How to Get Better at Programming
Learning to program is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether you are starting or have been in the industry for a few years, it is common to reach a "plateau" where you feel you are not moving forward. The code works, but you know it could be better, cleaner or more efficient.
In this article, I compile the tips that really made a difference in my career to move from "making it work" to "doing quality software engineering". Forget the quick tricks; here we will talk about habits and mentality.
1. Escape the Tutorial Hell as soon as possible
It is the number one trap of self-taught (and many graduates). Watching YouTube videos where someone builds a Twitter clone step by step gives you a false sense of competition. You understand what you see, but if the video is removed, can you replicate it?
The advice: The next time you follow a tutorial, you intentionally break the code. Change variables, add extra functionality that is not in the video or try to refactor a function in your own way. The real improvement happens when you face a mistake that no one has told you how to fix.
2. Master the fundamentals; syntax comes second
Languages and frameworks come and go at a dizzying speed, but the fundamentals are eternal. If you deeply understand how Data Structures (arrays, hash maps, trees) and Algorithms work, learning a new language will be a matter of days, not months.
Focus your time on understanding:
- Time complexity (Big O Notation): Will your code scale when you have 1 million users?
- Memory management: Stack vs Heap, pointers (although you use high-level languages, it helps to know what goes down).
- Design patterns: Don't reinvent the wheel; learn proven solutions such as Singleton, Factory or Observer.
3. Read more Code than you write
Great writers read voraciously. Great programmers should do the same. We usually focus so much on writing our logic that we forget to see how others have solved similar problems.
The strategy: Visit popular Open Source repositories in GitHub (related to your stack, such as React, Django or smaller libraries). Enters the src or lib folder and tries to understand how they structure their files, how they name their variables and how they handle extreme cases. You will learn tricks that no course teaches you.
4. Learn to Debug (Do not depend only on console.log)
Putting print() or console.log() everywhere is useful, but it is a primitive and inefficient technique for complex problems. Improving programming involves mastering the debugging tools of your IDE (VS Code, PyCharm, Chrome DevTools).
Learn to use:
- Breakpoints: Pause execution at an exact point to inspect the state.
- Watchers: Monitor how the value of a specific variable changes in real time.
- Call Stack: Understands which function called to which and in what order the thread is running.
5. Write Code for Humans, not for Machines
Any fool can write code that a computer understands. Good programmers write code that other humans understand. Your "I" of the future (or your teammates) will thank you if you apply Clean Code principles:
- Descriptive Names:
getUserData()is infinitely better thangetData().daysUntilExpirationis better thand. - Small functions: A function must do only one thing and do it well.
- Comments with "Why", not "What": Don't explain what the code does (that should be obvious when reading it), explain why you made that business or technical decision.
6. Practice focused work
Programming is a high-load cognitive activity. It requires sustaining complex contexts in the mind. Interruptions are the mortal enemy of productivity.
1 hour of concentrated programming without distractions is worth more than 4 hours programming while you check Slack, WhatsApp and Twitter every 10 minutes. Try the Pomodoro technique or block times in your calendar where the "Do Not Disturb" mode is sacred. Protect your focus.
7. Teach what you learn (the Feynman technique)
You do not finish understanding something until you can explain it to someone else in a simple way. You do not need to be an expert with 10 years of experience to teach.
- He writes a blog post (like this one).
- Explain a new concept to a junior partner.
- It answers questions in forums or communities.
When trying to articulate your knowledge, your brain immediately detects the gaps you still have and forces you to reinforce them. It is the fastest way to consolidate learning.
Summary: seven tips at a glance
| # | Council | The idea in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Escape from the tutorial hell | Break the code and build it yourself |
| 2 | Dominates foundations | Syntax is forgotten; logic is not. |
| 3 | Read more code than you write | Learn from open source repositories |
| 4 | Learn to debug | Breakpoints Z console.log |
| 5 | Write code for humans | Clear names and small functions |
| 6 | Deep work practice | 1 hour concentrated 4 4 dispersed |
| 7 | Teach what you learn | Explaining it reveals your gaps |
A note for 2026: all these tips collide with the temptation for AI to solve it for you. How to take advantage of it without losing learning I detail it in How to truly learn in AI era.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get out of the "tutorial hell"? Building. Stop chaining courses and make a project of yours, no matter how small. If you lack ideas, look at the projects by language of my guide 2026.
What is more important, syntax or fundamentals? The fundamentals, without a doubt. Syntax is forgotten and sought; logical thinking is not. Reinforce it with my complete guide to logic and data structures.
How do I practice effectively? Read someone else's code, solve a problem a day and teach what you learn. And if you prepare for interviews, also apply these tips for technical assessments.
Conclusion
Improving programming is not about typing faster, but thinking clearer. Technical excellence is a by-product of constant curiosity and the discipline of improving a little every day.
Which of these tips resonates more with you? Start applying one today and you will see how the quality of your software evolves.