you went wrong. Programmers call this debugging (in fact, this is all a debugger does).

“The art of debugging is figuring out what you really told your program to do rather than what you thought you told it to do.”” — Andrew Singer

• Reassess: Take a step back. Look at the problem from another perspective. Is there anything that can be abstracted to a more general approach?

“Sometimes we get so lost in the details of a problem that we overlook general principles that would solve the problem at a more general level. […]

The classic example of this, of course, is the summation of a long list of consecutive integers, 1 + 2 + 3 + … + n, which a very young Gauss quickly recognized was simply n(n+1)/2, thus avoiding the effort of having to do the addition.” — C. Jordan Ball

Sidenote: Another way of reassessing is starting anew. Delete everything and begin again with fresh eyes. I’m serious. You’ll be dumbfounded at how effective this is.

• Research: Ahh, good ol’ Google. You read that right. No matter what problem you have, someone has probably solved it. Find that person/ solution. In fact, do this even if you solved the problem! (You can learn a lot from other people’s solutions).

Caveat: Don’t look for a solution to the big problem. Only look for solutions to sub-problems. Why? Because unless you struggle (even a little bit), you won’t learn anything. If you don’t learn anything, you wasted your time.

Don’t expect to be great after just one week. If you want to be a good problem-solver, solve a lot of problems!

Practice. Practice. Practice. It’ll only be a matter of time before you recognize that “this problem could easily be solved with <insert concept here>.”

How to practice? There are options out the wazoo!

Chess puzzles, math problems, Sudoku, Go, Monopoly, video-games, cryptokitties, bla… bla… bla….

In fact, a common pattern amongst successful people is their habit of practicing “micro problem-solving.” For example, Peter Thiel plays chess, and Elon Musk plays video-games.

“Byron Reeves said ‘If you want to see what business leadership may look like in three to five years, look at what’s happening in online games.’

Fast-forward to today. Elon [Musk], Reid [Hoffman], Mark Zuckerberg and many others say that games have been foundational to their success in building their companies.” — Mary Meeker ( 2017 internet trends report )

Does this mean you should just play video-games? Not at all.

But what are video-games all about? That’s right, problem-solving!

So, what you should do is find an outlet to practice. Something that allows you to solve many micro-problems (ideally, something you enjoy).

For example, I enjoy coding challenges. Every day, I try to solve at least one challenge (usually on Coderbyte ).

Like I said, all problems share similar patterns.

That’s all folks!

Now, you know better what it means to “think like a programmer.”

You also know that problem-solving is an incredible skill to cultivate (the meta-skill).

As if that wasn’t enough, notice how you also know what to do to practice your problem-solving skills!

Phew… Pretty cool right?

Finally, I wish you encounter many problems.

You read that right. At least now you know how to solve them! (also, you’ll learn that with every solution, you improve).

“Just when you think you’ve successfully navigated one obstacle, another emerges. But that’s what keeps life interesting.[…]

Life is a process of breaking through these impediments — a series of fortified lines that we must break through.

Each time, you’ll learn something.

Each time, you’ll develop strength, wisdom, and perspective.

Each time, a little more of the competition falls away. Until all that is left is you: the best version of you.” — Ryan Holiday ( The Obstacle is the Way )

Now, go solve some problems!

And best of luck ?

Special thanks to C. Jordan Ball and V. Anton Spraul . All the good advice here came from them.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, test how many times can you hit in 5 seconds. It’s great cardio for your fingers AND will help other people see the story.

If this article was helpful, share it .

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What Is Problem Solving? How Software Engineers Approach Complex Challenges

From debugging an existing system to designing an entirely new software application, a day in the life of a software engineer is filled with various challenges and complexities. The one skill that glues these disparate tasks together and makes them manageable? Problem solving . 

Throughout this blog post, we’ll explore why problem-solving skills are so critical for software engineers, delve into the techniques they use to address complex challenges, and discuss how hiring managers can identify these skills during the hiring process. 

What Is Problem Solving?

But what exactly is problem solving in the context of software engineering? How does it work, and why is it so important?

Problem solving, in the simplest terms, is the process of identifying a problem, analyzing it, and finding the most effective solution to overcome it. For software engineers, this process is deeply embedded in their daily workflow. It could be something as simple as figuring out why a piece of code isn’t working as expected, or something as complex as designing the architecture for a new software system. 

In a world where technology is evolving at a blistering pace, the complexity and volume of problems that software engineers face are also growing. As such, the ability to tackle these issues head-on and find innovative solutions is not only a handy skill — it’s a necessity. 

The Importance of Problem-Solving Skills for Software Engineers

Problem-solving isn’t just another ability that software engineers pull out of their toolkits when they encounter a bug or a system failure. It’s a constant, ongoing process that’s intrinsic to every aspect of their work. Let’s break down why this skill is so critical.

Driving Development Forward

Without problem solving, software development would hit a standstill. Every new feature, every optimization, and every bug fix is a problem that needs solving. Whether it’s a performance issue that needs diagnosing or a user interface that needs improving, the capacity to tackle and solve these problems is what keeps the wheels of development turning.

It’s estimated that 60% of software development lifecycle costs are related to maintenance tasks, including debugging and problem solving. This highlights how pivotal this skill is to the everyday functioning and advancement of software systems.

Innovation and Optimization

The importance of problem solving isn’t confined to reactive scenarios; it also plays a major role in proactive, innovative initiatives . Software engineers often need to think outside the box to come up with creative solutions, whether it’s optimizing an algorithm to run faster or designing a new feature to meet customer needs. These are all forms of problem solving.

Consider the development of the modern smartphone. It wasn’t born out of a pre-existing issue but was a solution to a problem people didn’t realize they had — a device that combined communication, entertainment, and productivity into one handheld tool.

Increasing Efficiency and Productivity

Good problem-solving skills can save a lot of time and resources. Effective problem-solvers are adept at dissecting an issue to understand its root cause, thus reducing the time spent on trial and error. This efficiency means projects move faster, releases happen sooner, and businesses stay ahead of their competition.

Improving Software Quality

Problem solving also plays a significant role in enhancing the quality of the end product. By tackling the root causes of bugs and system failures, software engineers can deliver reliable, high-performing software. This is critical because, according to the Consortium for Information and Software Quality, poor quality software in the U.S. in 2022 cost at least $2.41 trillion in operational issues, wasted developer time, and other related problems.

Problem-Solving Techniques in Software Engineering

So how do software engineers go about tackling these complex challenges? Let’s explore some of the key problem-solving techniques, theories, and processes they commonly use.

Decomposition

Breaking down a problem into smaller, manageable parts is one of the first steps in the problem-solving process. It’s like dealing with a complicated puzzle. You don’t try to solve it all at once. Instead, you separate the pieces, group them based on similarities, and then start working on the smaller sets. This method allows software engineers to handle complex issues without being overwhelmed and makes it easier to identify where things might be going wrong.

Abstraction

In the realm of software engineering, abstraction means focusing on the necessary information only and ignoring irrelevant details. It is a way of simplifying complex systems to make them easier to understand and manage. For instance, a software engineer might ignore the details of how a database works to focus on the information it holds and how to retrieve or modify that information.

Algorithmic Thinking

At its core, software engineering is about creating algorithms — step-by-step procedures to solve a problem or accomplish a goal. Algorithmic thinking involves conceiving and expressing these procedures clearly and accurately and viewing every problem through an algorithmic lens. A well-designed algorithm not only solves the problem at hand but also does so efficiently, saving computational resources.

Parallel Thinking

Parallel thinking is a structured process where team members think in the same direction at the same time, allowing for more organized discussion and collaboration. It’s an approach popularized by Edward de Bono with the “ Six Thinking Hats ” technique, where each “hat” represents a different style of thinking.

In the context of software engineering, parallel thinking can be highly effective for problem solving. For instance, when dealing with a complex issue, the team can use the “White Hat” to focus solely on the data and facts about the problem, then the “Black Hat” to consider potential problems with a proposed solution, and so on. This structured approach can lead to more comprehensive analysis and more effective solutions, and it ensures that everyone’s perspectives are considered.

This is the process of identifying and fixing errors in code . Debugging involves carefully reviewing the code, reproducing and analyzing the error, and then making necessary modifications to rectify the problem. It’s a key part of maintaining and improving software quality.

Testing and Validation

Testing is an essential part of problem solving in software engineering. Engineers use a variety of tests to verify that their code works as expected and to uncover any potential issues. These range from unit tests that check individual components of the code to integration tests that ensure the pieces work well together. Validation, on the other hand, ensures that the solution not only works but also fulfills the intended requirements and objectives.

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Evaluating Problem-Solving Skills

We’ve examined the importance of problem-solving in the work of a software engineer and explored various techniques software engineers employ to approach complex challenges. Now, let’s delve into how hiring teams can identify and evaluate problem-solving skills during the hiring process.

Recognizing Problem-Solving Skills in Candidates

How can you tell if a candidate is a good problem solver? Look for these indicators:

• Previous Experience: A history of dealing with complex, challenging projects is often a good sign. Ask the candidate to discuss a difficult problem they faced in a previous role and how they solved it.
• Problem-Solving Questions: During interviews, pose hypothetical scenarios or present real problems your company has faced. Ask candidates to explain how they would tackle these issues. You’re not just looking for a correct solution but the thought process that led them there.
• Technical Tests: Coding challenges and other technical tests can provide insight into a candidate’s problem-solving abilities. Consider leveraging a platform for assessing these skills in a realistic, job-related context.

Assessing Problem-Solving Skills

Once you’ve identified potential problem solvers, here are a few ways you can assess their skills:

• Solution Effectiveness: Did the candidate solve the problem? How efficient and effective is their solution?
• Approach and Process: Go beyond whether or not they solved the problem and examine how they arrived at their solution. Did they break the problem down into manageable parts? Did they consider different perspectives and possibilities?
• Communication: A good problem solver can explain their thought process clearly. Can the candidate effectively communicate how they arrived at their solution and why they chose it?
• Adaptability: Problem-solving often involves a degree of trial and error. How does the candidate handle roadblocks? Do they adapt their approach based on new information or feedback?

Hiring managers play a crucial role in identifying and fostering problem-solving skills within their teams. By focusing on these abilities during the hiring process, companies can build teams that are more capable, innovative, and resilient.

Key Takeaways

As you can see, problem solving plays a pivotal role in software engineering. Far from being an occasional requirement, it is the lifeblood that drives development forward, catalyzes innovation, and delivers of quality software. 

By leveraging problem-solving techniques, software engineers employ a powerful suite of strategies to overcome complex challenges. But mastering these techniques isn’t simple feat. It requires a learning mindset, regular practice, collaboration, reflective thinking, resilience, and a commitment to staying updated with industry trends. 

