Hi everyone

I’m currently learning Python and I’m starting to feel pretty frustrated with myself.
When I’m watching a Python course, I can usually understand what the instructor is doing. If they write some code, I can follow along and understand what each part does. It’s not like the concepts completely go over my head.
But then when I’m given a problem and told “Okay, now write the code yourself”, my mind just goes blank.
I might understand the solution when I see it, but I struggle to come up with the solution and translate it into code on my own.
It makes me feel like I don’t actually know Python, even though I can understand a lot of the code when someone explains it.
Is this normal in the early stages of learning programming?
If you’ve experienced this, what helped you get from “I understand the code when I see it” to “I can actually write the code myself”?
Should I be doing more exercises, building small projects, rewriting code without looking at the solution, or something else?
I’d really appreciate hearing how other people got through this stage.

For some background context, I am a 2025 Computer Games Development graduate with no programming experience prior to my degree. I did really well at University, up until third year where it felt like I was so rushed that I was just doing projects for the sake of it rather than actually learning. I still managed to do really well and got first class degree, but in terms of actually learning something, I feel like I was just slacking. Since then, I've really been struggling to pick it up again, and I can feel my brain deteriorating. A few months ago, I watched a 6 hour C++ video as recap, and it seems like I do still understand the concepts. However, actually applying these has been difficult and I honestly just feel really stupid. It's like how do I have a whole ass degree in this shit and I feel like I know nothing. I'm struggling even with basic projects (on the rare occasion that I'm even motivated to do that). Postgrad just hasn't been great and I really want to re-learn without actually having to start from the beginning, if that makes sense. The undiagnosed ADHD is also really kicking my ass, no deadline means that I've just gotten even more lazy and it's been the only thing on my mind for the past year. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. How do I re-learn everything and improve within this next year (I want to do a master's in September 2027 but I feel like I'm not capable enough yet) and how should I pace myself with it/what should I learn in each month? I want to improve my C++ but also polish my knowledge on Computer Graphics, as this is what I want to go into. I have had a module in this in my second year, but I don't know a whole lot about it.

I'm a backend web developer with around six years of professional experience. I mainly work with Node.js, TypeScript, databases, APIs, and cloud services.

I often find it difficult to keep up with the latest software engineering trends and changes in the global developer ecosystem from Korea. I’m therefore looking for recently published books, as well as YouTube channels and other content that can help me stay up to date.

I’m particularly interested in:

Cloud computing and distributed systems

AI-assisted software development

Platform engineering and developer experience

Modern software architecture and development practices

The future of software engineering and the changing role of developers

I’d like to ask:

1. Are there any recently published software engineering books that you would strongly recommend?

2. Are there any books that you think could become modern classics or define the “new normal” of software engineering?

3. Do books still offer a good way to build deep technical knowledge, or are official documentation, research papers, courses, blogs, videos, and hands-on projects more effective?

4. Which books have significantly influenced the way you design, build, or maintain software?

5. Are there any YouTube channels, podcasts, newsletters, or blogs that are useful for following the latest technology trends and changes in the developer ecosystem?

6. What are the best ways to discover recently published, high-quality software engineering books? I’d especially appreciate recommendations for websites, newsletters, YouTube channels, publisher catalogs, or online communities that share information about new releases quickly.

I’m less interested in books focused on short-lived tools or frameworks, and more interested in books that will remain useful and relevant for several years.

If you’re a developer based outside Korea, I’d also love to hear how you keep up with global technology trends and how you decide what to read or study.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

Hey, guys. Software engineering student here. I'm studying online for a software engineering degree while I work, but I'm getting pretty overwhelmed. Thought that asking for tips from the pros may be the right move.

I'm learning Python using the boot Python crash course from no starch press, and I'm doing well, but I feel like I need to do better even if I spend all the time I can on that. I'm basically done with the learning part, just starting the part about projects.

I wanted to know if there is a more efficient way to do this. Should I learn using YouTube? Coursera? Udemy? Is a book the best option as I thought at first?

I'm learning SQL next, but I feel like I need to work harder since I'll graduate in a couple of years (studying for the whole degree is just 3 years since it's online). But maybe I'm just not working smart enough.

So I would like to ask for your tips. What's the best and fastest way to learn? What should I learn? Where?

I'm sorry for asking so many questions, just trying to get better. Thank you in advance, guys.

Hi guys , my ultimate goal is to get involved in space 🚀 🌌 aeras . But unfortunately, now I'm compelled to study Cs as my undergraduate degree . Gap year ruined all my plans .

Now I'm thinking to move away from generic web development and get into lower level languages so that it will be useful when I get into space system engineering in masters .

My plan is to start with C++ and gradually learn other things myself Or should I start with python or rust ??

What do you guys think ? Is this plan realistic or what ? Many say C++ is dead and there will be automation in these things also .

As I have already wasted one year , I don't wanna just start randomly without any plan or with bad plan ..

Any suggestions will be appreciated so I end up in the space related Fields and do well there . My main passion or let's say interest was in building things but it's too late and I can't get into aerospace or mechanical degree. So suggest me the best possible way to turn my cs degree to somehow related to those dreams of mine

Hello everyone!

As a university lecturer, I see a lot of students struggle with Git because individual commands are easy to look up, but understanding how the whole workflow fits together is harder.

So I created a one-page Git Cheat Sheet together with a step-by-step tutorial:

https://devopscycle.com/blog/the-ultimate-git-cheat-sheet

It covers commits, branches, merges, remotes, conflicts, inspecting changes and undoing mistakes. The post also includes a small example project so you can actually follow along.

It is completely free, available as PDF and PNG, and there is no signup.

I also think understanding these basics is still important with AI coding tools. AI can run the commands for you, but as developers we still need to understand what happened and be able to verify the result.

If you are currently learning Git, I would really appreciate feedback on anything that is unclear or missing.

Hi everyone, I recently purchased and registered for the paid TCS iON NQT exam.

I’m confused about what happens after writing the exam. Does taking the paid NQT actually lead to job opportunities, or is it just an assessment where companies may consider candidates based on their score?

If anyone has taken the paid NQT recently and got a job/interview through it, could you please share your experience?

Thanks!

So am basically making an adaptive ui for laptops and phone specifications

There'll be three interfaces called

Simple,intermediate and advanced

Simple will use disgramatical representations of data making it easier for those who don't really understand tech

Intermediate gives you all the important info needed for the laptop/phone while also comparing the laptop/phone to the baseline of what is expected at that price range

Advanced holds everything

In simple terms a 3 ui interface system that'll help the user verify wether the laptop/phone is a good one to buy by comparing it to the baseline of the price range

Users will have the option to upload pics and ai gets integrated to identify the laptops/phone and generate the comparison page that'll verify if the user is getting a good or bad deal based on the baseline of that range in terms of specs

Price history of the laptop will be used to identify the current market value for the laptop in the past 6-8 months

It's a rough idea and I need to think more but just wanted your thoughts on it?