Thread by @Sydonahi

Are you trying to code up a tool but are not sure where to start or feel overwhelmed at how much you need to do?

Step away from your keyboard right now.

Grab a pen. Grab a piece of paper 📄🖋️

Good code starts on paper. Not on a computer.

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@AcademicChatter #phdchat #coding

Ask yourself the following questions:

1) What's the ultimate goal?
2) What output do I want?
3) What input do I need?

Then write down each step you need to take to get from Input to Output.

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Then think about how these steps translate to code...

Are they functions, classes? Can you start writing a bit of pseudo code to guide you?

Are your functions small enough or should you break them down further?

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Finally, ask yourself how you're going to test your code.

Think about what you're going to throw at it to show it works (e.g. some input you know the answer to) and what you're going to throw at it to see what happens when it breaks (e.g. Some bogus input).

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I promise that all of this preliminary work on paper and in your head saves more time than it takes 😉

Happy coding!

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