For hiring managers and team leads, recognizing these skills and fostering a culture that values and nurtures problem solving is key. It’s this emphasis on problem solving that can differentiate an average team from a high-performing one and an ordinary product from an industry-leading one.

At the end of the day, software engineering is fundamentally about solving problems — problems that matter to businesses, to users, and to the wider society. And it’s the proficient problem solvers who stand at the forefront of this dynamic field, turning challenges into opportunities, and ideas into reality.

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Lesson 27 of 34 By Hemant Deshpande

Table of Contents

Coding and Programming skills hold a significant and critical role in implementing and developing various technologies and software. They add more value to the future and development. These programming and coding skills are essential for every person to improve problem solving skills. So, we brought you this article to help you learn and know the importance of these skills in the future. 

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Topics covered in this problem solving in programming article are:

• What is Problem Solving in Programming? 
• Problem Solving skills in Programming
• How does it impact your career ?
• Steps involved in Problem Solving
• Steps to improve Problem Solving in programming

What is Problem Solving in Programming?

Computers are used to solve various problems in day-to-day life. Problem Solving is an essential skill that helps to solve problems in programming. There are specific steps to be carried out to solve problems in computer programming, and the success depends on how correctly and precisely we define a problem. This involves designing, identifying and implementing problems using certain steps to develop a computer.

When we know what exactly problem solving in programming is, let us learn how it impacts your career growth.

How Does It Impact Your Career?

Many companies look for candidates with excellent problem solving skills. These skills help people manage the work and make candidates put more effort into the work, which results in finding solutions for complex problems in unexpected situations. These skills also help to identify quick solutions when they arise and are identified. 

People with great problem solving skills also possess more thinking and analytical skills, which makes them much more successful and confident in their career and able to work in any kind of environment. 

The above section gives you an idea of how problem solving in programming impacts your career and growth. Now, let's understand what problem solving skills mean.

Problem Solving Skills in Programming

Solving a question that is related to computers is more complicated than finding the solutions for other questions. It requires excellent knowledge and much thinking power. Problem solving in programming skills is much needed for a person and holds a major advantage. For every question, there are specific steps to be followed to get a perfect solution. By using those steps, it is possible to find a solution quickly.

The above section is covered with an explanation of problem solving in programming skills. Now let's learn some steps involved in problem solving.

Steps Involved in Problem Solving

Before being ready to solve a problem, there are some steps and procedures to be followed to find the solution. Let's have a look at them in this problem solving in programming article.

Basically, they are divided into four categories:

• Analysing the problem
• Developing the algorithm
• Testing and debugging

Analysing the Problem

Every problem has a perfect solution; before we are ready to solve a problem, we must look over the question and understand it. When we know the question, it is easy to find the solution for it. If we are not ready with what we have to solve, then we end up with the question and cannot find the answer as expected. By analysing it, we can figure out the outputs and inputs to be carried out. Thus, when we analyse and are ready with the list, it is easy and helps us find the solution easily. 

Developing the Algorithm

It is required to decide a solution before writing a program. The procedure of representing the solution  in a natural language called an algorithm. We must design, develop and decide the final approach after a number of trials and errors, before actually writing the final code on an algorithm before we write the code. It captures and refines all the aspects of the desired solution.

Once we finalise the algorithm, we must convert the decided algorithm into a code or program using a dedicated programming language that is understandable by the computer to find a desired solution. In this stage, a wide variety of programming languages are used to convert the algorithm into code. 

Testing and Debugging

The designed and developed program undergoes several rigorous tests based on various real-time parameters and the program undergoes various levels of simulations. It must meet the user's requirements, which have to respond with the required time. It should generate all expected outputs to all the possible inputs. The program should also undergo bug fixing and all possible exception handling. If it fails to show the possible results, it should be checked for logical errors.

Industries follow some testing methods like system testing, component testing and acceptance testing while developing complex applications. The errors identified while testing are debugged or rectified and tested again until all errors are removed from the program.

The steps mentioned above are involved in problem solving in programming. Now let's see some more detailed information about the steps to improve problem solving in programming.

Steps to Improve Problem Solving in Programming

Right mindset.

The way to approach problems is the key to improving the skills. To find a solution, a positive mindset helps to solve problems quickly. If you think something is impossible, then it is hard to achieve. When you feel free and focus with a positive attitude, even complex problems will have a perfect solution.

Making Right Decisions

When we need to solve a problem, we must be clear with the solution. The perfect solution helps to get success in a shorter period. Making the right decisions in the right situation helps to find the perfect solution quickly and efficiently. These skills also help to get more command over the subject.

Keeping Ideas on Track

Ideas always help much in improving the skills; they also help to gain more knowledge and more command over things. In problem solving situations, these ideas help much and help to develop more skills. Give opportunities for the mind and keep on noting the ideas.

Learning from Feedbacks

A crucial part of learning is from the feedback. Mistakes help you to gain more knowledge and have much growth. When you have a solution for a problem, go for the feedback from the experienced or the professionals. It helps you get success within a shorter period and enables you to find other solutions easily.

Asking Questions

Questions are an incredible part of life. While searching for solutions, there are a lot of questions that arise in our minds. Once you know the question correctly, then you are able to find answers quickly. In coding or programming, we must have a clear idea about the problem. Then, you can find the perfect solution for it. Raising questions can help to understand the problem.

These are a few reasons and tips to improve problem solving in programming skills. Now let's see some major benefits in this article.

• Problem solving in programming skills helps to gain more knowledge over coding and programming, which is a major benefit.
• These problem solving skills also help to develop more skills in a person and build a promising career.
• These skills also help to find the solutions for critical and complex problems in a perfect way.
• Learning and developing problem solving in programming helps in building a good foundation.
• Most of the companies are looking for people with good problem solving skills, and these play an important role when it comes to job opportunities 

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Problem solving in programming skills is important in this modern world; these skills build a great career and hold a great advantage. This article on problem solving in programming provides you with an idea of how it plays a massive role in the present world. In this problem solving in programming article, the skills and the ways to improve more command on problem solving in programming are mentioned and explained in a proper way.

If you are looking to advance in your career. Simplilearn provides training and certification courses on various programming languages - Python , Java , Javascript , and many more. Check out our Post Graduate Program in Full Stack Web Development course that will help you excel in your career.

If you have any questions for us on the problem solving in programming article. Do let us know in the comments section below; we have our experts answer it right away.

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About the author.

Hemant Deshpande, PMP has more than 17 years of experience working for various global MNC's. He has more than 10 years of experience in managing large transformation programs for Fortune 500 clients across verticals such as Banking, Finance, Insurance, Healthcare, Telecom and others. During his career he has worked across the geographies - North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Hemant is an internationally Certified Executive Coach (CCA/ICF Approved) working with corporate leaders. He also provides Management Consulting and Training services. He is passionate about writing and regularly blogs and writes content for top websites. His motto in life - Making a positive difference.

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Problem Solving

Foundations course, introduction.

Before we start digging into some pretty nifty JavaScript, we need to begin talking about problem solving : the most important skill a developer needs.

Problem solving is the core thing software developers do. The programming languages and tools they use are secondary to this fundamental skill.

From his book, “Think Like a Programmer” , V. Anton Spraul defines problem solving in programming as:

Problem solving is writing an original program that performs a particular set of tasks and meets all stated constraints.

The set of tasks can range from solving small coding exercises all the way up to building a social network site like Facebook or a search engine like Google. Each problem has its own set of constraints, for example, high performance and scalability may not matter too much in a coding exercise but it will be vital in apps like Google that need to service billions of search queries each day.

New programmers often find problem solving the hardest skill to build. It’s not uncommon for budding programmers to breeze through learning syntax and programming concepts, yet when trying to code something on their own, they find themselves staring blankly at their text editor not knowing where to start.

The best way to improve your problem solving ability is by building experience by making lots and lots of programs. The more practice you have the better you’ll be prepared to solve real world problems.

In this lesson we will walk through a few techniques that can be used to help with the problem solving process.

Lesson overview

This section contains a general overview of topics that you will learn in this lesson.

• Explain the three steps in the problem solving process.
• Explain what pseudocode is and be able to use it to solve problems.
• Be able to break a problem down into subproblems.

Understand the problem

The first step to solving a problem is understanding exactly what the problem is. If you don’t understand the problem, you won’t know when you’ve successfully solved it and may waste a lot of time on a wrong solution .

To gain clarity and understanding of the problem, write it down on paper, reword it in plain English until it makes sense to you, and draw diagrams if that helps. When you can explain the problem to someone else in plain English, you understand it.

Now that you know what you’re aiming to solve, don’t jump into coding just yet. It’s time to plan out how you’re going to solve it first. Some of the questions you should answer at this stage of the process:

• Does your program have a user interface? What will it look like? What functionality will the interface have? Sketch this out on paper.
• What inputs will your program have? Will the user enter data or will you get input from somewhere else?
• What’s the desired output?
• Given your inputs, what are the steps necessary to return the desired output?

The last question is where you will write out an algorithm to solve the problem. You can think of an algorithm as a recipe for solving a particular problem. It defines the steps that need to be taken by the computer to solve a problem in pseudocode.

Pseudocode is writing out the logic for your program in natural language instead of code. It helps you slow down and think through the steps your program will have to go through to solve the problem.

Here’s an example of what the pseudocode for a program that prints all numbers up to an inputted number might look like:

This is a basic program to demonstrate how pseudocode looks. There will be more examples of pseudocode included in the assignments.

Divide and conquer

From your planning, you should have identified some subproblems of the big problem you’re solving. Each of the steps in the algorithm we wrote out in the last section are subproblems. Pick the smallest or simplest one and start there with coding.

It’s important to remember that you might not know all the steps that you might need up front, so your algorithm may be incomplete -— this is fine. Getting started with and solving one of the subproblems you have identified in the planning stage often reveals the next subproblem you can work on. Or, if you already know the next subproblem, it’s often simpler with the first subproblem solved.

Many beginners try to solve the big problem in one go. Don’t do this . If the problem is sufficiently complex, you’ll get yourself tied in knots and make life a lot harder for yourself. Decomposing problems into smaller and easier to solve subproblems is a much better approach. Decomposition is the main way to deal with complexity, making problems easier and more approachable to solve and understand.

In short, break the big problem down and solve each of the smaller problems until you’ve solved the big problem.

Solving Fizz Buzz

To demonstrate this workflow in action, let’s solve Fizz Buzz

Understanding the problem

Write a program that takes a user’s input and prints the numbers from one to the number the user entered. However, for multiples of three print Fizz instead of the number and for the multiples of five print Buzz . For numbers which are multiples of both three and five print FizzBuzz .

