7 Unconventional (But Surprisingly Effective) Ways to Get Better at Coding

Junior-me was obsessed with syntax.

Ten years ago, coding only meant learning languages.
I was learning C#, keeping up with PHP, and sneaking into Python.
I thought coding was only about symbols and lines of code.

But to grow as coders, you need more than learning syntax and typing symbols.

Here are 7 unconventional ways to grow as a coder:

#1. Detach yourself from your code

You'll write simpler code and become a better teammate.
You'll let others touch, critique, and work on your code.

#2. Reinvent the wheel to learn

It forces you to read, dissect, and really understand code.

Try rebuilding one of your favorite libraries and tools, just to learn.
Once you've understood how they work, stick to the real one.

#3. Do on-call at least once

Being paged after hours isn't a pleasant experience.

But you'll learn to triage, debug, and stay calm under pressure.
And more importantly, to communicate with non-technical people.

#4. Watch House M.D.

This isn't a TV show about coders or hackers, but about doctors.

It's a masterclass in problem-solving.
You'll see how they tackle complex problems until they find a solution.
Just replace a dying patient with a coding bug.
More useful than most coding classes.

#5. Learn to write

Not lines of code, but clear, direct prose.

Writing sharpens how you present ideas and solutions.
That's why every coder should write.
And it's no surprise the higher up you climb the ladder, the less it's about coding and the more about communication.

#6. Start and monetize a side project

A side project will teach you:

• Marketing and sales
• How to think like a builder
• Hosting and the Cloud aren't free
• End users don't care about clean code

#7. Learn polite ways of saying no

You'll need this a lot.
You will have to say no to unneeded complexity, scope creep, and burnout.

If you want to stand out as a coder, you need more than mastering syntax.
Because the best coders don't just type.
They collaborate, build, and solve.
Nobody ever taught me that starting out.

If you want to grow as a coder, check out Street-Smart Coding, the roadmap I wish I had on my journey from junior to senior.

Comments

[Baltasar García Perez-Schofield]

Learn polite ways of saying no.
This is as simple, as great.

Reinvent the wheel.
It's a good habit to write "partial" apps, or just exercises. Just for training. But, beware...

Detach yourself from your code.
This is so important. But it not only has to do with your programming skills, but with overall maturity. As you wrote before... "you're not your code."

[Cesar Aguirre]

It's a good habit to write "partial" apps, or just exercises. Just for training. But, beware...

Yes! That was my point. Just like painting students who recreate masterpieces as exercise :)

[Marisol Hall]

Really enjoyed this perspective. The point about becoming a better coder by learning communication, problem-solving, and product thinking not just syntax is especially true. Reinventing tools for learning and building side projects can teach lessons that tutorials often miss. I’ve noticed the same mindset while exploring digital projects through netprime.app because understanding users and real-world needs matters just as much as writing clean code. Great reminder that strong developers are builders, collaborators, and problem-solvers first.

[Unified Mentor]

Great Post!

[Unified Mentor]

Nice Post!

[algorhymer]

Learning the strange word 'syntax' and doing it for decades provides a good starting point, for learning the strange word 'semantics', it is a tad bit harder topic, still interesting though. Not many people try it, since it does not have that 'x' that makes 'syntax' so marketable.