How To Think Like A Programmer 

Hello. I'm Andy Harris - the speaker in this video. I taped this talk at the IndyPy meeting on election night 2016 (yeah, that election night.) I had no idea this video was going to take off like this. Thank you all for your kind comments. (Even the not-so-kind comments, thanks for watching.) I had fun doing this talk, and I'm thrilled if it might help somebody else.

"You need to learn to be as mind-numbingly stupid as a computer" I think I can manage that.

"Code is there to explain the comments to the computer" hits different

"The secret isn't code, the secret is algorithms and data" that changed my entire mindset, thank you sir.

Thank you, Will Ferrell, for teaching me how to think like a programmer.

Starting #TheOdinProject you saw hundreds and hundreds of people cheering each other on in the comment section of RU-vid videos recommended for reading material. As the course went on and on you also noticed less people talking in the comments because there were less people who made it this far. You may not think you did much yet but trust me we have. We made it this far and we can keep going. Make it to the end and continue your journey.

Me before coding: perfect grammar Me after coding: give me that thing in the fridge is not Apple

11:28 underrated statement, "first of all you hated math class, I'm not sure you've met math"

I refuse to believe that the python logo isn't two dudes with jacked-up chins.

That was really good. The hardest part for me isn't the coding, it's the 'where the hell do I start with this?' stage prior to breaking things down into workable chunks. You have to train yourself to stop making assumptions. The computer doesn't make assumptions. It just does exactly what you tell it to do. Learning to dial back all that logic leap stuff people normally do is fairly tricky.

As a coder for over 20 years and professionally for over 15, this presentation is 100% great advice for anyone who wants to pursue it! Thank you for making and publishing this.

"I want them to fail, but I want them to be able to overcome that failure." Very well said, sir. Great presentation 👏🏽

After 3 years coding, I continually nodded during his talk, kind of flashback for all my experiences.

I love how enthusiastic this speaker is

Watching for 2nd time. Trying to restart my programming journey.

"The real problem is they don't really understand the problem they're trying to solve" I can relate to this in so many ways. Every time I try to code something without thinking it through, there is no way I can do it. But when I stop and just think about the problem and I come to the solution, its almost like the code writes itself, it becomes insanely easy once you figured out how to solve the problem.

49:39 Any time I build a loop of any kind, I'm reminded of the line from Star Wars: "When you came in here, didn't you have a plan for getting out?!?"

At 16:25 "Write out the concepts first, then convert to code later." I am a DevOps lead engineer. I am constantly coaching Ops engineers to improve at coding. I am known for using A LOT of sticky notes. One for each requirement. One for each failure mode. One for each possible solution. Then you start pseudocoding those requirements. One for each service call. One for each function you need to write. One for each loop. One for each condition of conditionals. One for each Try/Catch/Else/Finally/Promise/Then/Catch. You have the freedom to move them around, shorten your loops, minimize round-trips, etc.

"Coding is how you explain your comments to the computer", see, that right there should not be overlooked. Also glad to know i'm not the only one who got hung up on "self".

When he said "public static void main(String[] args){}, I felt that.

After watching this as a new programer i've realized i made myself way to scared of the word algorithm. In my head an algorithm is some super complex math equation like google search engine. Now i realize it doesn't have to be so complex! Awesome Lecture👍

- Computers are not smarter than a shoe. Programming is about explaining things to the idiot computer. - Computer languages have about 100 words. The syntax is painfully rigid. - The secret isn't code, the secret is algorithms and data. - Write out the concepts first, then convert them to code. - If you're lost in coding, it's probably because you shouldn't be coding yet. - First you need to understand the problem you're trying to solve. Don't jump straight to coding without understanding algorithms. - Having goals is good, but if goals lead to inevitable failure and defeat, maybe pick something else... - No matter what, do not feel like an idiot. - Comments are not there to explain the code to programmers, code is there to explain the comments to the computer. - The coding part is the easy part. The algorithm part is the hard part. - If you're really confused, find someone that feels comfortable and make them uncomfortable. - Did you tell it to do it incorrectly, or did you tell it to do the wrong thing? - Don't start with a solution. Don't try to solve a problem you don't understand. - Beginner? Python. Not all, maybe not the main, just some points.

