Coding has been part of my life since I used to be 10. From modifying HTML & CSS for my Friendster profile in the course of the easy web days to exploring SQL injections for the joys, constructing a three-legged robotic for enjoyable, and these days diving into Python coding, my coding journey has been numerous and enjoyable!
Right here’s what I’ve realized from numerous programming approaches.
The best way I study coding is at all times related; As folks say, principally it’s simply copy-pasting. 😅
In relation to constructing one thing within the coding world, right here’s a breakdown of my methodology:
- Select the Proper Framework or Library
- Study from Previous Tasks
- Break It Down into Steps
Slice your venture into actionable merchandise steps, making improvement much less overwhelming. - Google Every Chunk
For each step, seek the advice of Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo/any search engine you favor for insights, steering, and potential options. - Begin Coding
Attempt to implement every step systematically.
Nevertheless, even essentially the most well-thought-out code can encounter bugs. Right here’s my technique for troubleshooting:
1. Examine Framework Documentation: ALWAYS learn the docs!
2. Google and Stack Overflow Search: search on Google and Stack Overflow. Instance key phrase could be:
website:stackoverflow.com [coding language] [library] error [error message]
website:stackoverflow.com python error ImportError: pandas module not discovered
– Stack Overflow Options: If the difficulty is already on Stack Overflow, I search for essentially the most upvoted feedback and options, typically discovering a fast and dependable reply.
– Belief My Instinct: When Stack Overflow doesn’t have the reply, I belief my instinct to seek for reliable sources on Google; GeeksForGeeks, Kaggle, W3School, and In the direction of Knowledge Science for DS stuff 😉
3. Copy-Paste the Code Answer
4. Confirm and Take a look at: The ultimate step consists of checking the modified code totally and testing it to make sure it runs as meant.
And Voila you simply remedy the bug!
Isn’t it stunning?
However in actuality, are we nonetheless doing this?!
Currently, I’ve observed a shift in how new coders are tackling coding. I’ve been educating how one can code professionally for about three years now, bouncing round in coding boot camps and visitor lecturing at universities and company coaching. The best way coders are entering into code studying has modified a bit.
I normally inform the contemporary faces to stay with the old-school methodology of looking and googling for solutions, however individuals are nonetheless utilizing ChatGPT finally. And their alibi is
“Having ChatGPT (for coding) is like having an additional research buddy -who chats with you want an everyday particular person”.
It is useful, particularly while you’re nonetheless making an attempt to wrap your head round issues from search outcomes and documentation — to develop what’s so-called programmer instinct.
Now, don’t get me flawed, I’m all for the fundamentals. Shopping, studying docs, and throwing questions into the neighborhood pot — these are strong strikes, in my guide. Relying solely on ChatGPT is perhaps a bit a lot. Positive, it will probably whip up a speedy abstract of solutions, however the normal looking strategies provide the freedom to choose and select, to experiment a bit, which is fairly essential within the coding world.
However, I’ve gotta give credit score the place it’s due — ChatGPT is lightning-fast at giving out solutions, particularly while you’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine the appropriate from the flawed in search outcomes and docs.
I notice this shift of utilizing ChatGPT as a research buddy shouldn’t be solely occurring within the coding scene, Chatgpt has revolutionized the way in which folks study, I even use ChatGPT to repair my grammar for this put up, sorry Grammarly.
Saying no to ChatGPT is like saying no to engines like google within the early 2000 period. Whereas ChatGPT might include biases and hallucinations, much like engines like google having unreliable info or hoaxes. When ChatGPT is used appropriately, it will probably expedite the educational course of.
Now, let’s think about a real-life state of affairs the place ChatGPT may provide help to by being your coding buddy to assist with debugging.
Situation: Debugging a Python Script
Think about you’re engaged on a Python script for a venture, and also you encounter an surprising error which you can’t remedy.
Right here is how I was taught to do it — the period earlier than ChatGPT.
Shopping Method:
- Examine the Documentation:
Begin by checking the Python documentation for the module or operate inflicting the error.
For instance:
– go to https://scikit-learn.org/stable/modules/ for Scikit Study Doc
2. Search on Google & Stack Overflow:
If the documentation doesn’t present an answer, you flip to Google and Stack Overflow. Scan by way of numerous discussion board threads and discussions to discover a related concern and its decision.
3. Belief Your Instinct:
If the difficulty is exclusive or not well-documented, belief your instinct! You would possibly discover articles and sources on Google that you simply’ve discovered reliable up to now, and attempt to adapt related options to your downside.
You may see that on the search end result above, the outcomes are from W3school – (trusted coding tutorial website, nice for cheatsheet) and the opposite 2 outcomes are official Pandas documentation. You may see that engines like google do counsel customers have a look at the official documentation. 😉
And that is how you should use ChatGPT that can assist you debug a problem.
New Method with ChatGPT:
- Interact ChatGPT in Conversations:
As an alternative of solely navigating by way of documentation and boards, you may have interaction ChatGPT in a dialog. Present a concise description of the error and ask. For instance,
“I’m encountering a problem in my [programming language] script the place [describe the error]. Are you able to assist me perceive what is perhaps inflicting this and counsel a potential answer?”
2. Make clear Ideas with ChatGPT:
If the error is said to an idea you’re struggling to know, you may ask ChatGPT to clarify that idea. For instance,
“Clarify how [specific concept] works in [programming language]? I believe it is perhaps associated to the error I’m dealing with. The error is: [the error]”
3. Search Suggestions for Troubleshooting:
You ask ChatGPT for basic recommendations on troubleshooting Python scripts. As an illustration,
“What are some frequent methods for coping with [issue]? Any suggestions on instruments or methods?”
Potential Benefits:
- Customized Steerage: ChatGPT can present customized steering based mostly on the particular particulars you present in regards to the error and your understanding of the issue.