This is the big picture problem we will be solving. But we can always make it clearer by rewording it.

Write a program that allows the user to enter a number, print each number between one and the number the user entered, but for numbers that divide by 3 without a remainder print Fizz instead. For numbers that divide by 5 without a remainder print Buzz and finally for numbers that divide by both 3 and 5 without a remainder print FizzBuzz .

Does your program have an interface? What will it look like? Our FizzBuzz solution will be a browser console program, so we don’t need an interface. The only user interaction will be allowing users to enter a number.

What inputs will your program have? Will the user enter data or will you get input from somewhere else? The user will enter a number from a prompt (popup box).

What’s the desired output? The desired output is a list of numbers from 1 to the number the user entered. But each number that is divisible by 3 will output Fizz , each number that is divisible by 5 will output Buzz and each number that is divisible by both 3 and 5 will output FizzBuzz .

Writing the pseudocode

What are the steps necessary to return the desired output? Here is an algorithm in pseudocode for this problem:

Dividing and conquering

As we can see from the algorithm we developed, the first subproblem we can solve is getting input from the user. So let’s start there and verify it works by printing the entered number.

With JavaScript, we’ll use the “prompt” method.

The above code should create a little popup box that asks the user for a number. The input we get back will be stored in our variable answer .

We wrapped the prompt call in a parseInt function so that a number is returned from the user’s input.

With that done, let’s move on to the next subproblem: “Loop from 1 to the entered number”. There are many ways to do this in JavaScript. One of the common ways - that you actually see in many other languages like Java, C++, and Ruby - is with the for loop :

If you haven’t seen this before and it looks strange, it’s actually straightforward. We declare a variable i and assign it 1: the initial value of the variable i in our loop. The second clause, i <= answer is our condition. We want to loop until i is greater than answer . The third clause, i++ , tells our loop to increment i by 1 every iteration. As a result, if the user inputs 10, this loop would print numbers 1 - 10 to the console.

Most of the time, programmers find themselves looping from 0. Due to the needs of our program, we’re starting from 1

With that working, let’s move on to the next problem: If the current number is divisible by 3, then print Fizz .

We are using the modulus operator ( % ) here to divide the current number by three. If you recall from a previous lesson, the modulus operator returns the remainder of a division. So if a remainder of 0 is returned from the division, it means the current number is divisible by 3.

After this change the program will now output this when you run it and the user inputs 10:

The program is starting to take shape. The final few subproblems should be easy to solve as the basic structure is in place and they are just different variations of the condition we’ve already got in place. Let’s tackle the next one: If the current number is divisible by 5 then print Buzz .

When you run the program now, you should see this output if the user inputs 10:

We have one more subproblem to solve to complete the program: If the current number is divisible by 3 and 5 then print FizzBuzz .

We’ve had to move the conditionals around a little to get it to work. The first condition now checks if i is divisible by 3 and 5 instead of checking if i is just divisible by 3. We’ve had to do this because if we kept it the way it was, it would run the first condition if (i % 3 === 0) , so that if i was divisible by 3, it would print Fizz and then move on to the next number in the iteration, even if i was divisible by 5 as well.

With the condition if (i % 3 === 0 && i % 5 === 0) coming first, we check that i is divisible by both 3 and 5 before moving on to check if it is divisible by 3 or 5 individually in the else if conditions.

The program is now complete! If you run it now you should get this output when the user inputs 20:

• Read How to Think Like a Programmer - Lessons in Problem Solving by Richard Reis.
• Watch How to Begin Thinking Like a Programmer by Coding Tech. It’s an hour long but packed full of information and definitely worth your time watching.
• Read this Pseudocode: What It Is and How to Write It article from Built In.

Knowledge check

The following questions are an opportunity to reflect on key topics in this lesson. If you can’t answer a question, click on it to review the material, but keep in mind you are not expected to memorize or master this knowledge.

• What are the three stages in the problem solving process?
• Why is it important to clearly understand the problem first?
• What can you do to help get a clearer understanding of the problem?
• What are some of the things you should do in the planning stage of the problem solving process?
• What is an algorithm?
• What is pseudocode?
• What are the advantages of breaking a problem down and solving the smaller problems?

Additional resources

This section contains helpful links to related content. It isn’t required, so consider it supplemental.

• Read the first chapter in Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving ( not free ). This book’s examples are in C++, but you will understand everything since the main idea of the book is to teach programmers to better solve problems. It’s an amazing book and worth every penny. It will make you a better programmer.
• Watch this video on repetitive programming techniques .
• Watch Jonathan Blow on solving hard problems where he gives sage advice on how to approach problem solving in software projects.

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Programming Tutorial | Introduction, Basic Concepts, Getting started, Problems

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This comprehensive guide of Programming Tutorial or Coding Tutorial provides an introduction to programming, covering basic concepts, setting up your development environment, and common beginner problems. Learn about variables, data types, control flow statements, functions, and how to write your first code in various languages. Explore resources and tips to help you to begin your programming journey. We designed this Programming Tutorial or Coding Tutorial to empower beginners and equip them with the knowledge and resources they will need to get started with programming.

Programming Tutorial

1. What is Programming?

Programming , also known as coding , is the process of creating a set of instructions that tell a computer how to perform a specific task. These instructions, called programs, are written in a language that the computer can understand and execute.

Table of Content

• What is Programming?
• Getting Started with Programming
• Common Programming Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Basic Programming EssentialsA Beginner’s Guide to Programming Fundamentals
• Advanced Programming Concepts
• Writing Your First Code
• Top 20 Programs to get started with Coding/Programming
• Next Steps after learning basic Coding/Programming
• Resources and Further Learning
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Programming Tutorial

Think of programming as giving commands to a robot. You tell the robot what to do, step-by-step, and it follows your instructions precisely. Similarly, you tell the computer what to do through code, and it performs those tasks as instructed.

The purpose of programming is to solve problems and automate tasks. By creating programs, we can instruct computers to perform a wide range of activities, from simple calculations to complex tasks like managing databases and designing video games.

A. How Programming Works:

Programming involves several key steps:

• Problem definition: Clearly define the problem you want to solve and what you want the program to achieve.
• Algorithm design: Develop a step-by-step procedure for solving the problem.
• Coding: Translate the algorithm into a programming language using a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE).
• Testing and debugging: Run the program and identify and fix any errors.
• Deployment: Share the program with others or use it for your own purposes.

B. Benefits of Learning to Code:

Learning to code offers numerous benefits, both personal and professional:

• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Programming encourages logical thinking, problem decomposition, and finding creative solutions.
• Boost your creativity and innovation: Coding empowers you to build your own tools and applications, turning ideas into reality.
• Increase your employability: The demand for skilled programmers is high and growing across various industries.
• Improve your communication and collaboration skills: Working with code often requires collaboration and clear communication.
• Gain a deeper understanding of technology: Learning to code gives you a better understanding of how computers work and how they are used in the world around you.
• Build self-confidence and motivation: Successfully completing programming projects can boost your confidence and motivate you to learn new things.

Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career in technology or simply want to expand your knowledge and skills, learning to code is a valuable investment in your future.

2. Getting Started with Programming Tutorial

A. choosing your first language.

Assess Resource Availability:

• Free Online Resources: Platforms like Geeksforgeeks, Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer structured learning paths for various languages.
• Paid Online Courses: Platforms like Geeksforgeeks, Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer structured learning paths for various languages.
• Books and eBooks: Numerous beginner-friendly books and ebooks are available for most popular languages.
• Community Support: Look for active online forums, communities, and Stack Overflow for troubleshooting and questions.

B. Which Programming Language should you choose as your First Language?

Here’s a breakdown of popular beginner-friendly languages with their Strengths and Weaknesses:

C. Setting Up Your Development Environment

Choose a Text Editor or IDE :

• Text Editors: Sublime Text, Atom, Notepad++ (lightweight, good for beginners)
• Offline IDEs: Visual Studio Code, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA (feature-rich, recommended for larger projects)
• Online IDEs: GeeksforGeeks IDE

Install a Compiler or Interpreter:

• Compilers: Convert code to machine language (C++, Java)
• I nterpreters: Execute code line by line (Python, JavaScript)

Download Additional Software (if needed):

• Web browsers (Chromium, Firefox) for web development
• Android Studio or Xcode for mobile app development
• Game engines (Unity, Unreal Engine) for game development

Test Your Environment:

• Write a simple program (e.g., print “Hello, world!”)
• Run the program and verify the output
• Ensure everything is set up correctly
• Start with a simple editor like Sublime Text for code basics.
• Use an IDE like Visual Studio Code for larger projects with advanced features.
• Join online communities or forums for help with setup issues.

3. Common Programming Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Syntax errors: Typographical errors or incorrect grammar in your code.
• Use syntax highlighting in your editor or IDE.
• Logical errors: Errors in the logic of your program, causing it to produce the wrong results.
• Carefully review your code and logic.
• Test your program thoroughly with different inputs.
• Use debugging tools to identify and fix issues.
• Runtime errors: Errors that occur during program execution due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Seek help from online communities or forums for specific errors.
• Start with simple programs and gradually increase complexity.
• Write clean and well-formatted code for better readability.
• Use comments to explain your code and logic.
• Practice regularly and don’t be afraid to experiment.
• Seek help from online communities or mentors when stuck.

4. Basic Programming Essentials – A Beginner’s Guide to Programming Fundamentals:

This section delves deeper into fundamental programming concepts that form the building blocks of any program.

A. Variables and Data Types:

Understanding Variable Declaration and Usage:

• Variables are containers that hold data and can be assigned different values during program execution.
• To declare a variable, you specify its name and data type, followed by an optional assignment statement.
• Example: age = 25 (declares a variable named age of type integer and assigns it the value 25).
• Variables can be reassigned new values throughout the program.

Exploring Different Data Types:

• Integers: Whole numbers without decimal points (e.g., 1, 2, -3).
• Floats: Decimal numbers with a fractional part (e.g., 3.14, 10.5).
• Booleans: True or False values used for conditions.
• Characters: Single letters or symbols (‘a’, ‘$’, ‘#’).
• Strings: Sequences of characters (“Hello, world!”).
• Other data types: Arrays, lists, dictionaries, etc. (depending on the language).

Operations with Different Data Types:

Each data type has supported operations.

• Arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /) work with integers and floats.
• Comparison operators (==, !=, >, <, >=, <=) compare values.
• Logical operators (&&, ||, !) combine conditions.
• Concatenation (+) joins strings.
• Operations with incompatible data types may lead to errors.

B. Operators and Expressions:

Arithmetic Operators:

• Perform basic mathematical calculations (+, -, *, /, %, **, //).
• % (modulo) returns the remainder after division.
• ** (power) raises a number to a certain power.
• // (floor division) discards the fractional part of the result.