OMG Andy Harris, Thank You! I'm a reasonably smart guy (former licensed architect and all) but I took HTML and Javascript classes at community college and felt so humiliated and discourage because they started on the first day with actual languages and details of syntax without explaining the basic concepts AT ALL. I was instantly overwhelmed with too much to memorize and barely passed the classes. I thought I "hated coding" which made me sad because it seemed conceptually interesting and powerful. I thought I'd never participate in this realm because I just couldn't do it. Your video changed all that. Your remarks about writing algorithms in plain english is brilliant, as are so many of your lessons in this video. I'm literally crying to realize that I'm not a stupid idiot after all (and I'm angry that the other teachers did such a crappy job!)

Great lecture! This helped me push through a bout of imposter syndrome last night. If I could like this video 1000 times more, I would.

It's almost like I am sitting in Church.

I really like the idea of writing down an algorithim before actually writing the code.

He's been coding for 30 years and he says "here's what i'm learning" now that's what we call humility

I'm at 11 minutes and 38 seconds of this video and i can safely say this is one of the best content i've ever seen on youtube ever. thanks a lot for that (and thanks Odin Project for bringing me here)

"Good programmers are not often good teachers" That would explain my current teachers. They are talking, talking, talking, talking. Sometimes they throw in a keyword straight from their code, and they always mispronounce those words (they're not native English speakers so have fun guessing what they just said). They always talk about 3 topics simultaneously and switch around between them. Well, they got hundreds of slides. Except they usually have 2-3 different pdfs open, they jump from the end to the start to the middle. They often mention the most crucial things in one sentence, which they inject so seemlessly into their 3-hour info-dump so that out of a room of 30 students, a total of 3 catch it. And those 3 only caught it because they spent 2 hours yesterday figuring it out for themselves. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has the problems he mentioned. I was beginning to think I'm either stupid, or just extremely unlucky with my professors.

Damn this man is an excellent speaker/instructor, I wish I had him as a professor. I wanna attend panels and speeches like this in NYC

I came here cause after having 4 years university degree in SE, I still suck at coding to this day, I still couldn't believe when he said that C++ isn't a language to be taught first to beginers, because it was the first language we were taught in class in our first semester, and from that onwards I built up the fear of ever learning programming.

"Concepts first and coding second." I've been looking for this so hard. Thank you! 💟

Him: "Did you tell it what to do incorrectly or did you tell it to do the wrong thing?" Me, an intellectual: "Yes."

this is definitely one of those videos you end up watching the whole way thru without even realizing it.

I was stuck with basics and this might be the lever that un-stucks me. Thank you, this video was so great.

I have been writing code for years. This is the best explanation of programming I have ever heard. AND I learnt a lot from this! This is TIMELESS

No wonder he taught so well and we understood so well.... . . . . Because he was a special ed teacher.... We are special ed students of programming....

I'll be 46 in a couple of weeks and am reinventing myself, again, to stay relevant so I can keep making $$. Never stop learning!

This lecture probably legitimately changed my future and how I view going into coding. THANK YOU!

I first started learning programming when I was in the Army, on my off time. I knew eventually I would get out of the Army and into the private sector. I failed allot in learning programming on my own, allot. I thought to myself, maybe this isn't for me, it is too hard, I can't do it. The only reason I continued on, was because I was pot committed, I put too much time into it and now I'm a software developr for a fortune 500 company. I say all that to say this, you might think you are too dumb or whatever, you proably are not, you just have to keep practicing.

After a few seconds, I knew I would appreciate the talk. Thanks for sharing this!

I needed this! I’m in my late 40’s and I really want to code. There is such a great divide between coders and learning that it’s overwhelming. I didn’t finish HTML and CSS because I couldn’t do what I want fast enough. I’m really keen to learn Python, this inspired me. I teach people how to surf and skateboard and it’s about simplicity. Thanks for this I needed it.

Thank you for this! I’m learning JavaScript on my own right now and this makes me wish i were in school so i could have a teacher like you. Loved your humor and charisma. Very useful and encouraging stuff! This is just the kind of lecture i needed.

