Coding has been part of my life since I used to be 10. From modifying HTML & CSS for my Friendster profile throughout the easy web days to exploring SQL injections for the fun, constructing a three-legged robotic for enjoyable, and these days diving into Python coding, my coding journey has been various and enjoyable!
Right here’s what I’ve realized from numerous programming approaches.
The best way I be taught coding is at all times related; As folks say, largely it’s simply copy-pasting. 😅
On the subject of constructing one thing within the coding world, right here’s a breakdown of my methodology:
- Select the Proper Framework or Library
- Be taught from Previous Initiatives
- 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 like for insights, steerage, 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:
web site:stackoverflow.com [coding language] [library] error [error message]
web site: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, 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 Data Science for DS stuff 😉
3. Copy-Paste the Code Answer
4. Confirm and Take a look at: The ultimate step contains checking the modified code completely and testing it to make sure it runs as supposed.
And Voila you simply resolve the bug!
Isn’t it lovely?
However in actuality, are we nonetheless doing this?!
These days, 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 entering into code studying has modified a bit.
I normally inform the recent faces to stay with the old-school methodology of looking and googling for solutions, however persons are nonetheless utilizing ChatGPT ultimately. And their alibi is
“Having ChatGPT (for coding) is like having an additional examine buddy -who chats with you want an everyday individual”.
It is useful, particularly whenever 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 improper, I’m all for the fundamentals. Searching, studying docs, and throwing questions into the neighborhood pot — these are stable strikes, in my e book. Relying solely on ChatGPT could be a bit a lot. Certain, it could actually whip up a speedy abstract of solutions, however the normal looking strategies provide the freedom to select 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 whenever you’re nonetheless attempting to determine the fitting from the improper in search outcomes and docs.
I understand this shift of utilizing ChatGPT as a examine buddy isn’t solely taking place within the coding scene, Chatgpt has revolutionized the way in which folks be taught, I even use ChatGPT to repair my grammar for this publish, sorry Grammarly.
Saying no to ChatGPT is like saying no to search engines like google and yahoo within the early 2000 period. Whereas ChatGPT could include biases and hallucinations, much like search engines like google and yahoo having unreliable info or hoaxes. When ChatGPT is used appropriately, it could actually expedite the training course of.
Now, let’s think about a real-life state of affairs the place ChatGPT might enable you 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 sudden error that you would be able to’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 Be taught Doc
2. Search on Google & Stack Overflow:
If the documentation doesn’t present an answer, you flip to Google and Stack Overflow. Scan by means 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 drawback.
You’ll be able to see that on the search end result above, the outcomes are from W3school – (trusted coding tutorial web site, nice for cheatsheet) and the opposite 2 outcomes are official Pandas documentation. You’ll be able to see that search engines like google and yahoo do recommend 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:
- Have interaction ChatGPT in Conversations:
As a substitute of solely navigating by means of 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 problem 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 attainable resolution?”
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 elucidate that idea. For instance,
“Clarify how [specific concept] works in [programming language]? I feel it could be associated to the error I’m dealing with. The error is: [the error]”
3. Search Suggestions for Troubleshooting:
You ask ChatGPT for normal tips about troubleshooting Python scripts. As an example,
“What are some widespread methods for coping with [issue]? Any suggestions on instruments or methods?”
Potential Benefits:
- Customized Steerage: ChatGPT can present personalised steerage primarily based on the particular particulars you present in regards to the error and your understanding of the issue.
- Idea Clarification: You’ll be able to search explanations and clarifications on ideas straight from ChatGPT leveraging their LLM functionality.
- Environment friendly Troubleshooting: ChatGPT would possibly provide concise and related ideas 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 rather a lot in my scholar’s journey on utilizing ChatGPT. Put up 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 elucidate the workaround by offering a 1 line error code would possibly work typically, 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 positive, you may at all times give a context of your code. On a extra advanced code, you may not be capable 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 primarily based on its data base or hallucinate.
These are the attainable 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 would possibly 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, attempt it out) or see the variety of upvotes.
- Dependence on Previous Data: The standard of ChatGPT’s response will depend on the data it has been skilled on, and it is probably not 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 looking strategies provide the freedom to select and select, to experiment a bit, which is fairly essential within the coding world. If you understand how to handpick the fitting supply, you most likely be taught extra from looking by yourself than counting on the ChatGPT normal 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 normal reply.
This state of affairs showcases how ChatGPT could be a worthwhile device in your coding toolkit, particularly for acquiring personalised steerage and clarifying ideas. Keep in mind to steadiness ChatGPT’s help with the strategies of looking and ask the neighborhood, preserving in thoughts its strengths and limitations.
Closing Ideas
Issues I might suggest for a coder
For those who actually need to leverage the autocompletion mannequin; as an alternative of solely utilizing ChatGPT, attempt utilizing VScode extensions for auto code-completion duties corresponding 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 options 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 options primarily based 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 if you’re 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 options by means of feedback, right here is how:
- Write a remark asking for a selected code
- Press
cmd + shift + i - Use the code 😎
You too can provoke a chat by way of the extension within the menu and bounce into coding conversations 💬
As I replicate on my coding journey, the invaluable lesson realized is that there’s no one-size-fits-all method 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 Assets: Take advantage of ChatGPT’s suggestions for studying supplies.
- Collaborate for Drawback-Fixing: Make the most of ChatGPT as a collaborative accomplice as if you’re coding with your folks.
What To not Do:
- Over-Dependence on ChatGPT: Keep away from relying solely on ChatGPT and guarantee a balanced method to foster unbiased problem-solving abilities.
- Neglect Actual-Time Interplay with Coding Group: Whereas ChatGPT gives worthwhile insights, don’t neglect the advantages of real-time interplay and suggestions from coding communities. That additionally helps construct a popularity locally
- Disregard Sensible Coding Observe: Steadiness ChatGPT steerage with hands-on coding apply to bolster theoretical data with sensible utility.
Let me know within the feedback how you utilize ChatGPT that can assist you code!
Completely satisfied coding!
Ellen
🌐 Observe me on LinkedIn
🚀 Take a look at my portfolio: liviaellen.com/portfolio
👏 My Earlier AR Works: liviaellen.com/ar-profile
☕ or simply buy me a real coffee ❤ — Sure I like espresso.
In regards to the Creator
I’m Ellen, a Machine Learning engineer with 6 years of expertise, at present working at a fintech startup in San Francisco. My background spans knowledge science roles in oil & gasoline consulting, in addition to main AI and knowledge coaching packages throughout APAC, the Center East, and Europe.
I’m at present finishing my Grasp’s in Information Science (graduating Could 2025) and actively on the lookout for my subsequent alternative as a machine studying engineer. For those who’re open to referring or connecting, I’d really recognize it!
I like creating real-world influence by means of AI and I’m at all times open to project-based collaborations as effectively.
