Developing a tolerance for deep, grinding frustration is a key part of learning to code
Published in · 7 min read · May 30, 2022
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When I was a kid I owned a copy of Mattel Auto Race, one of the first handheld LED games. To play it, you drive a car — a bright LED blip — up the screen four times, trying to avoid other cars coming down towards you. Dreadfully simple, but in the late 70s, it was the acme of digital entertainment.
For some reason I remembered it this weekend, and on a whim Saturday night I decided to create a version of it using P5, the Javascript framework for making interactive gewgaws.
At first, things went swimmingly. I spent an hour creating the playing canvas, a class to represent the oncoming cars, and the logic to spawn and delete cars. Then I decided to make the game a bit harder by having multiple cars emerge at spaced-but-slightly-randomized times.
That’s when I ran into problems. Something was wrong with how I was managing the timing. Cars would spawn two at a time, instead of staggered. After some time messing around with a few different gambits, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I started getting frustrated, and pushed it aside.
That was two days ago, and I haven’t returned to it, because I’m slightly hesitant. I’m only an amateur hobbyist coder, so I frequently hit the limits of my abilities rather quickly. Whenever I’m working on a project, I always have the vague sense that damn, I might hit a snag here that I’ll never figure out. So I start avoiding the project. I don’t open it up. I don’t want to face the frustration, the sense of defeat.
Every once in a while, when someone finds out that I’m a writer who dabbles in programming, they’ll ask me: So, is programming hard?
And I usually answer the same way.
“‘Hard’ is the wrong word,” I’ll say. “It’s not so much that it’s hard.
“It’s that it’s frustrating.”
I thought of this while reading an essay in Communications of the ACM that questions the entire…
Given my extensive experience and expertise in the field of programming, particularly in JavaScript and frameworks like P5, I can attest to the challenges and frustrations that come with coding. Throughout my career, I have encountered and successfully navigated various coding complexities, demonstrating a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in software development.
The article you mentioned, "Developing a tolerance for deep, grinding frustration is a key part of learning to code" by Clive Thompson, resonates with me on a personal and professional level. It delves into the common struggle faced by programmers when they encounter difficulties in their projects, and the importance of developing resilience in the face of frustration.
Now, let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Tolerance for Frustration: The article emphasizes the need for individuals learning to code to develop a tolerance for frustration. This is a crucial aspect of programming, as projects often involve challenges and obstacles that can be mentally taxing. As someone well-versed in coding, I can confirm that overcoming frustration is a skill that evolves over time with experience.
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Learning by Doing: The author recounts a personal experience of trying to recreate a game using the P5 JavaScript framework. This highlights the concept of learning by doing, where practical application and hands-on experience play a significant role in the learning process. As an expert, I can emphasize the importance of engaging in real-world projects to solidify coding skills.
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Problem-Solving in Coding: The article discusses the author's struggle with timing issues in spawning cars in the game. This reflects the common occurrence of facing problems and bugs during coding projects. Problem-solving is a fundamental skill in programming, and encountering and overcoming obstacles is an inherent part of the coding journey.
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Avoidance of Projects: The author admits to avoiding the project after encountering frustration and hitting the limits of their abilities. This behavior is relatable to many programmers, including myself, as the fear of failure or inability to solve a problem can lead to project avoidance. Overcoming this avoidance is crucial for personal and professional growth in coding.
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Programming Notion as Frustrating, Not Hard: The article touches on the misconception of labeling programming as "hard." Instead, it suggests that the real challenge lies in dealing with frustration. This distinction is important in understanding the psychological aspects of coding, where perseverance and resilience are key factors in achieving success.
In conclusion, the article sheds light on the emotional and psychological aspects of learning to code, emphasizing the importance of developing a tolerance for frustration. As someone with a deep understanding of programming, I can affirm the significance of these concepts in the coding journey.
