🔑 How Do You Know When You’ve Cracked the Code?
Tags: beginners, learning, motivation, codenewbie
Published: 2023-12-14 13:00:00

## The signs you need to recognise your coding skills.

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As new programming languages, frameworks, and developer tools continually enter the scene, it’s normal for coders of any level to doubt their skills - let alone new learners.

And of course, it's natural to question if you'll ever truly "get it.”

Despite this constant evolution, possessing the self-reflection to [recognise your growth](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/youre-better-at-coding-than-you-think-you-are-1gd) is **invaluable**. 

Having an awareness of improvements in your abilities will help you fairly judge the progress of your coding journey.

I'll never forget when I first grasped writing [unit tests](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/5-handy-websites-to-learn-how-to-write-unit-tests-55p9). After being in my team at work for months, I would write unit tests (mostly by copying what was already there) but I didn’t truly *know* what I was doing.

However, the more I built my own components and started writing tests from scratch I started to grasp the concept of testing output from the right input, and slowly things started to make sense.

I soon realised - maybe I'm starting to crack this whole coding thing!

The path to becoming a successful programmer rarely follows a straight line.

It takes time, dedication, and accepting that the learning process never truly ends.

Whether you're writing your first lines of code or have various languages and frameworks under your belt, this article will explore methods for self-evaluating your abilities so you can better understand your level and track growth.

From stages of the learning curve to community participation to helpful self-assessment tools - let's explore how to recognise the signs that you’re well on your way to calling yourself a capable coder.

## Understanding the Learning Curve 📈

When going on your coding journey, it helps to remember that everyone starts somewhere. 

There are typically three overarching stages - **beginner, intermediate**, and **advanced**. Recognising where you currently stand is key.

In the beginner phase, simply getting set up with the necessary software and tools can be a challenge! 

Once you write those first basic lines of code, it feels like a major win. At this point, you start grasping core concepts like variables, data types, loops, and functions. 

Though basic, having these building blocks down is crucial.

The intermediate level takes patience. 

Here you deepen your knowledge substantially by taking on [more complex logic](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/5-programming-concepts-every-newbie-finds-confusing-and-tips-for-learning-them-58nb) like arrays, OOP principles, [algorithms](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/top-6-platforms-to-learn-algorithms-for-free-2m57), and advanced data structures. 

You may hit walls when tackling new topics but [overcoming these obstacles](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/dealing-with-the-things-that-hold-you-back-when-learning-to-code-1lgn) means your skills are sharpening. 

By creating full applications and analysing efficiency, the payoff of persistently practising becomes clear.

Reaching the advanced stage requires both knowledge across languages and frameworks as well as in-depth knowledge in specialised areas.

No one expects you to master all aspects so focus on your interests. 

Contribute to open-source communities, learn industry best practices, and don't forget to still enjoy coding!

## Evaluating Your Programming Skills 🔎

As your programming abilities grow, a few key areas tend to indicate rising coding skills:

**Problem-Solving Skills**

When you can break down complex issues into logical steps and tweak code until the solution clicks - these debugging superpowers will serve you well. Critical thinking is a coder's best friend.

**Code Efficiency**

Well-organised, readable code with modular components just feels good to write. 

Applying optimal patterns makes extending functionality easier too. Strive for that DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) excellence.

**Adaptive Mindset**

[Learning Java after Python](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/how-to-use-what-you-know-to-learn-what-you-dont-30ge) won't faze you if grasping new syntax becomes second nature. Embracing new concepts allows you to become a well-rounded coding ninja.

**Project Management**

Juggling coding tasks and collaborating with others without dropping balls shows you can handle real-world programming challenges. 

Being able to [ship finished products](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/its-time-to-stop-consuming-and-start-creating-255c) is huge.

These examples require time and commitment - but they indicate you're levelling up as a coder. 

Keep celebrating the small wins whenever these concepts start making sense. 

