Getting stuck is one of the worst feelings one can ever get through. It is a sign that you are learning, but it can also demotivate many beginners out there. Learning a new skill is frequently a sharp curve. When it comes to technology, the learning curve can be even steeper for beginners as they need to find new techniques of problem solving, on top of learning new syntax, semantics, and tools that relate to the technology they are learning.

If you are a beginner and are getting stuck even after following basic tutorials, it is now time to get real help. This can be in the form of 1:1 Private lessons or watch a few livecoding sessions from an experienced programmer dealing with the technology you are learning.

The High Expectation Phase

The biggest mistake that beginners make is to have high expectations of how fast they will learn. The first 20-30 hours seems great as they jump from one tutorial to another, finishing them with the help of hand-held guidance. However, the real problem starts when they try to solve problems on their own.

Suddenly all the enthusiasm and confidence comes crashing down, making them the most disheartened. Many keep fighting, and others just drop off to some other trade.

The best way to keep going is to watch other streamers struggle when doing their projects. Coding is not as easy as portrayed by mainstream media. It is better to get over the hype  that programming is easy, and just start learning. You can also find books that promise to teach a technology in 21 days, or even just a few hours. That’s not the truth and you should always be aware of what lies ahead of you. This can help you plan and cope with setbacks easily.

To understand how a programmer struggles, you need to watch them actually program, which is where Livecoding.tv comes in. You can see even veteran programmers trying to solve a problem for the nth time, rarely the first. It is in many ways relieving to realize that people who have been handling these issues for years need time to figure things out. These coders also encourage beginners to keep trying, and working to motivate viewers as they share their experience.

Joining Live Sessions

Joining live sessions also means you can ask them about a problem that you are not able to solve. You can understand the thinking pattern a programmer goes through when solving a particular set of problems. Understanding these problem-solving patterns will only make you better.

It is also advisable to broadcast what you are learning. This way you can meet like-minded people and also get a fan following! Who doesn’t want that?

Getting Unstuck

So, what do you think about getting unstuck? Are you going to watch the next stream? Or are you going to broadcast and let other help you in your quest? Comment below and let us know!