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 fun, constructing a three-legged robotic for enjoyable, and currently diving into Python coding, my coding journey has been numerous and enjoyable!
Right here’s what I’ve discovered from varied programming approaches.
The best way I study coding is at all times comparable; As individuals say, principally it’s simply copy-pasting.
With regards to 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 Tasks
- Break It Down into Steps
Slice your mission 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 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. Verify 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, 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 Information 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 meant.
And Voila you simply clear up the bug!
Isn’t it stunning?
However in actuality, are we nonetheless doing this?!
These days, I’ve seen a shift in how new coders are tackling coding. I’ve been educating tips on how to 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 often inform the contemporary faces to stay with the old-school methodology of looking and googling for solutions, however persons are nonetheless utilizing ChatGPT finally. And their alibi is
“Having ChatGPT (for coding) is like having an additional research buddy -who chats with you want an everyday individual”.
It is useful, particularly while you’re nonetheless making an attempt to wrap your head round issues from search outcomes and documentation — to develop what’s so-called programmer instinct.
Now, don’t get me flawed, I’m all for the fundamentals. Shopping, studying docs, and throwing questions into the group pot — these are strong strikes, in my ebook. Relying solely on ChatGPT is perhaps a bit a lot. Positive, it could possibly 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 while you’re nonetheless making an attempt to determine the precise from the flawed in search outcomes and docs.
I understand this shift of utilizing ChatGPT as a research buddy is just not solely occurring within the coding scene, Chatgpt has revolutionized the best way individuals study, I even use ChatGPT to repair my grammar for this publish, sorry Grammarly.
Saying no to ChatGPT is like saying no to engines like google within the early 2000 period. Whereas ChatGPT could include biases and hallucinations, just like engines like google having unreliable data or hoaxes. When ChatGPT is used appropriately, it could possibly expedite the training course of.
Now, let’s think about a real-life situation the place ChatGPT might allow 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 mission, and also you encounter an sudden error you could’t clear up.
Right here is how I was taught to do it — the period earlier than ChatGPT.
Shopping Strategy:
- Verify the Documentation:
Begin by checking the Python documentation for the module or operate inflicting the error.
For instance:
– go to https://scikit-learn.org/steady/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 via varied discussion board threads and discussions to discover a comparable problem 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 previously, and attempt to adapt comparable options to your drawback.
You’ll be able to see that on the search consequence 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 engines like google do counsel customers have a look at the official documentation.
And that is how you need to use ChatGPT that can assist you debug a difficulty.
New Strategy with ChatGPT:
- Interact ChatGPT in Conversations:
As a substitute of solely navigating via documentation and boards, you may have interaction 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 is perhaps inflicting this and counsel a doable answer?”
2. Make clear Ideas with ChatGPT:
If the error is said to an idea you’re struggling to know, you may ask ChatGPT to clarify that idea. For instance,
“Clarify how [specific concept] works in [programming language]? I believe it is perhaps associated to the error I’m going through. The error is: [the error]”
3. Search Suggestions for Troubleshooting:
You ask ChatGPT for normal recommendations on troubleshooting Python scripts. For example,
“What are some widespread methods for coping with [issue]? Any suggestions on instruments or strategies?”
Potential Benefits:
- Customized Steerage: ChatGPT can present customized steerage primarily based on the precise particulars you present concerning 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 may supply concise and related suggestions for troubleshooting, probably streamlining the debugging course of.
Potential Limitations:
Now let’s speak concerning the cons of counting on ChatGPT 100%. I noticed these points so much 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 traces 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 having 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 won’t 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 doable limitations of utilizing ChatGPT:
- Lack of Actual-Time Dynamic Interplay: Whereas ChatGPT supplies precious insights, it lacks the real-time interplay and dynamic back-and-forth that boards or dialogue threads may supply. On StackOverflow, you may need 10 completely different individuals who would counsel 3 completely different options which you’ll be able to examine both by DIY ( do it your self, strive it out) or see the variety of upvotes.
- Dependence on Previous Information: The standard of ChatGPT’s response depends upon the data it has been skilled on, and it might not be conscious of the newest framework updates or particular particulars of your mission.
- 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 precise supply, you in all probability study extra from looking by yourself than counting on the ChatGPT normal 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 normal reply.
This situation showcases how ChatGPT generally is a precious device in your coding toolkit, particularly for acquiring customized steerage and clarifying ideas. Bear in mind to stability ChatGPT’s help with the strategies of looking and ask the group, maintaining in thoughts its strengths and limitations.
Last Ideas
Issues I might advocate for a coder
Should you actually wish to leverage the autocompletion mannequin; as a substitute of solely utilizing ChatGPT, strive utilizing VScode extensions for auto code-completion duties reminiscent of 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 robotically offers the person strategies 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 strategies primarily based on the mission’s context and elegance conventions. As per this launch 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 free of charge in case you are 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 strategies via 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 leap into coding conversations 
As I mirror on my coding journey, the invaluable lesson discovered 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 group interplay with the modern capabilities of instruments like ChatGPT and auto code-completion instruments.
What to Do:
- Make the most of Tailor-made Studying Sources: Benefit from ChatGPT’s suggestions for studying supplies.
- Collaborate for Drawback-Fixing: Make the most of ChatGPT as a collaborative associate as in case you are 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 impartial problem-solving abilities.
- Neglect Actual-Time Interplay with Coding Group: Whereas ChatGPT provides precious 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 Apply: Stability ChatGPT steerage with hands-on coding observe to bolster theoretical data with sensible utility.
Let me know within the feedback how you utilize ChatGPT that can assist you code!
Pleased coding!
Ellen
Comply with me on LinkedIn
Try my portfolio: liviaellen.com/portfolio
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or simply purchase me an actual espresso 
— Sure I really like espresso.
In regards to the Creator
I’m Ellen, a Machine Studying engineer with 6 years of expertise, at the moment 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 applications throughout APAC, the Center East, and Europe.
I’m at the moment finishing my Grasp’s in Information Science (graduating Might 2025) and actively searching for my subsequent alternative as a machine studying engineer. Should 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 nicely.
