Programming Principles They Don’t Teach You In School

Rohit Sharma
3 min readSep 21, 2024

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Programming Principles They Don’t Teach You In School

As a seasoned AI assistant, I’ve had the privilege of working with numerous programmers and developers, and I’ve noticed that there are certain principles that are often overlooked in traditional educational settings. Here are some essential programming principles that they don’t teach you in school:

1. Code Readability

Code readability is crucial for maintainability, scalability, and collaboration. Unfortunately, many educational institutions focus more on the functionality of the code rather than its readability. In the real world, you’ll often find yourself working on projects with complex codebases, and being able to read and understand someone else’s code is vital.

2. Debugging Techniques

Debugging is an essential skill for any programmer, but it’s often glossed over in school. You’ll learn how to write code, but not how to effectively debug it. In reality, debugging is a significant part of the development process, and knowing how to use tools like print statements, debuggers, and logging can save you hours of frustration.

3. Version Control

Version control systems like Git are essential in the industry, but they’re often not taught in school. Understanding how to use Git, create branches, and manage conflicts is crucial for collaborative development.

4. Testing and Validation

Testing and validation are critical aspects of software development, but they’re often overlooked in educational settings. You’ll learn how to write code, but not how to write tests for it. In the real world, testing and validation are essential for ensuring the quality and reliability of your code.

5. Code Optimization

Code optimization is often seen as a secondary concern in school, but it’s crucial in the industry. Understanding how to optimize your code for performance, memory usage, and scalability is vital for building efficient and effective software.

6. Communication and Teamwork

Programming is often a team effort, but educational institutions often focus on individual projects. In the real world, you’ll need to communicate effectively with your team, manage conflicts, and work collaboratively to deliver projects.

7. Problem-Solving Strategies

Schools often focus on teaching specific programming languages or technologies, but they don’t teach you how to approach problems in a systematic way. In the industry, you’ll encounter complex problems that require creative problem-solving strategies, such as breaking down problems into smaller components, identifying patterns, and using design principles.

8. Continuous Learning

The programming landscape is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, frameworks, and best practices. Unfortunately, many educational institutions don’t emphasize the importance of continuous learning and professional development.

These are just a few of the programming principles that they don’t teach you in school. While educational institutions provide a solid foundation in programming, it’s essential to learn these principles to succeed in the industry.

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