How To Think Like a Programmer

Yeah, that’s right. I said that.

You’re probably wondering why I’d make such a bold statement, especially when every programming tutorial tells you the opposite. Stay with me, and you’ll see exactly why this mindset shift changes everything.

The biggest mistake I see new programmers make is focusing on learning syntax instead of learning how to solve problems.
— V. Anton Spraul

Why This Matters

We all have problems. Big and small. Financial struggles, relationship issues, career decisions, that weird noise your car makes, or figuring out why your code crashes every time you run it.

How we deal with these problems is often random. Most of us tackle these challenges using what I call the “spray and pray” method:

1. Try something, anything

2. When it fails, you try something else.

3. You keep throwing solutions at the problem until it works.

This approach is really common. I’ve been there. When I started coding, I’d randomly try different syntax combinations, hoping something would magically work. Sometimes I would get lucky, but it was a big waste of time and very frustrating.

The truth is, Problem-solving is the foundational skill. It’s the skill that makes all other skills more effective. Maybe you’re debugging code, planning a budget, or trying to fix a relationship; the same fundamental principles apply.

What It Means to Think Like a Problem-Solver

A problem-solver doesn’t just come up with random solutions and hope that one of them works. They have a systematic approach, a way of tackling problems no matter what the problem is

When you think like a problem-solver, you:

• Break down complex problems into smaller problems.
• Approach challenges with curiosity instead of feeling annoyed
• Build solutions step by step
• Learn from every attempt, whether it works out or not

This is why the best programmers aren’t necessarily the ones who know the most syntax — they’re the ones who can systematically work through any problem they encounter.

The Problem-Solver’s Step

Step 1: Understand the Problem

“If you can’t explain something in simple terms, you don’t understand it.”
— Richard Feynman

Most hard problems are hard because we don’t truly understand them. This is why understanding comes first, before any solution attempts.

How to know when you understand a problem: When you can explain it in plain English to someone else (or even to yourself out loud).

I can’t count how many times I’ve been stuck on a coding problem, started explaining it to a friend, and halfway through my explanation, the solution became obvious. This phenomenon is so common that programmers have a term for it: rubber duck debugging — explaining your problem to an inanimate object

Let’s say you’re trying to build a login system. Instead of immediately jumping into code, first understand what you’re really building:

• Users need to provide their email and password.
• I need to check if those credentials match what’s in my database.
• If they match, I need to let them access the protected content.
• If they don’t match, I need to show an error message.

See how breaking it down in simple terms makes it easier and clearer?

Next time you face any problem (not just coding), try explaining it out loud. Talk through what you’re trying to achieve, what obstacles you’re facing, and what a successful outcome would look like.

Step 2: Plan Your Approach

You shouldn’t jump right into solving without a plan. I know it’s tempting; when you’re excited about a solution, you want to jump in immediately. But planning saves time in the long run.

Let’s continue with our login system example:

1. Create a form with email and password fields

2. When user submits, capture the form data

3. Send that data to the server

4. On the server, search the database for a user with that email

5. If found, compare the submitted password with the stored password

6. If passwords match, create a session and redirect to the dashboard.

7. If not, send back an error message

This might seem straightforward, but writing it down forces you to think through each step. You’ll often discover edge cases or missing pieces during this planning phase.

Pro tip: In programming, use comments to outline your plan before writing code. In life, use a notebook or document to outline your approach before taking action.

Step 3: Break Problems Down (The Reduction Technique)

Pay attention; this is the most important step of all.

Do not try to solve one big problem. You will get overwhelmed, frustrated, and likely give up.

Instead, break it into smaller problems. These smaller problems are much easier to solve. Then solve each smaller problem one by one, starting with the simplest.

What makes a smaller problem “simplest”?