Comparison Operators:

• Evaluate conditions and return True or False.
• == (equal), != (not equal), > (greater than), < (less than), >= (greater than or equal), <= (less than or equal).

Logical Operators: Combine conditions and produce True or False.

• && (and): both conditions must be True.
• || (or): at least one condition must be True.
• ! (not): reverses the truth value of a condition.

Building Expressions:

• Combine variables, operators, and constants to form expressions.
• Expressions evaluate to a single value. Example: result = age + 10 * 2 (calculates the sum of age and 20).

C. Control Flow Statements:

Conditional Statements: Control the flow of execution based on conditions.

• if-else: Executes one block of code if the condition is True and another if it’s False.
• switch-case: Executes different code blocks depending on the value of a variable.

Looping Statements: Repeat a block of code multiple times.

• for: Executes a block a specific number of times.
• while: Executes a block while a condition is True.
• do-while: Executes a block at least once and then repeats while a condition is True.

Nested Loops and Conditional Statements:

• Can be combined to create complex control flow structures.
• Inner loops run inside outer loops, allowing for nested logic.

D. Functions:

Defining and Calling Functions:

• Blocks of code that perform a specific task.
• Defined with a function name, parameters (optional), and a code block.
• Called throughout the program to execute the defined functionality.

Passing Arguments to Functions:

• Values passed to functions for processing.

Returning Values from Functions:

• Functions can return a value after execution.
• Useful for collecting results.
• A function calling itself with a modified input.
• Useful for solving problems that involve repetitive tasks with smaller inputs.

These topics provide a solid foundation for understanding programming fundamentals. Remember to practice writing code and experiment with different concepts to solidify your learning.

5. Advanced Programming Concepts

This section explores more advanced programming concepts that build upon the foundational knowledge covered earlier.

A. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

OOP is a programming paradigm that emphasizes the use of objects to represent real-world entities and their relationships.

1. Classes and Objects:

• Classes: Define the blueprint for objects, specifying their properties (attributes) and behaviors (methods).
• Objects: Instances of a class, with their own set of properties and methods.

2. Inheritance and Polymorphism:

• Inheritance: Allows creating new classes that inherit properties and methods from existing classes (superclasses).
• Polymorphism: Enables objects to respond differently to the same message depending on their type.

3. Encapsulation and Abstraction:

• Encapsulation: Encloses an object’s internal state and methods, hiding implementation details and exposing only a public interface.
• Abstraction: Focuses on the essential features and functionalities of an object, ignoring unnecessary details.

B. Concurrency and Parallelism

Concurrency and parallelism are crucial for improving program efficiency and responsiveness.

1. Multithreading and Multiprocessing:

• Multithreading: Allows multiple threads of execution within a single process, enabling concurrent tasks.
• Multiprocessing: Utilizes multiple processors to run different processes simultaneously, achieving true parallelism.

2. Synchronization and Concurrency Control:

Mechanisms to ensure data consistency and prevent conflicts when multiple threads or processes access shared resources.

6. Writing Your First Code

Here is your first code in different languages. These programs all achieve the same goal: printing “ Hello, world! ” to the console. However, they use different syntax and conventions specific to each language.

Printing “Hello world” in C++:

Explanation of above C++ code:

• #include: This keyword includes the <iostream> library, which provides functions for input and output.
• int main(): This defines the main function, which is the entry point of the program.
• std::cout <<: This keyword prints the following expression to the console.
• “Hello, world!” This is the string that is printed to the console.
• std::endl: This keyword inserts a newline character after the printed string.
• return 0; This statement exits the program and returns a success code (0).

Printing “Hello world” in Java:

Explanation of above Java code:

• public class HelloWorld: This keyword defines a public class named HelloWorld .
• public static void main(String[] args): This declares the main function, which is the entry point of the program.
• System.out.println(“Hello, world!”); This statement prints the string “ Hello, world! ” to the console.

Printing “Hello world” in Python:

Explanation of above Python code:

• print: This keyword prints the following argument to the console.

Printing “Hello world” in Javascript:

Explanation of above Javascript code:

• console.log: This object’s method prints the following argument to the console.

Printing “Hello world” in PHP:

Explanation of above PHP code:

• <?php: This tag initiates a PHP code block.
• echo: This keyword prints the following expression to the console.
• ?>: This tag ends the PHP code block.

7. Top 20 Programs to get started with Coding/Programming Tutorial:

Here are the list of some basic problem, these problems cover various fundamental programming concepts. Solving them will help you improve your coding skills and understanding of programming fundamentals.

8. Next Steps after learning basic Coding/Programming Tutorial:

Congratulations on taking the first step into the exciting world of programming! You’ve learned the foundational concepts and are ready to explore more. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate your next steps:

A. Deepen your understanding of Basic Programming Concepts:

• Practice regularly: Implement what you learn through practice problems and coding exercises.
• Solve code challenges: Platforms like GeeksforGeeks, HackerRank, LeetCode, and Codewars offer challenges to improve your problem-solving skills and coding speed.

B. Learn advanced concepts:

• Data structures: Learn about arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs for efficient data organization.
• Algorithms: Explore algorithms for searching, sorting, dynamic programming, and graph traversal.
• Databases: Learn SQL and NoSQL databases for data storage and retrieval.
• Version control: Use Git and GitHub for code versioning and collaboration.

C. Choose a focus area:

• Web development: Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build interactive web pages and applications.
• Mobile app development: Choose frameworks like Flutter (Dart) or React Native (JavaScript) to build cross-platform apps.
• Data science and machine learning: Explore Python libraries like NumPy, pandas, and scikit-learn to analyze data and build machine learning models.
• Game development: Learn game engines like Unity (C#) or Unreal Engine (C++) to create engaging games.
• Desktop app development: Explore frameworks like PyQt (Python) or C# to build desktop applications.
• Other areas: Explore other areas like robotics, embedded systems, cybersecurity, or blockchain development based on your interests.

D. Build projects:

• Start with small projects: Begin with simple projects to apply your knowledge and gain confidence.
• Gradually increase complexity: As you progress, tackle more challenging projects that push your boundaries.
• Contribute to open-source projects: Contributing to open-source projects is a great way to learn from experienced developers and gain valuable experience.
• Showcase your work: Create a portfolio website or blog to showcase your skills and projects to potential employers or clients.

9. Resources and Further Learning

A. Online Courses and Tutorials:

• Interactive platforms: GeeksforGeeks, Codecademy, Coursera, edX, Khan Academy
• Video tutorials: GeeksforGeeks, YouTube channels like FreeCodeCamp, The Coding Train, CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science
• Language-specific tutorials: GeeksforGeeks, Official documentation websites, blogs, and community-driven resources

B. Books and eBooks:

• Beginner-friendly books: “Python Crash Course” by Eric Matthes, “Head First Programming” by David Griffiths
• A dvanced topics: “Clean Code” by Robert C. Martin, “The Pragmatic Programmer” by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
• Free ebooks: Many free programming ebooks are available online, such as those on Project Gutenberg

C. Programming Communities and Forums:

• Stack Overflow: Q&A forum for programming questions
• GitHub: Open-source platform for hosting and collaborating on code projects
• Reddit communities: r/learnprogramming, r/python, r/webdev
• Discord servers: Many languages have dedicated Discord servers for discussions and support

D. Tips for Staying Motivated and Learning Effectively:

• Set realistic goals and deadlines.
• Start small and gradually increase complexity.
• Practice regularly and code consistently.
• Find a learning buddy or group for accountability.
• Participate in online communities and forums.
• Take breaks and avoid burnout.
• Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Programming Tutorial:

Question 1: how to learn programming without tutorial.

Answer: Learning programming without tutorials involves a self-directed approach. Start by understanding fundamental concepts, practicing regularly, and working on small projects. Utilize books, documentation, and online resources for reference.

Question 2: How to learn coding tutorial?

Answer: Learning coding through tutorials involves choosing a programming language, finding online tutorials or courses, and following them step by step. Practice coding alongside the tutorial examples and apply the concepts to real-world projects for a hands-on learning experience.

Question 3: What are 3 important things to know about programming?

Answer: Problem Solving: Programming is fundamentally about solving problems. Logic and Algorithms: Understanding logical thinking and creating efficient algorithms is crucial. Practice: Regular practice and hands-on coding improve skills and understanding.

Question 4: How many days do I need to learn programming?

Answer: The time to learn programming varies based on factors like prior experience, the complexity of the language, and the depth of knowledge desired. Learning the basics can take weeks, but mastery requires continuous practice over months.

Question 5: Can tutorials help coding?

Answer: Yes, tutorials are valuable resources for learning coding. They provide structured guidance, examples, and explanations, making it easier to understand and apply Programming Tutorial concepts.

Question 6: How do you use tutorials effectively?

Answer: Use tutorials effectively by following these steps: Set clear learning goals. Work on hands-on exercises and projects. Seek additional resources for deeper understanding. Regularly review and practice concepts learned.

Question 7: Can coding be done on a phone?

Answer: Yes, coding can be done on a phone using coding apps or online platforms that provide mobile-friendly coding environments. However, a computer is generally more practical for extensive coding tasks.

Question 8: Can I learn coding on GeeksforGeeks?

Answer: Yes, GeeksforGeeks is a popular platform for learning coding. Many Tutorials, Courses are provided you to learn various programming languages and concepts.

Question 9: Can we do coding on a laptop?

Answer: Yes, coding can be done on a laptop. Laptops are common tools for coding as they provide a portable and versatile environment for writing, testing, and running code.

Question 10: What is the difference between coding and programming?

Answer: The terms are often used interchangeably, but coding is typically seen as the act of writing code, while programming involves a broader process that includes problem-solving, designing algorithms, and implementing solutions. Programming encompasses coding as one of its stages.

This comprehensive programming tutorial has covered the fundamentals you need to start coding. Stay updated with emerging technologies and keep practicing to achieve your goals. Remember, everyone starts as a beginner. With dedication, you can unlock the world of programming!

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The Beginner Programmer's guide to Problem Solving [With Example]

Have you got this feeling that you are able to grasp the concepts of programming and  you are able to understand what’s a variable, what’s a function, what are data types, etc. yet you find it difficult to solve problems in programming.  Every beginner gets this feeling.  I did too when starting out.

It is important to overcome this feeling at the earliest, otherwise it can form a mental block for you.

How it can be a mental block to you?  Common sense says that the more you practice a certain skill, you get better at that skill as time progresses.  Same goes with problem solving too.  The more problems you solve, the better you become at problem solving.  But when you get a feel that you are trying hard and still unable to solve a problem or find it extremely difficult, your confidence lowers.  At this stage, either you stop solving problems or try to solve lesser number of problems.

