LPT: If you’re learning to code, keep a “Code Diary”—just one line a day makes a difference.

r/

I mentor new developers, and this tip works wonders.

write down one thing you learned each day, doesn’t have to be deep, just consistent.
It builds momentum and helps you realize how much you’ve grown, especially when you hit a wall.

I’m even working on a small free tool around this idea, curious if others would find it useful?

Happy to share it if anyone’s interested.

Comments

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  3. valoon4 Avatar

    Best LPT i have read in a while

  4. jkksldkjflskjdsflkdj Avatar

    Use git and your commits are your diary.

  5. malsomnus Avatar

    I can confirm that this remains a good and useful LPT at every point in your career.

  6. Technical-Past-1386 Avatar

    lol like a dictionary of c + p shortcuts mmmm yesss made this back in the 90s!

  7. edenhazard28 Avatar

    man I use to do this when I started learning web development feels good to know what I learn each day and hopefully help me remember each topic, I don’t know why I stop tho

  8. AmericanWonton Avatar

    Male a Google Doc of useful tips and tricks. God knows i go back to my long list of Linux commands and formatted SQL queries, lol.

  9. DefenderNeverender Avatar

    I’d give it a try, if you want to share

  10. AntDam2 Avatar

    That’s awesome thanks, any advice for an upcoming web developer?

  11. killaB115 Avatar

    This is great, please tell us about the tool?

  12. bekkitoblack Avatar

    I’m interested! I’m taking programming classes this semester and I’m becoming very invested in it, although I’m not very good at learning yet.

  13. WinterFox7 Avatar

    I use Obsidian for this. It’s where I keep all my notes, neatly organized, for anything I want to remember.

  14. weeksahead Avatar

    I used to have notepad ++ template saved with the hotkeys ctrl-‘. It would spit out a line break, the current date, a line of m dashes and another line break, and then I would quickly write down anything I learned at work. 

  15. Viltris Avatar

    What worked for me is, I spent a lot of time implementing toy programs. Learn about for loops? Go write a program that loops from 1 to 20 and prints it to standard out. Learn about linked lists? Go implement a linked list.

    Coding is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

  16. doxxie-au Avatar

    i think ive really only ever had one junior developer under me do that, and of his own accord.

    he had many of bound leather grid notepads that he would constantly take notes in. ended up being one of the best developers i ever worked with.

    then there are the others, that come and ask the same question day after day. please dont do this, take notes, i wont think less of you.

  17. McBits Avatar

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettelkasten
    This is the Übermensch version.
    TLDR: Note cards are now digitized making mind maps interactive.

  18. mrsQuiet Avatar

    Would also be useful for learning a “normal language” like Spanish.

  19. gosu-SC2-noob Avatar

    Do you have examples ?

  20. eternaldaymare Avatar

    This is great! It definitely applies outside of coding too – eg. new language, painting technique, and when trying to pick up any other sort ot new skill!

  21. NikiOnTime Avatar

    The LPT is cool but this account’s post history is sus. The account is 1 month old. In the last 24h, it has made more than 50 posts on different subs. It has never interacted in the posts it makes. Here it is intruducing itself as a coding mentor. I saw a post where it was asking for advice for beginners. Most definitely a bot farming karma.

  22. MigeruX Avatar

    Please share, I’m here learning

    Thank you for the tip

  23. ConvertByDani Avatar

    That’s actually such a solid tip, I’m saving this for later.

  24. dehomme Avatar

    I am learning python to challenge myself and improve my skills.

    How can I learn and work on projects apart from learning it by books and online courses?

  25. AndrogynousHobo Avatar

    Would totally try that tool

  26. Pringoaaaaals Avatar

    Awesome suggestion. Sign me up for trial.

  27. airlinesarefun Avatar

    Would love to hear more about that tool OP, thanks!