Problem-Solving 101: 6 Ways to Improve Your Coding

One of the core skills that any developer needs to succeed is the ability to solve problems efficiently. It’s easy to get lost in complex code, overwhelmed by error messages, or frustrated by elusive bugs, especially when new to coding. Learning to break down problems, frame challenges clearly, and apply a structured approach can make these obstacles more manageable.

As a still-wet-behind-the-ears dev, I’ve spent hours wrestling with issues that initially seemed insurmountable but ultimately became valuable learning experiences. By developing a problem-solving mindset and trying to learn from every mistake, I’ve become more confident in tackling difficult tasks.

In this post, I’ll share some techniques and frameworks that have helped me solve problems more effectively.

1. Start with a Clear Understanding

When you first encounter a problem, it’s essential to understand what’s required. This can be deceptively difficult when the issue is complex or when dealing with unfamiliar concepts. Early in my coding journey, I learned to step back and clarify the requirements, especially when working with problems that involved complex logic or multiple dependencies, like determining if a list of plants is arranged according to specific “companion planting” rules or querying data from Salesforce.

Here are a few ways to ensure you fully understand a problem:

Ask clarifying questions: Identify the main goals and any constraints or edge cases before coding. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you’re working with other developers or clients.
Break down the requirements: Write down each part of the problem in simpler terms. This is particularly helpful for identifying smaller, manageable components.
Start with examples: Write out a few sample inputs and expected outputs. This helps you think about the problem visually and often reveals hidden challenges.

2. Break Down Complex Tasks into Steps

Once you have a clear picture of the problem, the next step is to break it down. Rather than tackling the entire problem in one go, divide it into smaller, more manageable parts. For example, when I was working on implementing that companionPlants method, the rules for valid arrangements were intricate, and it became overwhelming to handle all conditions at once. By isolating each rule, testing each individually, and gradually combining them, I could progress without getting bogged down.

To break down a problem:

Identify sub-problems: Look at the main task and see if it can be split into smaller goals. For example, if you’re sorting a list of accounts based on revenue, start by defining how the sorting logic will work before implementing the entire sorting algorithm.
Implement in steps: Code and test each step separately. Testing as you go not only builds confidence but also makes it easier to isolate bugs.
Use pseudocode: Writing pseudocode can be incredibly helpful. It lets you map out logic without worrying about syntax. I used pseudocode to plan my code for handling errors and null-checks when implementing data-handling methods in Salesforce.

3. Apply a Problem-Solving Framework

After breaking down the problem, a consistent problem-solving framework can help you approach each step logically. Here’s the framework that has worked well for me:

a. Define the Problem
Restate the problem in your own words. Be clear on all conditions, inputs, and outputs, and outline any assumptions you make.

b. Plan Your Approach
Choose a high-level solution that seems feasible, keeping in mind potential constraints. For instance, when dealing with a large dataset, consider time complexity and efficiency. And learn Big O notation. When I encountered performance issues with a sameElements function, I realized my initial approach was too slow for large datasets and rethought my strategy to make it faster.

c. Implement
Start coding based on your plan. Focus on one part at a time, and don’t worry if the initial implementation isn’t perfect. Make incremental progress and refine your solution as you go.

d. Test and Refine
Testing is where you often uncover unexpected issues. If something doesn’t work as expected, retrace your initial steps. Isolate the issue and focus on fixing it before adding more functionality. For example, while implementing a stack in Apex, testing each method individually (push and pop, for example) helped me catch bugs early.

4. Handle Errors and Bugs Methodically

No matter how carefully you code, you’re going to encounter bugs. One of the most valuable skills I’ve developed is approaching errors calmly and systematically. I struggled early on with a string manipulation exercise because I hadn’t assigned the result of replaceAll back to the original variable. It was initially frustrating, but the experience taught me the importance of checking my assumptions and tracing each part of the code.

Read error messages carefully: Often, the error message contains clues about the issue, such as a line number or type of exception.
Use logging or print statements: Logging helps you see exactly what the code is up to at each step. For example, when I was working on null checks, I logged values at each step to trace what was causing a NullPointerException.
Test in isolation: If you’re unsure where the issue is, try testing smaller pieces of your code. This way, you can pinpoint the problem without other parts of the code interfering.

5. Learn from Each Problem

Each time you solve a problem, you build a foundation of skills that helps with future challenges. For example, after struggling with sorting logic, I was better prepared to handle similar sorting problems and started exploring more efficient algorithms. Running into issues with type errors led me to learn more about handling different data types and conversions. I could go on.

Some tips to accelerate learning:

Document your solutions: Write down what worked, what didn’t, and why. This has helped solidify my understanding and build a personal knowledge base for future reference.
Identify patterns: Over time, you’ll notice that many problems share similar patterns, such as looping over data, handling edge cases, or managing conditional logic.
Seek feedback: Code reviews have been invaluable for me. Constructive feedback can help you spot areas for improvement and adopt best practices early on.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Finally, maintaining a growth mindset is crucial for long-term success. Coding can be challenging, and it’s easy to feel discouraged, especially when something that seems straightforward proves complicated. When I felt stuck on problems for hours (okay, days), I treated every struggle as a stepping stone. This improved my outlook, and having a better outlook always ups my output.

A few reminders for staying motivated:

Embrace challenges: Each difficult problem is an opportunity to improve. When I felt frustrated with a problem, reframing it as a learning experience helped me stay positive.
Celebrate small wins: Completing each step is a win. For instance, getting my getAccountsInJSONFormat method to pass all tests was a small but satisfying achievement that holds a significance in my mind that seems disproportionate, and spot-on at the same time. Because I treated it winning like a cup final.
Stay curious: Keep exploring new tools and techniques, even if they are difficult on first encounter. Discovering helpful tools like the => operator reminded me that there’s always more to learn.

Final Thoughts

Problem-solving is at the heart of coding; mastering it takes time and practice. The more you tackle difficult challenges, the easier it becomes to see through the complexity and find solutions. Whether you’re debugging an unexpected error or implementing a new feature, following a structured approach and staying calm can help you break down and conquer any problem that comes your way.

Here’s a video of my final project for CS50X – a responsive website I made with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flask, and MySQL. It was my first, so please judge accordingly.