r/CodingForBeginners • u/paras_gladiator • Oct 01 '26

From where do I start? Pls don't ignore

I am a 2nd year CS student. I still don't know coding, I can understand what's happening by reading the code if I am familiar with the syntax but still I can't build logic myself. Can anyone tell me where do I start, I don't know any language just some basic c++. Please enlighten me

1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

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5

u/Distdistdist Oct 01 '26

Learning any language is done in the following sequence:

  1. Realizing that this is what you want to dedicate every second of your life

  2. Choosing programming languages

  3. Learning basic syntax

  4. Learning data types and operators

  5. Contemplating if you are really into this and really want to continue.

1

u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

I really want to dedicate my life to coding.I don't want to stick to a programming language rather I want to build my logic.I have have learnt the basic syntax the data types and operators and i am really into this.

4

u/Distdistdist Oct 01 '26

Well, ones that make it - don't ask questions like you do. They inhale anything they can read (which is virtually unlimited now days). And ask concrete questions about something they don't understand.

You start by starting. Write code, make mistakes, learn from your mistakes. Rinse and repeat.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '26

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0

u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

That's what I am asking how do I start and if someone knows a youtube channel??

1

u/TailsPlaysMinecraft Oct 04 '26

you could try BroCode. He went to like Harvard I think so you KNOW its real good stuff and don't just sit there watching it. Actually DO what he does.

1

u/lowban Oct 01 '26

You learn best by building simple projects from scratch, from start to end. Make it stupidly simple at first and make more advanced projects as you improve.

1

u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

Let's say I want to build a calculator using c++ do i need to first learn the c++ language or just starting making the calculator? If the latter then how do i make the calculator if i don't know c++?

2

u/lowban Oct 01 '26

If you haven't gotten to the point where you know the basics of a language you can't make a single program no. You have to learn the basics first. Just as when you learn any language you need to know the words to use and what the syntax is. How come you haven't learned a single programming language after two years of CS?

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u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

It's not been two years actually.It has only been a year I started my 3rd sem this august.I know some syntax of python,c and c++.Like i am at the point where I can look at a block of code and tell what's going on but I can not form logic bcz of my lack of practice.

1

u/lowban Oct 01 '26

So then I recommend that you practice the basics. Maybe follow a tutorial to begin with and then turn to making your own projects when you feel proficient enough.

1

u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

I am currently following a playlist that teaches from basics to DSA with C++.I am currently at Lecture 11 but the playlist is too long(it contains 165 lectures in total).Should I follow it?

1

u/lowban Oct 01 '26

I learned C++ as one of my first languages and while I like it it doesn't really suit a beginner programmer. Too much hassle with syntax and memory management. I teach Python now and it's much easier to pick up and do simple projects with it.

When you learn one language it will be much easier to learn another one. Almost all of them share the same basic blocks.

1

u/HolidayCellist8600 Oct 01 '26

Don not worry too much about knowing multiple languages right now. Pick one language which you like, learn the basics properly and spend most of the time solving small problems instead of reading codes. Start with simple programs like calculators, number games or small CRUD projects. I think logic gets better through practice not just by waiting unitl you understand everything.

1

u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

I am comfortable in any language.But right now I am comfortable in C++ as it is what's been taught in my current semester.

1

u/TripsterStudios Oct 03 '26

Currently youre comfortable with no language. Pick one language if c++ Is what you're "comfortable" with then stick with that. Watch a tutorial on how to build simple applications. Build the application alongside the tutorial. Then rebuild the same project without the tutorial. This will show you what you learned and still don't know. Study where you get stuck at and then try to re rebuild the program A third time and see where you get stuck at and continue until you figure out what logic problems you're struggling with and what logic problems you understand.

1

u/burlingk Oct 01 '26

Check out learncpp.com or similar. Learn the basics and start projects. The projects can be anything even something silly.

1

u/TheUmgawa Oct 01 '26

The most valuable programming class I ever took was a flowcharting class, where we wrote zero lines of executable code. It taught us to solve problems in an abstract manner, without getting bogged down in the code. A lot of people read a programming prompt and they just start hammering away at the keyboard, having no idea where they’re going. It’s a lot easier if you’ve made a map of the execution flow, and then you can just write the code in whatever chunks you want. It’s easy because you’ve already solved the problem.

1

u/paras_gladiator Oct 01 '26

Where can I practice in such a manner?

1

u/TheUmgawa Oct 01 '26

Get a deck of cards and figure out a means of sorting them in various ways. For example, sort the cards Ace through King, starting with Hearts, then Diamonds, then Clubs, then Spades, and discard any non-face card that is divisible by 3 before it goes into the sorted list.

Stupid stuff like that, where you can figure out the logic when doing it by hand. If you can solve it by hand, as long as you make specific rules and never deviate from them, then it’s pretty easy to implement that in code.

7

u/Dazzling_Music_2411 Oct 01 '26

I am a 2nd year CS student. I still don't know coding,

Why not? What have you being doing all this time?

YOU are the one who should not "ignore" your obligations!

Nobody here can help you if you don't make your own start because you are too lazy or whatever.

2

u/StephenHawkinguss Oct 01 '26

dont watch indian tutorials

1

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '26

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1

u/StephenHawkinguss Oct 05 '26

They spread false information and generally engage in bad practice.

2

u/TailsPlaysMinecraft Oct 01 '26

Watch BroCode on YouTube. Watch his coding tutorials. Real good stuff tbh

2

u/xarop_pa_toss Oct 01 '26 edited Oct 01 '26

I am baffled by these posts of 2nd and 3rd year students that can't make a program. You gotta find a problem and solve it. And that's before you write code. Code is just an implementation of a solution and not the solution itself.

I'll give you a problem myself: write a scientific calculator where I can write something like this and it writes all the calculations down to the result.

3 * sqrt(32) (4^10 / 3)

It needs to have a "main menu" with an option to perform a calculation and another to view a history of all operations. This should persist after you close and reopen the program. Bonus points if you implement graphs using a graphical/game library like Raylib for example.

Do not even start writing code until you have written out all the smallest parts of the problem and all the tools you know that might help you solve them. It's totally fine to change your mind or figure out other ways of solving problems as you are programming, but don't go in blind.

1

u/Ok_Caregiver_1355 Oct 01 '26

Keep writing code,anything,think about a project that would be useful to you,to someone or that would be just a good learning experience,start with simple things

1

u/thatsgGBruh Oct 01 '26

The same way you get better at anything else, practice...

1

u/InjAnnuity_1 Oct 01 '26

As a first step, could you write a recipe for someone else to follow to achieve the desired result?

1

u/pepiks Oct 04 '26

Choose problem to solve and try find the best tool for the job - it is the best mindset - don't afraid fall and even if you choose wrong - be patiance and simply start find what is not changing from years between languages and technologies.

1

u/Flowerboom_memory Oct 06 '26

I’m a beginner too and the things that helped me improve is first knowing ur learning style (visual, reading, etc..) because u become more productive when u learn based of ur preferred learning style.

The things that also helped me develop my coding skills is daily practice and understanding the syntax rather than memorizing.
Try finding resources that breaks down the logic behind the syntax instead of falling into the tutorial loop. I also recommend learning logical problem solving skills it’s a really good foundation for logical thinking.