Programming · by Iryna Melnyk · 2026-09-16

A tiny win from Cairo that made my week

I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.

This is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. learning got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.

Would love to hear how other people handle this. I am especially curious about the version that works on a tired weekday, not just on an ideal Sunday.

This is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. java got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.

141 sparks · 14 comments

Comments

Tola Ibrahim · 76 likes

This made me smile more than expected. This pairs weirdly well with jollof rice.

Oussama Alaoui · 14 likes

I wonder how much of this depends on timing. It sounds small, but the conversation matters.

Maksym Bondar · 7 likes

The best answer in the thread, honestly.

Nusrat Akter · 7 likes

This is the kind of useful internet I still show up for. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.

Imogen Clarke · 8 likes

@midnight_nusrat You just saved me a bad purchase.

Avery Johnson · 0 likes

Can you expand on that a bit?

Cian Kelly · 0 likes

I would love a follow-up example.

Aarav Sharma · 4 likes

I am mostly here for the follow-up. The social part surprised me too.

Nour Ali · 2 likes

Honestly, this is a little too vague to be useful. I am curious whether learning still feels good next month.

Mina Chowdhury · 4 likes

Could be regional too.

Narin Chai · 1 likes

Honestly, this is a little too vague to be useful. It sounds small, but the tiny repair matters.

Tola Ibrahim · 2 likes

My wallet felt that.

Ren Suzuki · 0 likes

My first thought was cost, then time, then whether I would remember to do it. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.

Jisoo Park · 0 likes

Useful intention, poor execution. For me it came down to the route.