Being a good programmer is not about non-stop coding. Although coding abilities are more sought after, in some large projects, changing and rewriting code is costly. So, issues in the written code can be eliminated by reading the code rather than coding again. It is more important to write code than anything else. However, by decoding various codes, you can surpass your limitations.
You can code by copying or watching videos in any programming language without being a professional. However, interpreting the code, thinking about the person who wrote the code, and seeking solutions to the problems with it is a different collaboration.
It is inestimable what they add after reading and finishing a novel. You want to guess what the author has written and how, and you can go beyond the boundaries of your imagination.
Coding may not be as easy to read as in daily life, but as you repeat unfamiliar words in a book, you can improve. In all the books that you read later, you will feel freer. So, your vocabulary will grow. The same goes for day-by-day coding.
Reading code is like reading a different person’s view. As you go beyond the software developer’s counseling walls, you move into growth. That’s why I wanted to suggest that. The best way to become a good programmer is to read a lot of code. So, why?
1. Prevents You From Falling Into Repetition
“Don’t repeat yourself.” It was brought up in their book The Pragmatic Programmer in 2000 by Andy Hunt and Dave Thomas. But the idea itself has been known for a long time.
Your limited knowledge can be due to repetition when writing code. You can only save the day using the same techniques. You’ll see and learn various strategies when you read the codes of other people.
Developers overlook the fact that reading code is much more complicated than writing. Without adding new examples to what they learned, software developers continue writing code. Perhaps the ego or difficulty causes them not to take this direction.
Reading code is like reading another programmer’s mind and logic. But it’s a tough job. All people think differently, and we have a lot to learn from them. The duplicated code will inevitably fail after a while. It is useful to read code whenever possible to see different techniques.
2. Allows You To Write Clean Code
It would not be incorrect to refer to the issue of the readability of the written code when thinking about code reading. It is hard to analyze and adapt to the project by writing the code too complex.
“So if you want to go fast, if you want to get done quickly, if you want your code to be easy to write, make it easy to read.” — Robert C. Martin, Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship
Try to compare scribbled code to code that is very successful. The well-written code here is perhaps yours. If you are thinking about making badly-written code good, if you tire your mind about it, it will bring you a new perspective. It is difficult to find a solution to the code that is difficult to read, but it is likely to be solved by others.
Reading other people’s code makes you face quality work. Or vice versa. It will contribute to you under any circumstances. If it fails, you will understand what is disturbing. If it is written successfully, you will understand what you need to do better. The technique of the coder can inspire you, so you can get closer and closer to writing clean code. It helps you learn how the code you write can be more effective.
3. Allows You To Make a Difference With Your Analytical Intelligence
Programming languages are different from sentences: it is mathematical. There are functions, there are value assignments, and there are calculations. So, you can’t find the parts in the sentence to understand what a program does. You have to improve your analytical intelligence.
People with advanced analytical thinking skills are questioning and prone to research. They do not hesitate to question even socially accepted information. In this way, they see that the truth can vary according to the place, time, and situation, and they make the right decisions according to the conditions they live in.
Analytical thinking skill also allows us to develop healthy solutions to the problems we encounter in our lives. When the subheadings of the problem such as the starting point of the problem, its causes, results, solutions, suggestions, solution ways, and desired results are evaluated one by one, the possibility of eliminating the problem increases.
Studying someone else’s code and making an effort to understand it allows you to improve your analytical intelligence — because the code allows you to search for a logical result in your mind. That meaning is what will tell you how the system will work.
4. Allows You To Find Answers To the Most Difficult Questions From Experienced People
There have been times when you can’t find the solution to some problems even on the internet. If you have the chance, you can ask your senior. Possibly, with the new method, you will try to find a solution in Telegram groups because there are a few people who will know this.
In life, people older than us do not appeal to us, but they are influential in our development. It is known that being a good software developer goes hand in hand with experience. Reading code allows you to understand the solutions found by experienced and qualified software developers.
The people whose code you read have encountered some problems before; maybe they will help you get the solution faster. Knowing that many experienced software developers spend more time reading code than writing code can help us understand the importance of the subject.
5. Allows You To Debug Features
You learn by reading and watching something you have never known before. We know that this applies to coding. So, how do you solve the error you encounter in a project? While writing quality code, it is necessary to have debugging ability. You can solve problems with debugging. This requires practice. Modifying and practicing someone else’s code gives you a chance to have this capability.
“Programming allows you to think about thinking, and while debugging you learn learning.” — Nicholas Negroponte
6. Allows You To Read Source Code Faster
Being able to easily read source code makes it an integral component of any related project for an engineer.
When you’re assigned to a project, understanding the code and responding to requests is a great field. For an experienced developer, reading the source code can often be faster, especially if you’re already familiar with the package’s architecture. It provides a big plus to the project or institution you are working with.
Conclusion
In short, over time you will be developing your methods according to your own learning style. Everyone’s understanding and learning style can differ. But the common behavior that will serve as the basis for the development of all of them is to practice and gain the habit of regularly reading source code, as you write daily code. There are few things time can not heal.
Don’t be afraid to question your mind while reading code. Reaching the correct answers will come with constantly reading code, just like reading a book. GitHub is full of billions of lines of source code that you can practice with. As you read, examine the reasons that make it difficult for you to understand. There seems to be almost nothing that time and practice have not matured in the universe.
Thank you for reading!