How to Learn Programming Logic Fast and Effectively

We bet you’ve heard horrible stories about how difficult programming, and particularly, programming logic is. That sometimes coders have to jump around computers and sing shaman songs, and only then the code would work. Well, we are not going to give you false hope that programming is easy. But forewarned means forearmed, right? If you know how to learn logical thinking, you will be able to master any subject that involves logical analysis.

Best Way to Learn Logic

We should warn you that there won’t be a single best way, but rather a combination of different ways that will create the most effective learning pattern. And secondly, we will talk about the ways to learn programming logic in particular, which might be a little different from general ways of developing your logical skills regardless of the subject you are going to apply it to.

1. Start learning “C” language.

Regardless of how many programming languages you’ve mastered (if any), our programming experts recommend to begin learning C. We all know how powerful it is and how many things you can create using this language, but this is not the only reason for mastering this language. C is famous for its distinctly structured and logical style of programming, and that is exactly what you are looking for.

The execution of the code begins from your main file and follows the path you have created for youself, so you can observe the process and analyze it. More than that, you can grain a deeper understanding of the memory blocks your program uses. You can see how the data travels from one block to another, and you automatically start to visualize the process after several attempts.

2. Learn from others.

Use the almighty Internet, the works of your fellow students, and your college library – any source you get your hands on to find and analyze a code written by other programmers. This exercise can be quite annoying, but it’s a very useful one. It’s like trying to learn from another person’s speed notes taken during a lecture. First of all, you need to figure out what all the acronyms mean, then get used to the handwriting, but you will be rewarded by extra information and a deeper understanding of the topic.

The same thing is true with programming. Once you manage to crack the logic of another person’s approach towards solving a certain problem, your overall understanding of the problem will improve. It’s like seeing the other side of the moon and realizing that it’s not flat – helpful in any case!

3. Training, training, and training.

There’s no other way to learn logic programming without actual coding. But you at least can make the process more fun using these two simple tricks:

• Create programs from the ideas that come to your head.
  This will be difficult at first. Learning any skill starts with doing irritatingly minor and simple tasks, and you manage to fail several times even at those simplest operations. So don’t think that you will be able to create a beautiful animated screen saver which shows the time and weather forecast, or a program that collects and analyzes large amounts of data from various social pages you follow.
• Keep going – initially you will be able to overcome this step and proceed to more advanced tasks which have always fascinated you. A little more time will pass, and you will be creating useful, interesting and complicated programs – the goal has been achieved.
• Solve logic puzzles. This is a good way to organize your breaks when you are too tired to code, and all programming commands melt together in one big blurred incomprehensible text. Find several websites that offer a fresh digest of logic problems and brain teasers to learn logical reasoning online. You even have a possibility to make your procrastination with your smartphone useful for your coding skill – install one of numerous detective apps available online and have some fun while making your brain work.

4. Work on motivation beforehand.

You may ask “why is this not the first point in the list?” Well, we assume that you have your own recourse of motivation, since you decided to learn programming logic. If this idea came to your mind out of thin air, better forget about it. We are not being pessimistic, but programming is difficult, and if you want to learn it without any distinct purpose, there’s a high chance you won’t finish the course.

We also wanted to talk about the motivation that you need when you are halfway through. It’s like “the darkest hour before the dawn” – you know quite a lot, you have decent skills, and you look forward to conquering the advanced topics. But at some point you may start feeling that this is useless, you don’t like it anymore, you are tired, not talented enough, etc. If you take care of this point in advance, you will meet this state fully armed and defend your Holy Grail – the dream to learn coding and logic programming.