The point is your curriculum or your professional work is generally designed in such a manner that the order of difficulty increases as time progresses.  So, you are in a situation where you feel less confident in solving small problems but now tasked with solving bigger problems.  And the cycle continues till it becomes a permanent mental block in you.

Is it too late to start solving problems?

No.  If you have come to the realization that you need to improve your problem solving skills, you have made that good first step.  Quite often our egos don’t let us accept the obvious.  It is good to accept certain truth because that is the only way that we can improve ourselves.

What can I do to become better at solving problems?

Remove the mental block first – exercise your mind.

Your mind is your most powerful weapon.  So you have to think you can actually solve the problem.  So from today, think positively that you can solve any problem.  But you will obviously start with small problems and go on to solve bigger problems.

As with every aspect in life, it starts with conditioning the mind.  So, starting today, tell yourselves the following:

• I can solve any problem that is put at me
• I will commit at least 1-2 hours per day on solving problems alone for the next 30 days
• I will never give up on any problem that is put at me, I will ask for help if required.1

Understand the basic approach to problem solving

Do you know one of the reasons for your struggle with problem solving?  One reason might be due to lack of practice.  But the main reason is because you have not understood the basics of problem solving especially in programming.  Once you understand the approach to problem solving to the smallest of things, you can go ahead and solve bigger and more complex problems with confidence.1

Ever wondered how top tech companies like Google, Amazon solved the internet’s biggest & hardest problems?  The answer is simplicity.  They solved problems at the basic level and then went on to solve bigger and bigger problems.  You can do it too.  But you need to be good at the basics.

What do I need to understand before even trying to solve the problem?

Understand the problem clearly – the power of clarity.

You need to understand your problem clearly before even trying to solve it1.  Lack of clarity at this stage will put you down.  So make a conscious effort in understanding the problem more clearly.  Ask questions like What, Why, When, Where, What if and How.  Not all questions might be applicable to your problem, but it is important to ask questions to yourself at this stage before you go ahead trying to solve the problem.

Visualize – The Power of visualization

I am sure everyone of you is aware of what visualization is.  Trying to picturize your thoughts.  Have you ever imagined how some people can solve extra ordinary problems just by looking into those problems and they will instantly have a solution to it?  And we don’t even understand the problem fully?  It is because they do it with their mind.  They visualize the problem in their minds and they solve it in their minds itself.  Visualization is a powerful tool in your mind.

But in order to get to that state, first you need to visualize the problem externally.  That is where a pen and a paper/notebook (or) a white board comes into play1.  Try to visualize the problem at hand and try to picturize the problem.  That is also one of the steps to make sure that you understand the problem clearly.

There was a situation when I and my dear friend & colleague were discussing about a problem and we were literally going nowhere.  This was actually when we each had around 7 years of experience in the industry.  At that point, my friend said “Let’s put our points in board.  If we don’t put it on the board, we will never get started”.  And we started putting things on board.  Things started to get more clear and raised more questions and ultimately became more clear.

That is the power of visualization.  It really helps us to get started with our thinking. This visual thing works.  Just try it out.

Your next question might be “I kinda get it, but I don’t.  How do I visualize? What exactly do I visualize?”.  Please read on to find out the answers.

What is the basic approach to problem solving

Step 1:  identify small problems.

The major trick in problem solving is to identify and solve the smallest problem and then moving ahead with bigger ones.  So how do you do it?

The answer is division of responsibility.  Simply put, we need to identify parts that can stand on its own and identify a sequence in those responsibilities.  And once you start breaking down the problems into smaller ones, then you can go ahead with the next step.

Step 2:  Solve the smaller problems one at a time

Now that you have identified the smaller problems, try to solve them.  While solving them, make sure that you are focussing only on one problem at a time.  That makes life much simpler for us.  If you feel that this smaller problem is too big to solve on its own, try to break it down further.  You need to iterate steps 1 to step 3 for each smaller problem.  But for now, ignore the bigger problem and solve the rest of the problems.

• It is ok to assume that other problems are solved
• It is ok to hardcode when coding a particular problem, but later you will resolve it in step 3.
• Solve the easier problems first, that will give you confidence and momentum until you get the confidence to solve the hardest problem first.

Step 3: Connect the dots (Integration)

You have solved individual problems.  Now it is time to connect the dots by connecting the individual solution.  Identify those steps which will make the solution or the program complete.  Typically in programming, the dots are connected by passing data that is stored in variables.

Step 4: Try to optimize each step & across steps

Once you are completed with a working solution, try to optimize the solution with the best code that you can write.  This comes only with practice.  This trick can make a difference between a good programmer and a great programmer.  But to get to this step, you need to be first good at steps 1 to 3.

Let’s take an example & walkthrough the problem solving approach

Problem:  check if a user given string is a palindrome or not.

I will be using Python for this exercise (Although I have experience in1 C# and JAVA, I am also a Python beginner, so pardon any bad code).  Let’s iterate through our steps:

Let’s call this as Level 1:

Step 1:  Identify smaller problems:

Step 2: Solve the small problems

So each small problem will map to its corresponding solution as below:

Note: When solving the step (3.  Compare the variables), I am doing 2 things:

• I am making an assumption that reversed is the variable name of the reversed string.
• I am hardcoding the variable name reversed to ‘madam’ to avoid compile time error
• If you execute the program at this state, you can input ‘madam’ and check if it is printing ‘The given string is a palindrome’ (And) you can input something else like ‘dog’ and check if it is printing ‘The given string is not a palindrome’

When we are trying to connect the dots, the only thing that is missing now is the variable reversed is hardcoded.  For that to be set to the correct value, we need to break the small problem (Reverse the user input and store in a separate variable) into further smaller problems.  Till that point we need to mark it as incomplete.

2 things still remain unsolved in Level 1:

• Solution for step 2 in the diagram (Reverse the user input and store in a separate variable)
• Connecting the dots once the solution for step 2 is found

Iterating small problem 2 through our problem solving steps:

Let’s call this Level 2:

Step 1: Identify smaller problems

Step 3: Connect the dots

Here, we have already connected the dots.  So we need not do anything extra in this step.

Now we have solved the smaller problems, which means Level 2 is over.  Now we need to come back to Level 1.

If you remember, 2 things remain in Level 1.  One is solution for step 2 which we have found now.  Two is connecting the dots.

Now if we substitute the small problem 2 with the solution that we derived just now, we get something like this:

The thing that remains is connecting the dots.

So if we see what is the missing connection, the variable reversed is set twice.  One to the solution of step 2 and another is hardcoded in step 3.  So we can now remove the hardcoded value in step 3, in which case our code will become like this

If you see, we have actually solved our problem.

We are left with step 4 – Optimize each step and across steps

Step 4: Try to optimize each step and across steps

As you can see, there are many things that needs to be optimized for this code.  I would leave you to optimize the code further.  Come on, put on your thinking cap and try different solutions.

BONUS STEP 5:  Make the code robust

By robust I mean,

• Adding error & exception handling
• Using better variable names
• Adding user defined functions
• Adding comments where necessary

Again, I would leave you to figure out how to do this step.

• We saw just how we can solve problems using a step by step approach
• By solving smaller problems, I get into a momentum for solving bigger & tougher problems
• By focussing one problem at a time, I am eliminating distractions, thus allowing to better direct your efforts for that one problem rather than getting confused with many small problems at hand.
• If you understand this approach and practice, you will definitely go on to solve bigger problems and your confidence will raise.
• Beauty about breaking down the problem is that we can further convert each problem and sub problem into separate functions/modules thus making the code more modularized and maintainable.

Wait, You can’t leave yet:

Now dear beginner programmers, take any problem and try to apply this approach.  See the results for yourselves.  Now, describe the following in the comments section:

• What problem you are solving?
• How did you break it down? (Even a snap of your notebook page or board will do!)
• The final code
• How did you feel and what did you learn from this exercise?

Also remember, I am challenging you for the 30 day problem solving challenge.

If you liked this blog post, please feel free to share it with your circles in social media.

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

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10 Steps to Solving a Programming Problem

Tips for new developers staring at a blank screen, unsure of where to start.

Valinda Chan

Some of the feedback I hear from new developers working on a programming problem revolves around uncertainty of where to start. You understand the problem, the logic, basics of the syntax, etc. If you see someone else’s code or have someone to guide you, you can follow along. But maybe you feel uncertain about doing it yourself and have trouble turning your thoughts into code at first even though you understand the syntax or logic. Here’s my process and some tips to tackling a sample problem that hopefully some of you may find helpful in your journey.

1. Read the problem at least three times (or however many makes you feel comfortable)

You can’t solve a problem you don’t understand. There is a difference between the problem and the problem you think you are solving. It’s easy to start reading the first few lines in a problem and assume the rest of it because it’s similar to something you’ve seen in the past. If you are making even a popular game like Hangman, be sure to read through any rules even if you’ve played it before. I once was asked to make a game like Hangman that I realized was “Evil Hangman” only after I read through the instructions (it was a trick!).

Sometimes I’ll even try explaining the problem to a friend and see if her understanding of my explanation matches the problem I am tasked with. You don’t want to find out halfway through that you misunderstood the problem. Taking extra time in the beginning is worth it. The better you understand the problem, the easier it will be to solve it.

Let’s pretend we are creating a simple function selectEvenNumbers that will take in an array of numbers and return an array evenNumbers of only even numbers. If there are no even numbers, return the empty array evenNumbers .

Here are some questions that run through my mind:

• How can a computer tell what is an even number? Divide that number by 2 and see if its remainder is 0.
• What am I passing into this function? An array
• What will that array contain? One or more numbers
• What are the data types of the elements in the array? Numbers
• What is the goal of this function? What am I returning at the end of this function? The goal is to take all the even numbers and return them in an array. If there are no even numbers, return an empty array.

2. Work through the problem manually with at least three sets of sample data

Take out a piece of paper and work through the problem manually. Think of at least three sets of sample data you can use. Consider corner and edge cases as well.

Corner case : a problem or situation that occurs outside of normal operating parameters, specifically when multiple environmental variables or conditions are simultaneously at extreme levels, even though each parameter is within the specified range for that parameter. Edge case : problem or situation that occurs only at an extreme (maximum or minimum) operating parameter

For example, below are some sets of sample data to use:

When you are first starting out, it is easy to gloss over the steps. Because your brain may already be familiar with even numbers, you may just look at a sample set of data and pull out numbers like 2 , 4 , 6 and so forth in the array without fully being aware of each and every step your brain is taking to solve it. If this is challenging, try using large sets of data as it will override your brain’s ability to naturally solve the problem just by looking at it. That helps you work through the real algorithm.