• You know the solution (or are closer to knowing it)
• Solving it doesn’t depend on other smaller problems being solved first

“If I could teach every beginning programmer one problem-solving skill, it would be the ‘reduce the problem technique.’ For example, suppose you’re asked to write a program that reads ten numbers and figures out which number is the third highest. For a brand-new programmer, that can be tough. If you’re stuck, reduce the problem to something simpler. Instead of the third-highest number, what about finding the highest overall? Still too tough? What about finding the largest of just three numbers? Or the larger of two? Reduce the problem to the point where you know how to solve it and write the solution. Then expand the problem slightly and rewrite the solution to match, and keep going until you are back where you started.” — V. Anton Spraul

Step 4: When You’re Stuck—The Three-Step Recovery

When you hit a wall (and you will), you have three powerful strategies:

1. Debug
Go step by step through your solution, trying to find where things went wrong. In programming, this means using a debugger or adding print statements to see what’s happening at each step.

In life, this means retracing your actions. Imagine you’re following a recipe and your cake didn’t turn out right. Debug by going through each step:

• Did you measure ingredients correctly?
• Was your oven at the right temperature?
• Did you mix for the right amount of time?

2. Reassess
Sometimes we get so lost in the details that we miss a simpler approach. Take a step back and ask, “Is there a completely different way to approach this?”

Pro tip: Sometimes the best reassessment is starting over completely. Delete everything and begin again with fresh eyes. This might sound extreme, but it’s often the fastest way to a better solution.

3. Research:
No matter what problem you’re facing, someone has probably encountered something similar. Find that person or solution.

You shouldn’t be looking for a solution to your entire big problem. Only look for solutions to sub-problems. Because unless you struggle (even a little bit), you won’t learn anything. If you don’t learn anything, you’ve wasted your time.

For our login system example, you might research:

• How to validate email addresses
• How to securely hash passwords
• How to implement sessions

But don’t just copy someone else’s complete login system—you’ll miss the learning opportunity.

Step 5: Learn and Practice

Don’t expect to become a great problem-solver overnight. Like any skill, it requires deliberate practice.

All problems share similar patterns. The more problems you solve, the more patterns you’ll recognize, and the faster you’ll become at solving new problems.

How to practice:

• For programming: Try coding challenges on platforms like Coderbyte, LeetCode, or HackerRank
• For general problem-solving: Chess puzzles, Sudoku, escape rooms, strategy games
• For real-world skills: Take on small projects outside your comfort zone

I solve at least one coding challenge every day, not because I enjoy the challenge itself, but because it trains my problem-solving muscles. Each problem teaches me a new pattern or reinforces an existing one.

The goal isn’t to memorize solutions; it’s to make the problem-solving process a part of you.

Step 6: Get Help (After You’ve Exhausted Other Options)

Try the other five steps first. There’s immense value in struggling through a problem yourself, even if you don’t solve it completely.

When you do ask for help:

• Explain what you’ve tried so far
• Show your current approach
• Ask specific questions rather than “How do I solve this?”

For example, instead of
“How do I build a login system?”

Try:

“I’m building a login system and I’ve got the form working, but I’m stuck on how to securely compare passwords. I’ve tried using === but I read that’s not secure. What approach should I research? ”

This shows you’ve done the work and helps others give you more targeted assistance.

After all the explanation in this article, I think you already know why I said earlier why you shouldn’t think like a programmer; instead, think like a problem solver. If you still don’t know, and it’s okay, just know this:

• Not every programmer is a problem solver, but every problem solver can become a great programmer.
• Problem-solving skills transfer to every area of life; programming syntax only works in code.

The programming languages you learn will become outdated. The frameworks you master will be replaced. But the ability to break down problems, think systematically, and persist through challenges is forever.

I hope you encounter many problems. That’s right.

At least now you know how to solve them. Plus, you’ll discover that with every solution, you improve.

Your Next Steps

1. Start small: Pick a minor problem you’re facing today and apply this framework
2. Practice daily: Solve one small problem every day using these steps
3. Teach others: Explain your problem-solving process to someone else
4. Document your patterns: Keep notes on the types of problems you encounter and how you solve them
5. Stay curious: When you encounter bugs, errors, or obstacles, approach them with curiosity rather than frustration

Programming is just one application of problem-solving skills. Learn and practice the art of systematic problem-solving, and you’ll not only become a better programmer—you’ll become better at life.