I have spent 2 - 3 days stuck and clueless on the python hanoi algorithm. I’m not asking for help on solving it, I looked at other post and Gemini to help me for this. The question I have is mainly about knowing when being too persistence becomes stupidity / arrogance.
Because of the rapid AI progresses, I know I have been super lazy, can’t even make a 5 min search without simply looking at the AI overview and considering it legit. So I’m doing my best to build solid reasoning and technical skills. The issue is now determining when I should keep on trying and when to simply look up part of or the full answer.
Note: if it can help, I’m at uni, studying mechanical engineering but learning code as a backup and a mean to better use AI tools
When first learning to code, asking AI for help is the worst thing you can do. It becomes a cycle. You get stuck and immediately ask AI. It is exceedingly a bad idea, especially when considering it can lead you astray.
Here’s what I recommend. If you want to learn to code, you have to code. If you get stuck, I recommend asking the forum for help on how to solve the problem. Additionally there is some really helpful information at the Python documentation website so you don’t necessarily need to know every function.
I wish you the best of luck on your coding journey.
I hit that sort of point of feeling clueless and stuck during the ‘Build a Budget App’ project – it took me over a week to actually puzzle out how to get it to stop spitting out errors at me! xD; So I know where you’re coming from.
I will disagree with using AI for these tasks – find any way you can to block it! I know it’s tempting, but you’re not doing yourself any favours. On my part, when I was approaching the certification projects after the budget app, I started doing research before diving into coding. There are a lot of excellent tutorials out there that can make concepts make sense. Also, look back at previous coursework, because that may help you as well.
(I still ended up coding up to six versions of the Tower of Hanoi algorithm before I finally managed to craft a solution that the code checker would accept! xD; I kept every one of my WIP versions.)
When you find yourself frustrated, my best advice is to take a break. Have a snack. Sleep if you need to. (Trust me, coding late at night will result in making all manner of goofy mistakes. Better to rest and come back to the problem when you’re ready.)
I agree with what you are saying. I think my issue is mainly dealing with the frustration. I do take brakes, and the hanoi challenge is the only one I resorted to AI for the solution.
For me asking AI or using the forum is almost the same thing, I ask the AI for tips, not the direct solution. They even added Socrate AI in the certification, so I was like “If they add it here, may as well use Gemini”
If you have a question about a specific challenge as it relates to your written code for that challenge and need some help, click the Help button located on the challenge.
The Help button will create a new topic with all code you have written and include a link to the challenge also. You will still be able to ask any questions in the post before submitting it to the forum.
Is there something in particular you’re having issues with? Are you having issues with your code, or is it a general ‘I don’t understand the task’ type thing?
I think I’m wondering more about when to ask for help. I might have put too much emphasis on the AI part and lack of research. As I said, the tips I ask is basically the same kind of feedback I would get from the forum, not the solution itself. But now, I’ll stop and do more efforts on researching things.
Could we say that 1 week of hard work, making multiple versions of your code and still being stuck, at this point should you ask the forum or keep it going for 2 more weeks? At what point does trying to improve your skills by yourself becomes the thing that stops you from growing faster?
I think it’s really up to you on how much effort you want to put out before you ask for help. Sometimes it really helps to just leave it for a good while and come back to it later. That said, please take a look at this forum post for some good tips from @pkdvalis:
As far as asking for help, it is up to you how long you want to hold out, but it’s always OK to ask for help, no matter how long it’s been since you started. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes and a natter can give you a different perspective.
One last thing, would you say waiting a month after finishing the python certification to review it is enough for your mind to breath or it’s too long?
For me, since I can never truly give up. I “give up” a lot. That is my break I need to step away and think away from it. Which is me being mad it didn’t work , to me being mad I quit, to me thinking harder about it but in a different way, which somehow leads to me solving it when I get back to it. In short of you going crazy like me, just take a break to clear your head. You might find another way.
