When most people start learning programming, they dive straight into languages and syntax. I’ve personally seen this approach lead to a very common issue: you learn loops, functions, and frameworks, yet when faced with a real-world problem, you freeze. You don’t know where to start or how to apply those loops, functions, and frameworks to actually solve the problem.
After struggling with this myself, I realized that simply knowing Python or JavaScript doesn’t automatically equip you to tackle complex problems. Think of it this way: if someone asked you to explain a physics problem in English, the key would be your knowledge of physics, not your fluency in English. English is just the communication tool, not the solution itself. Programming works exactly the same. Understanding logic, the “why” and the “how”, is what truly matters; the programming language is just the way you express that solution.
Instead of getting stuck on syntax, focus on the logic behind your code. This is especially true now, with current AI capabilities reinforcing this idea even more. Historically, programmers had to master every line of syntax because coding required intense manual effort. Today, higher-level languages and AI handle much of this tedious work.
AI is dramatically changing programming by managing repetitive tasks, syntax details, debugging, and boilerplate code. This shift means programmers now need to focus more than ever on problem-solving, logic, and designing solutions. It’s similar to math: before calculators, even small numerical calculations were significant achievements. After calculators took over that tedious work, mathematicians were freed to tackle more complex and interesting problems.
In the same way, AI handles basic coding tasks, pushing programmers to solve deeper, more meaningful issues. In short, stop obsessing over syntax. Instead, master problem-solving and logic. Let AI handle the tedious parts.