Let’s go through the first array [1]

• Look at the only element in the array [1]
• Decide if it is even. It is not
• Notice that there are no more elements in this array
• Determine there are no even numbers in this provided array
• Return an empty array

Let’s go through the array [1, 2]

• Look at the first element in array [1, 2]
• Look at the next element in the array
• Decide if it is even. It is even
• Make an array evenNumbers and add 2 to this array
• Return the array evenNumbers which is [2]

I go through this a few more times. Notice how the steps I wrote down for [1] varies slightly from [1, 2] . That is why I try to go through a couple of different sets. I have some sets with just one element, some with floats instead of just integers, some with multiple digits in an element, and some with negatives just to be safe.

3. Simplify and optimize your steps

Look for patterns and see if there’s anything you can generalize. See if you can reduce any steps or if you are repeating any steps.

• Create a function selectEvenNumbers
• Create a new empty array evenNumbers where I store even numbers, if any
• Go through each element in the array [1, 2]
• Find the first element
• Decide if it is even by seeing if it is divisible by 2. If it is even, I add that to evenNumbers
• Find the next element
• Repeat step #4
• Repeat step #5 and #4 until there are no more elements in this array
• Return the array evenNumbers , regardless of whether it has anything in it

This approach may remind you of Mathematical Induction in that you:

• Show it is true for n = 1 , n = 2 , ...
• Suppose it is true for n = k
• Prove it is true for n = k + 1

4. Write pseudocode

Even after you’ve worked out general steps, writing out pseudocode that you can translate into code will help with defining the structure of your code and make coding a lot easier. Write pseudocode line by line. You can do this either on paper or as comments in your code editor. If you’re starting out and find blank screens to be daunting or distracting, I recommend doing it on paper.

Pseudocode generally does not actually have specific rules in particular but sometimes, I might end up including some syntax from a language just because I am familiar enough with an aspect of the programming language. Don’t get caught up with the syntax. Focus on the logic and steps.

For our problem, there are many different ways to do this. For example, you can use filter but for the sake of keeping this example as easy to follow along as possible, we will use a basic for loop for now (but we will use filter later when we refactor our code).

Here is an example of pseudocode that has more words:

Here is an example of pseudocode that has fewer words:

Either way is fine as long as you are writing it out line-by-line and understand the logic on each line.

Refer back to the problem to make sure you are on track.

5. Translate pseudocode into code and debug

When you have your pseudocode ready, translate each line into real code in the language you are working on. We will use JavaScript for this example.

If you wrote it out on paper, type this up as comments in your code editor. Then replace each line in your pseudocode.

Then I call the function and give it some sample sets of data we used earlier. I use them to see if my code returns the results I want. You can also write tests to check if the actual output is equal to the expected output.

I generally use console.log() after each variable or line or so. This helps me check if the values and code are behaving as expected before I move on . By doing this, I catch any issues before I get too far. Below is an example of what values I would check when I am first starting out. I do this throughout my code as I type it out.

After working though each line of my pseudocode, below is what we end up with. // is what the line was in pseudocode. Text that is bolded is the actual code in JavaScript.

I get rid of the pseudocode to avoid confusion.

Sometimes new developers will get hung up with the syntax that it becomes difficult to move forward. Remember that syntax will come more naturally over time and there is no shame in referencing material for the correct syntax later on when coding.

6. Simplify and optimize your code

You’ve probably noticed by now that simplifying and optimizing are recurring themes.

“Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability.” — Edsger W. Dijkstra, Dutch computer scientist and early pioneer in many research areas of computing science

In this example, one way of optimizing it would be to filter out items from an array by returning a new array using filter . This way, we don’t have to define another variable evenNumbers because filter will return a new array with copies of elements that match the filter. This will not change the original array. We also don’t need to use a for loop with this approach. filter will go through each item, return either true , to have that element in the array, or false to skip it.

Simplifying and optimizing your code may require you to iterate a few times, identifying ways to further simplify and optimize code.

Here are some questions to keep in mind:

• What are your goals for simplifying and optimizing? The goals will depend on your team’s style or your personal preference. Are you trying to condense the code as much as possible? Is the goal to make it the code more readable? If that’s the case, you may prefer taking that extra line to define the variable or compute something rather than trying to define and compute all in one line.
• How else can you make the code more readable?
• Are there any more extra steps you can take out?
• Are there any variables or functions you ended up not even needing or using?
• Are you repeating some steps a lot? See if you can define in another function.
• Are there better ways to handle edge cases?

“Programs must be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute.” — Gerald Jay Sussman and Hal Abelson, Authors of “Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs”

This step really should be throughout the process. Debugging throughout will help you catch any syntax errors or gaps in logic sooner rather than later. Take advantage of your Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and debugger. When I encounter bugs, I trace the code line-by-line to see if there was anything that did not go as expected. Here are some techniques I use:

• Check the console to see what the error message says. Sometimes it’ll point out a line number I need to check. This gives me a rough idea of where to start, although the issue sometimes may not be at this line at all.
• Comment out chunks or lines of code and output what I have so far to quickly see if the code is behaving how I expected. I can always uncomment the code as needed.
• Use other sample data if there are scenarios I did not think of and see if the code will still work.
• Save different versions of my file if I am trying out a completely different approach. I don’t want to lose any of my work if I end up wanting to revert back to it!

“The most effective debugging tool is still careful thought, coupled with judiciously placed print statements.” — Brian W. Kernighan, Computer Science Professor at Princeton University

8. Write useful comments

You may not always remember what every single line meant a month later. And someone else working on your code may not know either. That’s why it’s important to write useful comments to avoid problems and save time later on if you need to come back to it.

Stay away from comments such as:

// This is an array. Iterate through it.

// This is a variable

I try to write brief, high-level comments that help me understand what’s going on if it is not obvious. This comes in handy when I am working on more complex problems. It helps understand what a particular function is doing and why. Through the use of clear variable names, function names, and comments, you (and others) should be able to understand:

• What is this code for?
• What is it doing?

9. Get feedback through code reviews

Get feedback from your teammates, professors, and other developers. Check out Stack Overflow . See how others tackled the problem and learn from them. There are sometimes several ways to approach a problem. Find out what they are and you’ll get better and quicker at coming up with them yourself.

“No matter how slow you are writing clean code, you will always be slower if you make a mess.” — Uncle Bob Martin, Software Engineer and Co-author of the Agile Manifesto

10. Practice, practice, practice

Even experienced developers are always practicing and learning. If you get helpful feedback, implement it. Redo a problem or do similar problems. Keep pushing yourself. With each problem you solve, the better a developer you become. Celebrate each success and be sure to remember how far you’ve come. Remember that programming, like with anything, comes easier and more naturally with time.

“Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.” — Michael Josephson, Founder of Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics

Thanks Gavin Stark

Written by Valinda Chan

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Blog / Time To Code / 6 Ways to Improve Your Programming Problem Solving

6 Ways to Improve Your Programming Problem Solving

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Software development is, at its core, all about problem solving.

Think about it.

First, developers need to find a problem they can solve with software. Then, they have to figure out how humans solve that problem. And then, they have to find a way to effectively translate both the problem and the solution into code that a computer can use to solve the problem as well as (or better than) a person.

And then there are all the problems along the way: Working with teams, finding and fixing bugs, meeting delivery deadlines.

Engineers use problem solving skills constantly .

Because of that, if you want to become a better developer, one place to start might be becoming a better problem solver. But that’s easier said than done, and requires a deep understanding of what problem solving is, why it matters, and what it actually takes to improve those skills.

Ready to dive in? Let’s get started.

What Is Problem Solving, and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever heard this famous Steve Jobs quote?

“Everyone in this country should learn to program a computer because it teaches you to think.”

Jobs was right. Software development is as much about “soft skills” like critical thinking, communication, and problem solving as it is about “hard skills” like writing code.

And so, in the context of software development, problem solving can mean a few different things:

• Creating an application that meets the end user’s goals.
• Communicating effectively with team members to delegate work.
• Finding and fixing bugs in the code.
• Meeting a tight deadline for a client.

There’s only one thing that’s true no matter what problem solving looks like on a given day: It’s an integral part of every step of the software development process.

Why Should Engineers Work On Problem Solving Skills?

Just like any other skill, problem solving takes practice to apply and master.

Many developers think that becoming a better problem solver means being able to solve more problems, faster. But that’s not true — it means being able to find the best solution to a problem, and then put that solution in place.

Learning to do that is a great way to become a better developer overall. And while soft skills can be more difficult to learn and improve upon than hard skills, there are still some tips and tricks that can help you get better at problem solving specifically.

6 Ways to Get Better at Problem Solving

As you’ll see from these learning tools, getting better at problem solving is mostly like getting better at any other skill for work: You need to practice. A lot. And then practice some more.

Solve a Lot of Problems on a Lot of Different Platforms

Step one? Solve as many problems as you can, but try to focus on different types of problems on different platforms.

Here’s why this is so beneficial: It prevents you from getting comfortable with one problem solving method or framework. As we already know, in the world of software development, there is definitely no one-size-fits-all solution for the problems we encounter.

When you regularly practice solving different types of problems in different platforms, it reinforces the fact that you can’t always rely on the same technique to solve every problem. It forces you to learn to be flexible, and to choose the best tool or framework for each job.

Solve Problems in Contexts Other Than Work

Since problem solving is a skill that requires practice, you can (and should) work on it even outside of work hours.

This doesn’t need to be a chore — there are a lot of fun ways to practice problem solving, like by doing math or logic puzzles, solving crosswords, or playing a game like chess. Even many video games can help work on problem solving skills.

There are also many opportunities to practice problem solving just as you live your life from day to day. Broke something around the house? Use your problem solving skills to DIY a fix. Need to solve a conflict with a friend or a family member? You guessed it — time to practice problem solving.

Learn From Past Solutions, and Apply Them to New Problems

As you keep practicing problem solving as much as possible, you’ll start to see patterns emerge in the problems you solve. You’ll build up a sort of toolkit filled with the solutions you’ve found and used in the past, and you’ll be able to apply those to solving new problems.

This part is just as important as finding the solutions in the first place, because the more you practice your growing problem solving skills, the more natural it will become to apply the right solutions to different types of problems, making you able to solve new problems more and more quickly, while still using the best possible solves.

Ask Others for Help and Feedback

Sometimes, finding the best solution to a problem just requires a fresh, new set of eyes. That’s why it’s important to treat growing your problem solving skills not as a totally solo venture, but as a team endeavor where everyone at your organization can support each other and help each other get better.

If you’re stuck on a specific problem, ask for help. Someone else might have a method or framework you aren’t familiar with, that they can teach you. You can then apply that to more problems down the road.

And if you’ve come up with a solve for a problem, ask others for feedback. They might be able to help you refine or further improve your framework, making it even better.