The coding journey takes patience, yet staying positive about progress will push you forward.

## Receiving Feedback is a Gift 📣

While assessing your own coding progress is important, external perspectives can provide invaluable insight. 

Code exists to be used by others - **embracing critiques makes you better**.

Asking [mentors and peers](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/how-to-learn-programming-from-the-pros-3k2p) for code reviews gives you an honest assessment of areas needing improvement. 

Developing the confidence to share works-in-progress and discuss better approaches supports learning.

Contributing to open-source projects or company repositories lets you witness first-hand how collaborative development unfolds. 

Observe how senior engineers structure complex systems and solve problems.

Active engagement within coding communities like forums, Meetups, and hackathons exposes you to new challenges. 

You realise *everyone* continuously learns something new. 

Ultimately, code is strengthened significantly by feedback, teamwork and a thirst for expanding your knowledge. 

Surrounding yourself with passionate programmers to exchange ideas with is ideal for evaluating and enhancing your skills over time.

## Setting Realistic Expectations and Goals 🎯

Recognising your abilities starts with self-awareness about limitations.

[Imposter syndrome](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/im-always-frustrated-but-heres-why-i-wont-give-up-1d3e) affects nearly every programmer. Building skills takes time - be patient yet persistent.

Create a checklist of knowledge for your target language across syntax, data structures, debugging capability and libraries experience. 

Mark skills as you demonstrate capability so visible progress sustains motivation.

Set milestones that stretch your abilities while being achievable in reasonable timeframes. 

Break larger goals like building complex programs into smaller tasks.

Celebrate micro wins frequently while assessing tangible results like programs executed, bugs fixed, pages of code written or concepts grasped. 

Share your goals with friends and request accountability check-ins. External support helps through difficult times. 

While dedicated focus is required, don’t overlook rest and community connections. 

Your progress will unfold gradually by balancing effort with self-care. 

Patience pays off.

## Helpful Resources for Self-Evaluation 📚

Thankfully there are many free tools and communities to help analyse and level up your skills:

**Online Coding Platforms**
Sites like [Codecademy](https://www.codecademy.com/) and [FreeCodeCamp](https://www.freecodecamp.org/) offer interactive courses with built-in quizzes to test knowledge. 

Seeing your scores improve is fun and motivating.

**Coding Challenges**
Websites like [LeetCode](https://leetcode.com/) and [HackerRank](https://www.hackerrank.com/) allow practising languages on realistic problems. 

Completing challenges shows tangible progress.

**Building a Portfolio**
Showcasing your applications on GitHub or personal sites gives reviewers insight into your capabilities. 

The feedback received can be humbling but invaluable.

**Getting Certified**
While no substitute for experience, reputable certifications demonstrate dedication. 

Explore options such as a [Microsoft](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/browse/?credential_types=certification) or [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/) certification to validate your technical skills.

## Wrapping Up

Becoming a capable coder is like mastering any complex skill - it takes serious commitment over time before your abilities visibly improve. 

However, through self-awareness, community support, and utilising the many assessment resources available these days - accurately evaluating your progress can be straightforward.

Remember to acknowledge all coding milestones achieved so far in your journey. Whether you've just grasped "Hello World" or confidently contribute to enterprise systems - be proud of your dedication. 

With reasonable expectations, measurable goals, feedback loops and a lifelong love for problem-solving accessibly through code - recognise that each small win brings you closer to becoming the skilled developer you aim to be.

Keep learning, keep coding and most importantly - keep believing in your potential. 

The coding community is behind you and those short-term hurdles you may  face now will gradually give way to mastery. 

The path ahead promises to be [intensely rewarding](https://dev.to/evergrowingdev/your-coding-skills-are-priceless-heres-why-1bj) as you continue gaining new perspectives, expanding your digital toolkit and creating new career opportunities through a familiarity with code.

When you know, you’ll know.

 From your fellow ever-growing dev,

Cherlock Code

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