Programming Entry Level: tutorial loops

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by DevOps Fundamental

Understanding Tutorial Loops for Beginners

Have you ever found yourself endlessly repeating the same steps while learning to code? Maybe you’re following a tutorial, and it feels like you’re just copying and pasting without truly understanding why you’re doing things. That’s where “tutorial loops” come in. Understanding them is crucial for becoming a confident programmer, and it’s a topic that often comes up in junior developer interviews – they want to see you can learn how to learn! This post will break down what tutorial loops are, how to spot them, and how to break free.

Understanding “Tutorial Loops”

A “tutorial loop” happens when you get stuck in a cycle of following tutorials without being able to apply the concepts independently. You can successfully complete the tutorial, but when you try to build something on your own, you feel lost. It’s like learning to ride a bike with training wheels – you can go forward, but you haven’t developed the balance to ride on your own.

Think of it like this: you’re building with LEGOs, but instead of creating your own design, you’re just following instructions to build a pre-defined model. You learn how to connect the bricks, but not how to design something new.

The core problem isn’t the tutorials themselves – they’re valuable resources! The issue is how you use them. You need to move beyond passive consumption and start actively engaging with the material. It’s about transitioning from “copying” to “understanding and adapting.”

Basic Code Example

Let’s say you’re learning about functions in Python. You find a tutorial that shows you how to create a function that adds two numbers:

def add_numbers(x, y):
  """This function adds two numbers."""
  sum = x + y
  return sum

# Example usage

result = add_numbers(5, 3)
print(result)  # Output: 8

Now, let’s explain this code:

1. def add_numbers(x, y): defines a function named add_numbers that takes two arguments, x and y.
2. """This function adds two numbers.""" is a docstring, which explains what the function does. It’s good practice to include these!
3. sum = x + y calculates the sum of x and y and stores it in a variable called sum.
4. return sum returns the calculated sum.
5. result = add_numbers(5, 3) calls the function with the arguments 5 and 3, and stores the returned value in the variable result.
6. print(result) prints the value of result to the console.

A tutorial loop would be if you copy this code, it works, and then you’re stuck when asked to create a function that multiplies two numbers. You haven’t internalized the concept of a function – you’ve just copied the syntax for this specific case.

Common Mistakes or Misunderstandings

Here are some common mistakes that lead to tutorial loops:

Incorrect code: (Copying and pasting without understanding)

def add_numbers(x, y):
  """This function adds two numbers."""
  sum = x + y
  return sum

# Trying to use the function for multiplication without modification

result = add_numbers(5, 3)
print(result)

Corrected code: (Adapting the function to a new task)

def multiply_numbers(x, y):
  """This function multiplies two numbers."""
  product = x * y
  return product

# Using the new function

result = multiply_numbers(5, 3)
print(result) # Output: 15

Explanation: The first example shows simply reusing the add_numbers function for multiplication, which won’t work. The corrected code demonstrates adapting the original concept (a function that takes two numbers and performs an operation) to a new task (multiplication).

Incorrect code: (Not modifying the code at all)

# Copying the tutorial code directly

def add_numbers(x, y):
  """This function adds two numbers."""
  sum = x + y
  return sum

Corrected code: (Experimenting with the code)

def add_numbers(x, y):
  """This function adds two numbers."""
  sum = x + y
  return sum

# Experimenting with different inputs

print(add_numbers(10, 20))
print(add_numbers(-5, 5))
print(add_numbers(0, 0))

Explanation: The first example shows just copying the code. The corrected code shows experimenting with different inputs to understand how the function behaves.

Incorrect code: (Not trying to break the code)

def add_numbers(x, y):
  """This function adds two numbers."""
  sum = x + y
  return sum

# No attempt to test edge cases or errors

result = add_numbers(5, "3") # This will cause an error!

print(result)

Corrected code: (Thinking about error handling)

def add_numbers(x, y):
  """This function adds two numbers."""
  try:
    sum = x + y
    return sum
  except TypeError:
    return "Error: Invalid input types. Please use numbers."

# Testing with invalid input

result = add_numbers(5, "3")
print(result) # Output: Error: Invalid input types. Please use numbers.

Explanation: The first example doesn’t consider what happens if the input isn’t what’s expected. The corrected code adds error handling to gracefully manage invalid input.

Real-World Use Case

Let’s say you want to create a simple program to calculate the area of different shapes. You find a tutorial on calculating the area of a rectangle.

def calculate_rectangle_area(length, width):
  """Calculates the area of a rectangle."""
  area = length * width
  return area

# Example usage

rectangle_area = calculate_rectangle_area(5, 10)
print("Rectangle area:", rectangle_area)

Instead of just copying this and stopping there, think about how you can extend it. Can you create functions for other shapes, like a circle or a triangle?

import math

def calculate_rectangle_area(length, width):
  """Calculates the area of a rectangle."""
  area = length * width
  return area

def calculate_circle_area(radius):
  """Calculates the area of a circle."""
  area = math.pi * radius**2
  return area

def calculate_triangle_area(base, height):
  """Calculates the area of a triangle."""
  area = 0.5 * base * height
  return area

# Example usage

rectangle_area = calculate_rectangle_area(5, 10)
print("Rectangle area:", rectangle_area)

circle_area = calculate_circle_area(5)
print("Circle area:", circle_area)

triangle_area = calculate_triangle_area(4, 6)
print("Triangle area:", triangle_area)

This demonstrates taking the core concept from the tutorial (calculating area) and applying it to new scenarios.

Practice Ideas

Here are some exercises to help you break free from tutorial loops:

1. Modify a tutorial: Find a tutorial on a simple program (e.g., a basic calculator). Change it to add a new feature or handle different input.
2. Build from scratch (with notes): Find a tutorial, read it first, then try to recreate the program without looking at the code. Use your notes as a guide.
3. Solve a small problem: Find a simple coding challenge online (e.g., on HackerRank or Codewars) and try to solve it using the concepts you’ve learned from tutorials.
4. Debug a broken program: Find a program with intentional errors and try to fix them. This helps you understand how code works (and doesn’t work!).
5. Explain it to someone else: Try explaining a concept you learned from a tutorial to a friend or family member. Teaching is a great way to solidify your understanding.

Summary

Tutorial loops are a common challenge for beginner programmers. They happen when you focus on completing tutorials rather than understanding the underlying concepts. To break free, actively engage with the material, modify the code, experiment with different inputs, and try to apply what you’ve learned to new problems. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they’re a valuable part of the learning process!

Keep practicing, stay curious, and remember that becoming a confident programmer takes time and effort. Next, you might want to explore topics like data structures, algorithms, or object-oriented programming to further expand your skills. You’ve got this!

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by DevOps Fundamental