Train the Problem Solving Part of Your Mind

How do you keep muscles from growing weaker over time? You keep exercising them.

The same goes for your brain, and especially for different knowledge-base skills, like problem solving. You’ll stay at the top of your brain if you keep “working out,” or practicing problem solving all the time.

A good move for a developer who wants to invest in their problem solving skills is scheduling time every week (or even every day) to consciously practice problem solving. Remember, this doesn’t necessarily mean solving work problems. You could commit to doing a tricky logic puzzle every day on your lunch break, for example. The important thing is to get in the practice, no matter how that looks.

Practice Other Skills Related to Problem Solving

Problem solving is an important skill on its own. But there are other necessary skills developers need to support their problem solving abilities, and those skills all take practice, too.

Flexibility. Critical thinking. Communication. Teamwork. Focusing on building and practicing all these skills will help you improve your problem solving.

Problem solving is one of the most necessary skills for developers to have. With time, practice, and dedication, they can improve it, constantly, and keep becoming better.

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Great article regarding problem solving skill, informative and motivating both.

Codility Tests

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Technical Screening Tools

I was very happy to discover this great site. I need to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!

Sharifa Ismail Yusuf

I learnt from this article that one of the key skills a developer need to have is the \"problem solving skills\". Developers also need dedication, time, create time to practice so they can improve their problem solving skills constantly. I do ask for help from others and learn from past solutions and apply them to new problems. From what I have learnt so far, I will try my best to start focusing on building and practicing Flexibility, critical thinking, communication and team work. Solve a lot of problems on a lot of different platforms. Solve problems on context other than work. To start carring out the above, I will schedule time in a week or everyday to conciously practice problem solving skills and other related problem solving skills.Thanks alot for this wonderful article!

dewayne sewell

Ive learnt the skill of problem solving is like a muscle, where it is important to keep exercising it to stay strong. It is important to be aware of the soft skills necessary for effective problem solving also, such as communication, critical thinking, team working that can leverage your technical hard skills to find a solution faster/more effective. Two things I will aim to do is; 1. To solve problems on different platforms so I don’t get too comfortable on only one and stagnate. This not only challenges the brain to see things from a new perspective, but to start the habit of continuous learning and skill building. 2. Reach out to others for help / discuss problems and my solutions for feedback and advice and sharing ideas.

Pakize Bozkurt

Problem solving skills is a crucial thing to make easier or better your life. In fact as a human being we do it in every day life. I mean, we have to do it for living. There are many ways to how to do it. The best way is we should ask right questions. First of all, we should ask some questions, such as; \' Are we aware of the problem?, Are we clarify the problem? Do we go into problem rational? Do we have reasons? or Do we have evidences? Do we do check them out? etc. I am from Philosophy teacher background. I like solving problem whatever in my work or daily life. Secondly, we should have more perspectives . Although our brain is lazy, it is always in a starvation for knowledge.For this there are many enjoyable things to do it. I highly recommend to read book every day which kind of you like it and playing game or solving puzzle. I love solving Sudoku, puzzle and reading book or article. Finally, solving problem is our invatiable needed. Having flexibility, critical thinking, communication and teamwork are easy way to improve us to how we can do our work better and good life. Massive thank for this amazing article!

I read this amazing article. Normally, everyone knows that but we dont use most of time this informations. Which one is the best way to use? Really it does not matter, every one is like a gold opinion. We can use this ideas for the daily life. I have already used that learn from past solution and ask to someone who knows very well. This is so helpful for me. Sometimes google is the best option for ask to someone. Google can be the best teacher for us as well. Soft skills like a team work or solving problem and critical thinking can be important than typing code. We can learn typing code but we can not learn critical thinking and solving problems from google very well. Thank you for this article.

Ipsa iure sed rerum

Excepturi quo volupt

Thanks for this !

Fahil kiima

Thanks a lot for the ideas on problem solving,I really had a problem with that and now going to use what you\'ve informed us about to better my problem solving skills. Thanks.

Alan Codinho

Nice overview

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75 Basic Programming Problems and Tutorials for Practice

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Solving Basic Programming Problems is the key to achieve success in coding challenges. Students must practice these basic programming problems!

Basic Programming Problems: Engaging in code challenges offers many benefits, serving as a dynamic tool to enhance problem-solving proficiency, deepen your comprehension of the programming language you work with, and acquaint yourself with diverse algorithms. If you aspire to elevate your programming skills, immersing yourself in coding is the most effective avenue.

The beauty of basic programming problems lies in their convenience—they provide a platform to hone your abilities through bite-sized problems, often eliminating the need to construct entire applications. This characteristic allows you to conquer these challenges swiftly, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

Moreover, code challenges are integral components of many coding interviews.

While your resume may showcase your skills and ability to articulate programming concepts, employers want to validate your practical coding capabilities. Tackling coding challenges during interviews becomes a testament to your proficiency and showcases your competence for the role.

Therefore, incorporating coding challenges into your routine sharpens your skills and is an invaluable preparation strategy for job interviews. To kickstart your coding journey, we have curated a collection of popular basic programming problems to pave the way for your continued growth.

Table of Contents

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Basic Programming Problems Overview

Basic programming problems provide an essential foundation for individuals learning to code, offering a practical and hands-on approach to mastering fundamental concepts in programming.

These problems are designed to introduce beginners to the core coding principles, gradually building their problem-solving skills and comprehension of programming logic.

Whether you are a novice looking to embark on your coding journey or an experienced programmer aiming to reinforce your foundational knowledge, engaging with basic programming problems is a valuable practice.

These problems typically cover essential topics such as data types, loops, conditionals, functions, and basic algorithms, providing a well-rounded introduction to the key building blocks of programming.

The significance of basic programming problems extends beyond mere skill development; it serves as a stepping stone for individuals aspiring to pursue more advanced coding challenges and projects.

By grappling with these foundational problems, learners can cultivate a solid understanding of programming fundamentals, laying the groundwork for future exploration and mastery of more complex coding concepts. Basic programming problems are the cornerstone of a programmer’s educational journey, fostering a strong and resilient coding skill set.

Basic Programming Problems for Beginners

Starting your career in the programming field is  exciting and challenging. For beginners, mastering the basics is crucial, and what better way to do so than by solving basic programming problems ?

Basic Programming Problems Java

Here are some of the basic programming problems JAVA :

1) Hello World:

public class HelloWorld {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        System.out.println(“Hello, World!”);

2) The sum of Two Numbers:

Add two numbers and print the result.

public class Sum {

        int num1 = 5, num2 = 10, sum;

        sum = num1 + num2;

        System.out.println(“Sum: ” + sum);

3) Factorial of a Number:

Calculate the factorial of a number.

public class Factorial {

        int num = 5;

        long factorial = 1;

        for (int i = 1; i <= num; ++i) {

            factorial *= i;

        System.out.println(“Factorial: ” + factorial);

4) Check Even or Odd:

Determine if a number is even or odd.

public class EvenOdd {

        int num = 8;

        if (num % 2 == 0) {

            System.out.println(num + ” is even.”);

        } else {

            System.out.println(num + ” is odd.”);

5) Reverse a String:

Reverse the characters in a given string.

public class ReverseString {

        String str = “Hello”;

        StringBuilder reversed = new StringBuilder(str).reverse();

        System.out.println(“Reversed String: ” + reversed);

Here are some theory-based basic programming problems Java:

1) Differences Between C++ and Java

• C++: Not platform-independent, follows “write once, compile anywhere.”
• Java: Platform-independent byte code allows programs to run on any machine.

Languages Compatibility:

• C++: Compatible with most high-level languages.
• Java: Incompatible with most languages, comparable to C and C++.

Interaction with the Library:

• C++: Direct access to native system libraries, suitable for system-level programming.
• Java: Requires Java Native Interface or library access, not direct call support.

Characteristics:

• C++: Combines features of procedural and object-oriented languages.
• Java: Known for automatic garbage collection, lacks support for destructors.

Semantics of the Type:

• C++: Consistent semantics for primitive and object types.
• Java: Inconsistent semantics between primitive and object types and classes.

Compiler and Interpreter:

• Java: Compiled and interpreted language, source code compiles into platform-independent bytecode.
• C++: Purely compiled language, source program compiles into object code, further executed.

2) Features of the Java Programming Language:

• Easy: Java is considered easy to learn, with fundamental Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts.
• Secured Feature: Java provides a secured feature, ensuring the development of virus-free and tamper-free systems.
• OOP: Java follows Object-Oriented Programming, treating everything as an object.
• Independent Platform: Java compiles into platform-independent bytecode, interpreted by the Virtual Machine.

3) ClassLoader in Java:

• A ClassLoader in Java is a subsystem of the Java Virtual Machine responsible for loading class files during program execution.
• It is the first to load the executable file and includes Bootstrap, Extension, and Application classloaders.

4) Differences Between Heap and Stack Memory in Java:

• Stack Memory: Allocated to each individual program. Fixed memory space.
• Heap Memory: Not assigned to Java code initially but available during runtime. Used as needed by the Java code.

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Basic Programming Problems in C

The table below shows the basic programming problems in C :

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Basic Programming Problems in Python

In addition to introducing you to Python’s syntax and structure, tackling basic programming problems in Python helps you improve your problem-solving skills. With tasks ranging from basic logic puzzles to intricate algorithmic difficulties, these issues offer an interactive method of learning Python and put you on the route to becoming a skilled programmer.

Basic Programming Problems in Javascript

Whether you aim to enhance your web development skills or explore the vast world of JavaScript applications, these problems cater to beginners, guiding them through the foundational aspects of programming in this versatile language. Below table showcases the basic programming problems in Javascript :

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Basic Programming Problems and Solutions

Here are 10 basic programming problems along with their solutions:

• Hello World:

Problem: Write a program that prints “Hello, World!” to the console.

Solution (Python):

print(“Hello, World!”)

• Sum of Two Numbers:

Problem: Write a program that inputs two numbers and prints their sum.

Solution (Java):

import java.util.Scanner;

public class SumOfTwoNumbers {

        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.print(“Enter first number: “);

        int num1 = scanner.nextInt();

        System.out.print(“Enter second number: “);

        int num2 = scanner.nextInt();

        int sum = num1 + num2;

• Factorial of a Number:

Problem: Write a program to calculate the factorial of a given number.

Solution (C++):

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int factorial(int n) {

    if (n == 0 || n == 1)

        return 1;

        return n * factorial(n – 1);

int main() {

    int num;

    cout << “Enter a number: “;

    cin >> num;

    cout << “Factorial: ” << factorial(num) << endl;

    return 0;

• Check Even or Odd:

Problem: Write a program that checks if a given number is even or odd.

