#🔒 Good at solving problems and doing tutorials, but hard time starting a project

24 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

tidal scaffold
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Hi everyone,

This is probably something everyone has gone through while they were beginning, so I am asking this question about some methods that helped you.

I've read through Python Crash Course, Automate the Boring stuff with Python, done the FreeCodeCamp Python course so I have a good grasp of the fundamentals required. What I am struggling is starting a project. I have a couple of ideas for projects I want to build, but every time I try to start, my mind goes blank.

I constantly find myself opening up ChatGPT and telling it to help me get started. I copy that code and I read through it, and actually understand all of it. The problem comes back though, what do I do next? Back, to ChatGPT.

Surely this is not the way and I need to go through the documentation myself and try to come up with a solution myself.

To conclude ➡️ What is some practical advice to get myself to rely less on ChatGPT and develop the ability to actually harness the knowledge I've gained from the material I've read?

lilac latchBOT
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@tidal scaffold

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south nova
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What is some practical advice to get myself to rely less on ChatGPT
Don't use it. It's as simple as that.

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What I am struggling is starting a project. I have a couple of ideas for projects I want to build, but every time I try to start, my mind goes blank.
I'm a bit confused here. Typically the struggle is to have an idea, but you seemingly have lots of ideas. Why/How do you now know how to start then?

tidal scaffold
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I started learning Python for a month and a half, a few hours a day everyday. So I'm sure it's a skill issue. I have a hard time building big components like functions.

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The reason I ask, is people say just start working on a project. It's the best way to learn. But I find that I struggle even breaking down my idea to small components it needs to work.

Like I know it needs to get data from that api, do this then that. But not 100%.

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So I know these are simple questions to experienced programmers. I am looking for some advice on what some of you have done to get through this.

Aside, from trying to do the project, which is what I am doing everyday.

Just trying to get some insight. Thank you

south nova
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I've read through Python Crash Course, Automate the Boring stuff with Python, [and] done the FreeCodeCamp Python course. [...]
I started learning Python [...] a month and a half [ago].
How is that even possible? I'd expect JUST ONE of these courses to take AT LEAST 2 months, even if you do a few hours every day.

tidal scaffold
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Not really. When you have all day to do them, you can go through them quite fast.

south nova
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-.-

Have you ever tried to speedrun reading a math book, then tried to apply any of the described functionalities yourself?

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It does not work. You need practice. A LOT of pratice

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Go back to the "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" book and do ALL exercises from ALL chapters, WITHOUT ever using ChatGPT once

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If something isn't clear, re-read the respective section in the book

tidal scaffold
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The exercises are simple, I've always solved them using a Python Online Editor, that doesnt have VSCode autosuggest.

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What I probably need to work on are the projects.

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Those, I'm not able to do fully on my own.

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So I'll revisit those

south nova
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Ah yeah, I was including the projects when I was saying "exercises"

tidal scaffold
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When I say projects ^ above I meant the book projects

nocturne mason
fiery token
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Make flowcharts and sudocode before you make it, decomposition also helps alot, big functions become simple when you break it down

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IE make a cup of tea becomes
Take teabag
Put in cup
Pour water in
Stir
Remove teabag
Add milk
Stir

lilac latchBOT
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