Any developer has probably felt overwhelmed during the problem-solving process at least once. There are various reasons for this: a lack of technical skills, insufficient domain knowledge, and communication issues are some of the main causes. Today, I want to talk about the difficulties developers face during the problem-solving process.
Developers are constantly encountering new problems and must work to resolve them. In this process, we may sometimes feel confused or frustrated. However, these challenges can also serve as important stepping stones for our growth. So, what are the common difficulties developers face during problem-solving, and how can they overcome them?
1. When the Problem Itself is Highly Complex
There are times when we look at the problem requirements and feel overwhelmed by their complexity. You might think, “How am I going to implement this?” This is a common scenario where high-level abstraction is required to tackle a complex problem.
Abstraction helps to simplify and clarify the problem. For instance, consider a subway map. A map based on real geography is closest to reality but contains so much information that it’s not practical. On the other hand, a simplified map helps you easily find your route from start to destination.
However, abstraction has its limits. Over-abstraction can obscure the essence of the problem. Donald Norman, a cognitive science professor, called this the “Law of Conservation of Complexity.” In the end, we must abstract without losing sight of the problem’s core.
Solution
To solve a highly complex problem, it’s important to break it down into smaller, manageable units. Tackling each small problem individually and progressively solving the overall issue is key. Writing test cases and using TDD (Test-Driven Development) can be helpful in this process.
2. When Lacking Background Knowledge Necessary for Problem-Solving
Even if the problem’s complexity isn’t high, lacking the necessary background knowledge can make it difficult to solve. This usually stems from a lack of domain knowledge. Without sufficient understanding of the business or technical domain, it’s challenging to grasp the problem correctly, leading to an inability to resolve it.
For example, business domains like finance, healthcare, or law have unfamiliar terms and concepts that we rarely encounter in everyday life. In the technical domain, we might feel lost when using new languages or frameworks.
Solution
Building domain knowledge is crucial. You can do this by learning from books, blogs, YouTube, or online courses. If you have senior developers or colleagues who can assist, asking for their help is also a good approach.
3. When There Are Multiple Ways to Solve the Problem
When there are several ways to solve a problem, it becomes challenging to determine the best approach. For example, when starting a new project, you might struggle with choosing the right tech stack. With numerous languages, frameworks, and libraries available, each with its pros and cons, making a choice can be difficult.
Solution
In such situations, it’s important to establish criteria for comparison and prioritize those criteria. Factors such as ecosystem, community support, job market, and learning curve can be considered. You might also refer to external references or rely on the experience of senior developers to make your decision. Prototyping each option and comparing the results is also a good strategy.
In Conclusion
While developers face various difficulties in problem-solving, the essence can be boiled down to three major challenges: the complexity of the problem, lack of background knowledge, and difficulty in choosing between multiple solutions. To overcome these challenges, it’s essential to break problems down, build domain knowledge, and set criteria for decision-making.
By following this process, we can enhance our problem-solving skills and become better developers. So, confront the challenges in front of you and work through them! It will pave the way for your growth.