7:27 My university's introductory programming course was entirely in C++. I tried pretty hard and ended up with a B even though my code was pretty terrible. It definitely turned off quite a few would-be developers. I remember spending so much more time on that homework than any other class I ever took.

I needed this video 5 years ago .. still happy watching this after 5 years of learning programming .. still and will always keep learning.

If you were my teacher i would never skip classes. Thank you and excellent work.

Over the years, I've had multiple false starts with multiple languages trying to teach myself to code. I think this helped me pinpoint where the real issue is for me, and the exercise midway through was very enlightening. Thanks so much!

People coming from The Odin Project: Congratulations 🎉 you are going strong, I'm really proud of you!!

Programming is loops and conditions. Everything else is politics.

As a beginner, thanks for posting this. It gave me some insight.

I'm CS senior student one semester away from graduating and I end up to this video because nobody thought us to think this way in college. Without knowing those things, we struggling after all this years. Thank you for the video!

Phenomenal teacher. Finding someone who can explain things so well is unique. Most programmers I've come across use big, jargon-filled words.

This is really good, especially since I'm a beginner programmer who has been telling myself I'm not smart enough to write software. Crazy funny talk but Andy makes you understand that programming is first about understanding the problem and being able to think it through first. The programming only requires a little bit of syntax and rules.

Hi Andy; thank you so much for this talk. When you got to the Bad Advice section I laughed so hard I cried. I had received all of that advice and actually started my learning process in C++. I wish some pf my teachers actually broke things down the way you did. I feel my experience would have been much better. Thank you again.

I came here from The Odin Project and originally thought "holy crap an hour long video" but after watching it, very entertaining, time flew by, great information. Awesome presentation

This video helped me immensely. I have come back after 2 years seeing this for the first time to say thank you. I don't think I would have made as much progress as I did had I not known of this mindset! This should be shown in every programming class (particularly in the beginning). Watching this video could have been one of the best decisions I made in learning to program, although the effect may not have been immediate.

This guy could get a potato interested in programming...then program said potato.

I really thought the first 2 seconds were an intro to a rap

I absolutely love this guy. I hope there are more lectures to find by him

“What’s smarter, a shoe or a gaming computer? It’s a tie.” Probably the most motivating, light bulb clicking thing I’ve heard in my (so far as of writing this) 3rd day in my coding, over anxiety, stress inducing journey.

Watching this in 2021 and it's still gently motivating and at the same time eye-opening. Thanks to Mr. Harris for this wonderful presentation which I'm pretty sure I'll watch whenever I lose motivation to go forward. p.s- I'm starting my journey in computer science engineering.

I loved the idea of starting to learn code *before* opening your computer! I had a tough time with tutorials that run through syntax and expect you to memorize where it goes rather than why it goes there. I’m one if those people that needs to know why!

Really enjoyed this 👍 thanks for all the clever analogies, takes on things and clear and simple answers. Good to have spent time absorbing. Looking forward to helping others continue the persuit.

What a great speaker and teacher. This is the kind of energy and tone I can enjoy learning from. Thank you!

Someone just shared this talk with me, and I'm cracking up with how funny 😂, but *so* relatable this information is as a self-teaching beginner front end dev. I'll definitely be re-watching this. Thank you!

" You hated math Class, I am sure you never Met Maths" GOLDEN WORDS

This is a really good talk. Every beginner needs to listen to it. Thanks Andy for providing value.

I have listened to this before. You definitely knocked it out of the park. Everything you go over helped me feel better about the learning and direction I am going. Thank you

54:05 How did you not get a single laugh from that? That was hilarious. "An 'elif' is like a 'dwarif', but is taller and has ears"

This was epic and hilarious. It also made me think of how to write algorithms. I have always tried to code first and put comments as notes, but never thought of using the comments as algorithms. I solved a problem I was having for a long time really quickly just by writing it out first. Thanks!

Watched it all the way. Thank you so much Mr. Harris!

This was an amazing lecture Andy. Definitely very eye opening.

I was having trouble with syntax and getting very frustrated. Then the Odin project led me to this video. This is exactly what beginners need to hear I think! Everything feels much easier after implementing these tips. Thank you Andy Harris!!

when I started learning to write code I watched this for guidance. Right now I'm watching it for the comedy

This has been the most fun and "eureka moment" video from The Odin Project. The hour flew by like its nothing, thank you so much Andy.