- Idea Clarification: You may search explanations and clarifications on ideas immediately from ChatGPT leveraging their LLM functionality.
- Environment friendly Troubleshooting: ChatGPT would possibly supply concise and related suggestions for troubleshooting, doubtlessly streamlining the debugging course of.
Doable Limitations:
Now let’s speak in regards to the cons of counting on ChatGPT 100%. I noticed these points quite a bit in my pupil’s journey on utilizing ChatGPT. Submit ChatGPT period, my college students simply copied and pasted the 1-line error message from their Command Line Interface regardless of the error being 100 traces and linked to some modules and dependencies. Asking ChatGPT to clarify the workaround by offering a 1 line error code would possibly work generally, or worse — it’d add 1–2 hour manhour of debugging.
ChatGPT comes with a limitation of not having the ability to see the context of your code. For certain, you may at all times give a context of your code. On a extra complicated code, you may not have the ability to give each line of code to ChatGPT. The truth that Chat GPT solely sees the small portion of your code, ChatGPT will both assume the remainder of the code based mostly on its data base or hallucinate.
These are the potential limitations of utilizing ChatGPT:
- Lack of Actual-Time Dynamic Interplay: Whereas ChatGPT offers invaluable insights, it lacks the real-time interplay and dynamic back-and-forth that boards or dialogue threads would possibly supply. On StackOverflow, you may need 10 totally different individuals who would counsel 3 totally different options which you’ll evaluate both by DIY ( do it your self, strive it out) or see the variety of upvotes.
- Dependence on Previous Data: The standard of ChatGPT’s response is dependent upon the data it has been skilled on, and it might not be conscious of the most recent framework updates or particular particulars of your venture.
- May add additional Debugging Time: ChatGPT doesn’t have a context of your full code, so it’d lead you to extra debugging time.
- Restricted Understanding of Idea: The standard looking strategies provide the freedom to choose and select, to experiment a bit, which is fairly essential within the coding world. If you understand how to handpick the appropriate supply, you most likely study extra from looking by yourself than counting on the ChatGPT basic mannequin.
Until you ask a language mannequin that’s skilled and specialised in coding and tech ideas, analysis papers on coding supplies, or well-known deep studying lectures from Andrew Ng, Yann Le Cunn’s tweet on X (previously Twitter), just about ChatGPT would simply give a basic reply.
This state of affairs showcases how ChatGPT generally is a invaluable instrument in your coding toolkit, particularly for acquiring customized steering and clarifying ideas. Keep in mind to stability ChatGPT’s help with the strategies of looking and ask the neighborhood, protecting in thoughts its strengths and limitations.
Remaining Ideas
Issues I might advocate for a coder
In the event you actually need to leverage the autocompletion mannequin; as a substitute of solely utilizing ChatGPT, strive utilizing VScode extensions for auto code-completion duties akin to CodeGPT — GPT4 extension on VScode, GitHub Copilot, or Google Colab Autocomplete AI instruments in Google Colab.
As you may see within the screenshot above, Google Colab mechanically provides the person solutions on what code comes subsequent.
One other different is Github Copilot. With GitHub Copilot, you may get an AI-based suggestion in real-time. GitHub Copilot suggests code completions as builders kind and switch prompts into coding solutions based mostly on the venture’s context and magnificence conventions. As per this release from Github, Copilot Chat is now powered by OpenAI GPT-4 (a similiar mannequin that ChatGPT is utilizing).
I’ve been actively utilizing CodeGPT as a VSCode Extension earlier than I knew that Github Copilot is accessible without spending a dime in case you are in schooling program. CodeGPT Co has 1M obtain to this date on the VSCode Extension Market. CodeGPT permits seamless integration with the ChatGPT API, Google PaLM 2, and Meta Llama.
You may get code solutions by way of feedback, right here is how:
- Write a remark asking for a selected code
- Press
cmd + shift + i - Use the code 😎
You can too provoke a chat through the extension within the menu and leap into coding conversations 💬
As I mirror on my coding journey, the invaluable lesson realized is that there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy to studying. It’s important to embrace a various array of studying strategies, seamlessly mixing conventional practices like looking and neighborhood interplay with the progressive capabilities of instruments like ChatGPT and auto code-completion instruments.
What to Do:
- Make the most of Tailor-made Studying Sources: Take advantage of ChatGPT’s suggestions for studying supplies.
- Collaborate for Downside-Fixing: Make the most of ChatGPT as a collaborative associate as in case you are coding with your mates.
What To not Do:
- Over-Dependence on ChatGPT: Keep away from relying solely on ChatGPT and guarantee a balanced strategy to foster unbiased problem-solving expertise.
- Neglect Actual-Time Interplay with Coding Neighborhood: Whereas ChatGPT provides invaluable insights, don’t neglect the advantages of real-time interplay and suggestions from coding communities. That additionally helps construct a repute in the neighborhood
- Disregard Sensible Coding Follow: Stability ChatGPT steering with hands-on coding observe to strengthen theoretical data with sensible utility.
Let me know within the feedback how you utilize ChatGPT that can assist you code!
Completely happy coding!
Ellen
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In regards to the Writer
I’m Ellen, a Machine Studying engineer with 6 years of expertise, presently working at a fintech startup in San Francisco. My background spans knowledge science roles in oil & fuel consulting, in addition to main AI and knowledge coaching packages throughout APAC, the Center East, and Europe.
I’m presently finishing my Grasp’s in Knowledge Science (graduating Might 2025) and actively searching for my subsequent alternative as a machine studying engineer. In the event you’re open to referring or connecting, I’d actually recognize it!
I really like creating real-world affect by way of AI and I’m at all times open to project-based collaborations as effectively.
