How can I become better at realizing how to solve a particular problem?

Question

I have become pretty fluent in a few different languages now, but I seem to have a hard time actually figuring out the best way to go about solving particular problems. What are some ways to go about getting better at the actual problem solving of programming.

Answer 1

Experience. Solving something completely new is hard. The best way to solve problems is to try and find a problem that you've solved before, and that is similar, and adapt you solution to the new problem. So until you have experience with many different kinds of problems, it's hard to solve new problems that you come across. Visiting sites like this and reading questions and theirs answers are a great way of learning how others solved problems that they encountered.

Answer 2

Basically, "just do it". When you have to make a choice, just make any choice (except flipping a coin).

Once you have something that works, then sit back and scratch your head about what you did wrong and how to do it better.

If you have absolutely no clue how to do even that, just solve a part of the problem completely and move on.

I suggest checking out this book. They aren't the best kid on the block, though they want us to think they are...but they did well with Basecamp.