This was literally the best video I've ever watched on anything. Thank you for your service

"Code is there to explain the comments to the computer." Well goddamnit! he could have left the building at that point, because he has led me to the light and I have seen it. I have seen it!

Amazing. Funny and Entertaining. I feel vindicated for some of my past experiences by watching this presentation. Also Andy sounds like Will Farrell when he gets animated, so that also added to my enjoyment. Thanks for posting! :)

I really want to thank you and thank you again, because I have read at least 6 books about programing in Python, and seen toons of videos, on RU-vid and other platforms, and you explain like no other I think what makes you especial is the thing that you speak like when you ask a friend that explains something to you, you know that is a difference with a professor that stays more distant, anyways excellent, brilliant!!! Just see the difference, other channels just repeat the things that are in the books more or less the same, but the way that you explain, I didn't saw it in any book, pure original. Just thank you!!!

Here from The Odin Project. This is great content. Thank you Mr. Harris.

I thought it was one of those clickbait videos, until I saw it was an hour long

"how consistent is the syntax? Painfully!" biggest smile I have had in at least 24 hours. Thanks!

If you're here from the Odin Project, congrats on getting here! We're almost there! Keep pushing!

Best lecture I've heard since I was so scared of code (and failing) since college. Jumping back into it after this isn't so scary after all.

I've worked in IT for a decade doing networks support and implementation and I have always secretly been fascinated by software development and I have a list of apps that I'd like to develop so I'm going to start learning software development. I just hope that I'm as good at it and I like it as much as my other IT skills.

great (maybe the best?) introduction to programming for a complete newbie

Thank you so much for this. At first I thought it was for advanced programmers but this is actually perfect for beginners like me. Really helpful!

Andy, you are great! What a fun and informative video. Thanks!

BEST TALK FOR BEGINNERS. PERIOD! 👏🤓

This is great. I am definitely going to apply this in any teaching I do going forward.

Thanks! I learned so much from this video, grateful for all the quality content that you've put out. Hope 2022 will be a good coding year :)

while I am someone new to programming a lot of your jokes went well over my head, I appreciate a lot of the tips and analogies as it really helped to put the overwhelming concept of coding into bite sized easy to digest and approach pieces.

As a former art teacher, currently trying to teach myself Python, this video hits so hard. I'm a month in and was starting to feel like a huge idiot. This was extremely encouraging! Thank you for validating my frustrations and encouraging my curiosity.

I thank this is the first time that I made notes and screen shots... ever. Thanks Andy. Im learning C because I golf with tour blade irons(feed back), and Python because I loved Monty Python's Flying Circus and because it's so powerful.

Thank you so much Andy, this means a lot. You are a legend!!

Love this! Thank you so much! THIS is the "tutorial" I've been looking for.

Absolutely right on track with what I have found. Now hopefully you're not preaching to the choir and everyone watching isn't a senior programmer. I have been a programmer for a decade, learned with Java and suffered much the same pitfalls you mention. I feel like a beginner sometimes then realize how complex my code is now and I don't know what to think lol... Seems I know what I am doing half the time.

The best programming textbook I ever had was "Getting Started With TRS-80 Model III BASIC." I think the first program, or one of the first, was something like the "hello user" program described. The book used short stories to teach people to solve simple but relatable problems using the computer's programming language.

Thank you for sharing how beginners should learn to code. It's really fun while informative listening to you. I always have the problem thinking about what syntaxs, commands or codes should be typed so that I can program what the practice question want me to do. But after watching this, I try to look back and like... yeah I cannot code not because I don't know syntaxs or languages. But It's because I myself also not clear about the algorithm and what I want my code to output! You help me learned a lot as a Atomotives Engineer who transitioned to Data Analytics field which need to learn python.

I am very new to programming, currently I am working through Harvard CS50 and I'm banging my head against a wall trying to learn C in the first few weeks. So I thought I'd watch this instead of overloading myself with C tutorial after C tutorial. 20 mins in and my mind has been blown "Code explains the comments to the computer". I have written this down and have it stuck on the side of my screen. Amazing, thanks.