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 recently diving into Python coding, my coding journey has been various and enjoyable!
Right here’s what I’ve discovered from varied 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 Initiatives
- Break It Down into Steps
Slice your venture into actionable merchandise steps, making growth 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.
Nonetheless, even probably the most well-thought-out code can encounter bugs. Right here’s my technique for troubleshooting:
1. Test 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 probably the most upvoted feedback and options, usually 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 direction of Data Science for DS stuff 😉
3. Copy-Paste the Code Answer
4. Confirm and Check: The ultimate step consists of checking the modified code totally and testing it to make sure it runs as meant.
And Voila you simply resolve the bug!
Isn’t it stunning?
However in actuality, are we nonetheless doing this?!
Recently, I’ve observed a shift in how new coders are tackling coding. I’ve been educating how you 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 stepping into code studying has modified a bit.
I normally inform the recent faces to stay with the old-school methodology of shopping and googling for solutions, however persons are nonetheless utilizing ChatGPT finally. And their alibi is
“Having ChatGPT (for coding) is like having an additional examine buddy -who chats with you want a daily particular person”.
It is useful, particularly if you’re nonetheless attempting to wrap your head round issues from search outcomes and documentation — to develop what’s so-called programmer instinct.
Now, don’t get me fallacious, I’m all for the fundamentals. Searching, studying docs, and throwing questions into the group pot — these are strong strikes, in my e book. Relying solely on ChatGPT could be a bit a lot. Positive, it could possibly whip up a speedy abstract of solutions, however the normal shopping 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 if you’re nonetheless attempting to determine the best from the fallacious in search outcomes and docs.
I understand this shift of utilizing ChatGPT as a examine 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 serps within the early 2000 period. Whereas ChatGPT could include biases and hallucinations, just like serps having unreliable info or hoaxes. When ChatGPT is used appropriately, it could possibly expedite the educational course of.
Now, let’s think about a real-life situation the place ChatGPT might enable you to by being your coding buddy to assist with debugging.
State of affairs: Debugging a Python Script
Think about you’re engaged on a Python script for a venture, and also you encounter an sudden error you can’t resolve.
Right here is how I was taught to do it — the period earlier than ChatGPT.
Searching Method:
- Test the Documentation:
Begin by checking the Python documentation for the module or perform 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 via varied discussion board threads and discussions to discover a related situation and its decision.
3. Belief Your Instinct:
If the difficulty is exclusive or not well-documented, belief your instinct! You may discover articles and sources on Google that you just’ve discovered reliable up to now, and attempt to adapt related options to your downside.
You may see that on the search consequence 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 serps do recommend customers take a look at the official documentation. 😉
And that is how you should use ChatGPT that will help you debug a difficulty.
New Method with ChatGPT:
- Interact ChatGPT in Conversations:
As a substitute of solely navigating via documentation and boards, you may interact ChatGPT in a dialog. Present a concise description of the error and ask. For instance,
“I’m encountering a difficulty in my [programming language] script the place [describe the error]. Are you able to assist me perceive what could be inflicting this and recommend a doable answer?”
2. Make clear Ideas with ChatGPT:
If the error is said to an idea you might be struggling to understand, you may ask ChatGPT to clarify that idea. For instance,
“Clarify how [specific concept] works in [programming language]? I believe it could be associated to the error I’m going through. The error is: [the error]”
3. Search Suggestions for Troubleshooting:
You ask ChatGPT for basic recommendations on troubleshooting Python scripts. As an example,
“What are some widespread methods for coping with [issue]? Any suggestions on instruments or methods?”
Potential Benefits:
- Customized Steering: ChatGPT can present personalised steering primarily based on the precise particulars you present concerning 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 may provide concise and related ideas for troubleshooting, doubtlessly streamlining the debugging course of.
Attainable Limitations:
Now let’s speak concerning the cons of counting on ChatGPT 100%. I noticed these points loads in my scholar’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 strains and linked to some modules and dependencies. Asking ChatGPT to clarify the workaround by offering a 1 line error code may work generally, or worse — it’d add 1–2 hour manhour of debugging.
ChatGPT comes with a limitation of not with 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 be capable of 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 primarily based on its data base or hallucinate.
These are the doable limitations of utilizing ChatGPT:
- Lack of Actual-Time Dynamic Interplay: Whereas ChatGPT gives worthwhile insights, it lacks the real-time interplay and dynamic back-and-forth that boards or dialogue threads may provide. On StackOverflow, you might need 10 totally different individuals who would recommend 3 totally different options which you’ll examine 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 determined by 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 further 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 normal shopping 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 best supply, you in all probability study extra from shopping by yourself than counting on the ChatGPT basic mannequin.
Except 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 situation showcases how ChatGPT is usually a worthwhile device in your coding toolkit, particularly for acquiring personalised steering and clarifying ideas. Bear in mind to stability ChatGPT’s help with the strategies of shopping and ask the group, preserving in thoughts its strengths and limitations.
Remaining Ideas
Issues I’d suggest for a coder
When you actually need to leverage the autocompletion mannequin; as a substitute of solely utilizing ChatGPT, strive utilizing VScode extensions for auto code-completion duties equivalent 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 routinely provides the person ideas on what code comes subsequent.
One other various is Github Copilot. With GitHub Copilot, you will get an AI-based suggestion in real-time. GitHub Copilot suggests code completions as builders kind and switch prompts into coding ideas primarily based on the venture’s context and elegance 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 at no cost in case you are in training 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 ideas via feedback, right here is how:
- Write a remark asking for a particular code
- Press
cmd + shift + i - Use the code 😎
You may as well provoke a chat through the extension within the menu and soar into coding conversations 💬
As I replicate on my coding journey, the invaluable lesson discovered 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 shopping and group interplay with the revolutionary 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 impartial problem-solving expertise.
- Neglect Actual-Time Interplay with Coding Neighborhood: Whereas ChatGPT affords worthwhile insights, don’t neglect the advantages of real-time interplay and suggestions from coding communities. That additionally helps construct a fame in the neighborhood
- Disregard Sensible Coding Follow: Steadiness ChatGPT steering with hands-on coding follow to strengthen theoretical data with sensible software.
Let me know within the feedback how you employ ChatGPT that will help you code!
Blissful coding!
Ellen
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In regards to the Creator
I’m Ellen, a Machine Learning engineer with 6 years of expertise, presently working at a fintech startup in San Francisco. My background spans information science roles in oil & fuel consulting, in addition to main AI and information coaching packages throughout APAC, the Center East, and Europe.
I’m presently finishing my Grasp’s in Information Science (graduating Could 2025) and actively on the lookout for my subsequent alternative as a machine studying engineer. When you’re open to referring or connecting, I’d really respect it!
I really like creating real-world impression via AI and I’m at all times open to project-based collaborations as effectively.