Solution (JavaScript):

let number = 7;

if (number % 2 === 0) {

    console.log(number + ” is even”);

    console.log(number + ” is odd”);

• Reverse a String:

Problem: Write a program to reverse a given string.

original_string = “Hello, World!”

reversed_string = original_string[::-1]

print(“Reversed String:”, reversed_string)

• Fibonacci Series:

Problem: Generate the Fibonacci series up to a specific limit.

public class FibonacciSeries {

        int limit = 10;

        int firstTerm = 0, secondTerm = 1;

        System.out.println(“Fibonacci Series up to ” + limit + ” terms:”);

        for (int i = 1; i <= limit; ++i) {

            System.out.print(firstTerm + “, “);

            int nextTerm = firstTerm + secondTerm;

            firstTerm = secondTerm;

            secondTerm = nextTerm;

• Check Prime Number:

Problem: Write a program to check if a given number is prime.

def is_prime(number):

    if number > 1:

        for i in range(2, int(number / 2) + 1):

            if (number % i) == 0:

                return False

        else:

            return True

        return False

if is_prime(num):

    print(num, “is a prime number.”)

    print(num, “is not a prime number.”)

• Find Maximum Element:

Problem: Write a program to find the maximum element in an array.

int findMax(int arr[], int size) {

    int max = arr[0];

    for (int i = 1; i < size; ++i) {

        if (arr[i] > max) {

            max = arr[i];

    return max;

    int numbers[] = {5, 8, 2, 10, 3};

    int size = sizeof(numbers) / sizeof(numbers[0]);

    cout << “Maximum Element: ” << findMax(numbers, size) << endl;

• Palindrome Check:

Problem: Write a program to check if a given string is a palindrome.

public class PalindromeCheck {

        String str = “level”;

        String reversedStr = new StringBuilder(str).reverse().toString();

        if (str.equals(reversedStr)) {

            System.out.println(str + ” is a palindrome.”);

            System.out.println(str + ” is not a palindrome.”);

• Count Vowels and Consonants:

Problem: Write a program to count the number of vowels and consonants in a given string.

text = “Hello, World!”

vowels = “AEIOU

Benefits of Solving Basic Programming Problems

Solving basic programming problems offers numerous benefits for individuals looking to enhance their programming skills. Here are some key advantages:

Skill Development:

• Coding Proficiency: Regular problem-solving helps improve your coding skills and fluency in programming languages.
• Algorithmic Thinking: It fosters the development of algorithmic thinking, enabling you to devise efficient solutions to various problems.

Logical Thinking:

• Problem Decomposition: Breaking down problems into smaller components and solving them enhances logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Pattern Recognition: Regular problem-solving helps in recognizing patterns and similarities between different problems, leading to more efficient solutions.

Learning New Concepts:

• Exposure to Diverse Topics: Programming problems often cover a wide range of concepts, exposing you to different areas of computer science and software development.
• New Algorithms and Data Structures: Exploring various problems introduces you to new algorithms and data structures, expanding your knowledge base.

Preparation for Interviews:

• Technical Interviews: Many technical interviews for programming roles involve solving algorithmic and coding problems. Regular practice prepares you for such interviews and boosts your confidence.
• Coding Challenges: Familiarity with common coding challenges often encountered in interviews is an asset.

Building a Portfolio:

• Showcasing Skills: Solving problems allows you to build a portfolio of solutions that you can showcase to potential employers or on coding platforms.
• GitHub Contributions: Uploading your solutions to platforms like GitHub demonstrates your coding proficiency and problem-solving ability.

Enhanced Efficiency:

• Code Optimization: Regular practice encourages optimization, leading to more efficient and cleaner code.
• Time Complexity Awareness: Problem-solving helps in understanding and considering time complexity, contributing to the creation of scalable solutions.

Community Engagement:

• Online Communities: Engaging in online coding communities allows you to discuss problems, learn from others, and gain insights into alternative solutions.
• Peer Learning: Collaborating with peers on coding challenges can provide different perspectives and foster a collaborative learning environment.

Career Advancement:

• Competitive Edge: Building strong problem-solving skills sets you apart in a competitive job market, enhancing your employability.
• Adaptability: A wide range of problem-solving experiences makes you more adaptable to different tasks and projects.

Personal Satisfaction:

• Sense of Achievement: Successfully solving programming problems brings a sense of accomplishment, boosting confidence and motivation.
• Continuous Learning: It fosters a mindset of continuous learning, crucial in a rapidly evolving field like programming.

In summary, regular practice of solving basic programming problems contributes significantly to skill development, logical thinking, and overall proficiency in the field of programming.

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The May 2024 issue of IEEE Spectrum is here!

For IEEE Members

Ieee spectrum, follow ieee spectrum, support ieee spectrum, enjoy more free content and benefits by creating an account, saving articles to read later requires an ieee spectrum account, the institute content is only available for members, downloading full pdf issues is exclusive for ieee members, downloading this e-book is exclusive for ieee members, access to spectrum 's digital edition is exclusive for ieee members, following topics is a feature exclusive for ieee members, adding your response to an article requires an ieee spectrum account, create an account to access more content and features on ieee spectrum , including the ability to save articles to read later, download spectrum collections, and participate in conversations with readers and editors. for more exclusive content and features, consider joining ieee ., join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to all of spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to this e-book plus all of ieee spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, access thousands of articles — completely free, create an account and get exclusive content and features: save articles, download collections, and talk to tech insiders — all free for full access and benefits, join ieee as a paying member., ai copilots are changing how coding is taught, professors are shifting away from syntax and emphasizing higher-level skills.

Generative AI is transforming the software development industry. AI-powered coding tools are assisting programmers in their workflows, while jobs in AI continue to increase. But the shift is also evident in academia—one of the major avenues through which the next generation of software engineers learn how to code.

Computer science students are embracing the technology, using generative AI to help them understand complex concepts, summarize complicated research papers, brainstorm ways to solve a problem, come up with new research directions, and, of course, learn how to code.

“Students are early adopters and have been actively testing these tools,” says Johnny Chang , a teaching assistant at Stanford University pursuing a master’s degree in computer science. He also founded the AI x Education conference in 2023, a virtual gathering of students and educators to discuss the impact of AI on education.

So as not to be left behind, educators are also experimenting with generative AI. But they’re grappling with techniques to adopt the technology while still ensuring students learn the foundations of computer science.

“It’s a difficult balancing act,” says Ooi Wei Tsang , an associate professor in the School of Computing at the National University of Singapore . “Given that large language models are evolving rapidly, we are still learning how to do this.”

Less Emphasis on Syntax, More on Problem Solving

The fundamentals and skills themselves are evolving. Most introductory computer science courses focus on code syntax and getting programs to run, and while knowing how to read and write code is still essential, testing and debugging—which aren’t commonly part of the syllabus—now need to be taught more explicitly.

“We’re seeing a little upping of that skill, where students are getting code snippets from generative AI that they need to test for correctness,” says Jeanna Matthews , a professor of computer science at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y.

Another vital expertise is problem decomposition. “This is a skill to know early on because you need to break a large problem into smaller pieces that an LLM can solve,” says Leo Porter , an associate teaching professor of computer science at the University of California, San Diego . “It’s hard to find where in the curriculum that’s taught—maybe in an algorithms or software engineering class, but those are advanced classes. Now, it becomes a priority in introductory classes.”

“Given that large language models are evolving rapidly, we are still learning how to do this.” —Ooi Wei Tsang, National University of Singapore

As a result, educators are modifying their teaching strategies. “I used to have this singular focus on students writing code that they submit, and then I run test cases on the code to determine what their grade is,” says Daniel Zingaro , an associate professor of computer science at the University of Toronto Mississauga . “This is such a narrow view of what it means to be a software engineer, and I just felt that with generative AI, I’ve managed to overcome that restrictive view.”

Zingaro, who coauthored a book on AI-assisted Python programming with Porter, now has his students work in groups and submit a video explaining how their code works. Through these walk-throughs, he gets a sense of how students use AI to generate code, what they struggle with, and how they approach design, testing, and teamwork.

“It’s an opportunity for me to assess their learning process of the whole software development [life cycle]—not just code,” Zingaro says. “And I feel like my courses have opened up more and they’re much broader than they used to be. I can make students work on larger and more advanced projects.”

Ooi echoes that sentiment, noting that generative AI tools “will free up time for us to teach higher-level thinking—for example, how to design software, what is the right problem to solve, and what are the solutions. Students can spend more time on optimization, ethical issues, and the user-friendliness of a system rather than focusing on the syntax of the code.”

Avoiding AI’s Coding Pitfalls

But educators are cautious given an LLM’s tendency to hallucinate . “We need to be teaching students to be skeptical of the results and take ownership of verifying and validating them,” says Matthews.

Matthews adds that generative AI “can short-circuit the learning process of students relying on it too much.” Chang agrees that this overreliance can be a pitfall and advises his fellow students to explore possible solutions to problems by themselves so they don’t lose out on that critical thinking or effective learning process. “We should be making AI a copilot—not the autopilot—for learning,” he says.

“We should be making AI a copilot—not the autopilot—for learning.” —Johnny Chang, Stanford University

Other drawbacks include copyright and bias. “I teach my students about the ethical constraints—that this is a model built off other people’s code and we’d recognize the ownership of that,” Porter says. “We also have to recognize that models are going to represent the bias that’s already in society.”

Adapting to the rise of generative AI involves students and educators working together and learning from each other. For her colleagues, Matthews’s advice is to “try to foster an environment where you encourage students to tell you when and how they’re using these tools. Ultimately, we are preparing our students for the real world, and the real world is shifting, so sticking with what you’ve always done may not be the recipe that best serves students in this transition.”

Porter is optimistic that the changes they’re applying now will serve students well in the future. “There’s this long history of a gap between what we teach in academia and what’s actually needed as skills when students arrive in the industry,” he says. “There’s hope on my part that we might help close the gap if we embrace LLMs.”

• How Coders Can Survive—and Thrive—in a ChatGPT World ›
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• OpenAI Codex ›

Rina Diane Caballar is a writer covering tech and its intersections with science, society, and the environment. An IEEE Spectrum Contributing Editor, she's a former software engineer based in Wellington, New Zealand.

Yes! Great summary of how things are evolving with AI. I’m a retired coder (BS comp sci) and understand the fundamentals of developing systems. Learning the lastest systems is now the greatest challenge. I was intrigued by Ansible to help me manage my homelab cluster, but who wants to learn one more scripting language? Turns out ChatGPT4 knows the syntax, semantics, and work flow of Ansible and all I do is tell is to “install log2ram on all my proxmox servers” and I get a playbook that does just that. The same with Docker Compose scripts. Wow.

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