As the site title implies, I’m a fanatic when it comes to coding. However, despite my love for programming, I find it difficult to find the time these days.

Yes I know there’s a difference. But the name has a ring to it.

Health insurance, cleaning up at home, SHAVING. Balancing life is tough. That’s why I am starting a new weekly project entitled Coding Hour.

Inspired by my neighbors over at CodeNewbieDC, Coding Hour is a time I set aside Monday nights to work on any programs I have. Anything at all. It’s a good way to move things from the back burner, to the front.

Often times we procrastinate with our hobbies and interests in favor of beating down our to do lists. But it’s important to treat yourself to the things you love!

Indeed, work is important. But all work and no play, something something, life wasted away.

This week I’m working on a project from the Introduction to Java Programming- Comprehensive, 10th Edition. It’s been a while since I worked on Java, so I wanted to ease back into the groove of things. I looked through the challenges at the end of chapter 1, and chose one of the tougher questions that I found most interesting. The problem was based on estimating population growth over the next five years based on given birth, mortality, and immigration rates.

Now, to some, this might be a fairly simple program to write if you used variables and a little arithmetic. However, I chose a different approach. I limited myself exclusively to content covered in the previous chapter. In order to get my skills back in order, I’m putting limits on myself that will force me to be creative like a new programmer.

An experienced programmer pretending to be a new programmer to become a better experienced programmer. Programception…

Sure, I already know how to solve this population problem with advanced techniques. But this isn’t about solving the problem. It’s about practicing my programming skills. What better way to do this than solving a problem with a limited number of resources?

It’s like playing your cousin’s save file in Borderlands. You’re way ahead and have way better weapons on YOUR save file. But to make any progress on his file, you’re going to have to adjust to his weapons, and his level, and use that to complete your missions.

Playing with a handicap will make you even better!

The Population Estimation problem did require some planning ahead of time and quite a bit of arithmetic. In the end, I completed the program and added it to my GitHub account.

The best way to start programming, is to start programming. Find a problem, and solve it. It’ll get your mind going and make the transition from tasks to coding that much smoother.

Peaceful in action, never in thought
CodingFanatic

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Check out my GitHub account here
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For the uninitiated, here is a clip from Borderlands
Link to featured image here