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Programming · by Tomás Gómez · 2026-09-02

What would you do first if you were new to Programming as a beginner?

I tried this in Cairo with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan

22 sparks · 8 comments

Comments

Benjamín Rojas · 4 likes

Start by reducing it to the smallest reproducible piece, then change one variable at a time. You will learn more from a simple version repeated three times than from a perfect plan you never start.

- Write down the exact error and the input that caused it.
- Make a tiny example, then add pieces back slowly.
- Keep the final fix boring and well-named.

That should give you a solid first pass

Rapid Panda · 4 likes

the safe answer is to keep the API boring: clear names, explicit errors and one behavior per function. My friend tried it in Madrid and had the opposite result

Tanvir Rahman · 2 likes

I would log teh input, teh expected output and teh actual output first. Once those three are visible, teh bug usually stops feeling mysterious. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error

Ananya Rao · 2 likes

The safe answer is to keep the API boring: clear names, explicit errors and one behavior per function. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability

Luca Bianchi · 1 likes

maybe, but the tradeoff seems bigger then the post suggests

Maja Wiśniewska · 0 likes

I wish more posts had this much context

Gentle Runner · 1 likes

I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me

Miguel Santos · 0 likes

the safe answer is to keep the API boring: clear names, explicit errors and one behavior per function. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me