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To be a successful programmer, you’ll need to code quickly and efficiently to meet tight development project deadlines. This means being productive and taking advantage of shortcuts whenever possible.

If you’re struggling to meet deadlines or churning out low-quality code, then it’s time for you to start learning how to write code faster.

In this blog post, I’ll discuss the top 21 tips on how to code faster for all programming languages!

So let’s get started!

Tip #1 – Use a Code Editor with Auto-Complete Features

If you’re still using a basic text editor like Notepad++ or Sublime Text, then it’s time for you to upgrade to a full-fledged code editor for computer programming.

A code editor with auto-complete features will help you code faster by automatically completing code for you.

Some of the best code editors with auto-complete features for many programming languages include Microsoft Visual Studio, JetBrains WebStorm, and Adobe Dreamweaver.

Tip #2 – Learn the Most Common Shortcuts in Your Code Editor

In addition to using a code editor with auto-complete features, you should also learn the most common shortcuts in your code editor.

This will help you navigate your code editor faster and avoid having to take your hands off the keyboard to use the mouse.

For example, in Microsoft Visual Studio, some of the most common shortcuts include Ctrl + C (copy), Ctrl + V (paste), and Ctrl + S (save).

Tip #3 – Use an AI Coding Assistant

If you want to take your productivity to the next level, then you should consider using an AI coding assistant to aid in writing code.

A good AI coding assistant can help you write code faster by providing real-time feedback and suggestions as you type.

One of the best AI coding assistants on the market is Kite. Kite integrates with popular code editors like Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text.

These AI coding assistants can provide you with real-time feedback and suggestions as you type without compromising on code quality.

Moreover, many of these AI coding assistants are likely to be available for your favorite programming language.

Tip #4 – Invest in a Good Quality Keyboard

If you want to code faster, then you’ll need to have a good-quality keyboard that is comfortable to type on. A keyboard with mechanical keys will help you type faster and avoid errors.

Besides improving your typing speed, a good keyboard that you enjoy using can really help in motivating you to code more. This would also boost your overall coding speed.

Some of the best keyboards for coding include the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, the Kinesis Advantage, and the Das Keyboard Model S Professional.

Another factor you might want to consider is whether the mouse of your choice is wired or wireless. This can heavily affect productivity too. Wired keyboards tend to be faster than wireless keyboards, but this may differ according to their wireless technology.

Ultimately, you should choose one that you feel comfortable with!

Tip #5 – Use an External Monitor

An external monitor will help you see your code more clearly and avoid eye strain.

This is especially important if you’re working on a laptop with a small screen! Many junior developers make this common mistake of only using their laptop screens for coding.

With a bigger screen, you’ll be able to view more code lines without having to scroll too much, thus increasing your coding speed.

Some of the best external monitors for coding include the Dell Ultrasharp U2715H 27-Inch Screen LED Monitor, the LG 34UM95-P 34-Inch Screen LED Monitor, and the ASUS PB278Q 27-Inch WQHD LED-Lit Monitor.

Tip #6 – Take Breaks Regularly

It’s important to take breaks regularly when you’re coding so that you can stay focused and avoid burnout. I recommend taking a five-minute break for every hour of coding.

During your break, you can get up and stretch, grab a snack, or take a walk.

Tip #7 – Set Aside Time for Interruptions

There will always be interruptions when you’re coding, whether it’s a phone call from a client or a co-worker stopping by your desk. To avoid letting these interruptions impact your productivity, set aside time for them.

For example, you can schedule 15 minutes at the start of each day to return phone calls and answer emails.

Tip #8 – Listen to Music While You Code

Listening to music while you code can help you stay focused and block out distractions. I recommend listening to instrumental music without lyrics so that you can still hear your thoughts.

Some of my favorite coding playlist include classical music, jazz, and ambient music.

Tip #9 – Join a Coding Community

Joining a coding community is a great way to learn from other programmers and software engineers.

You can join an online forum or participate in offline meetups to share new features of IDEs or libraries.

A programmer’s proficiency is highly dependent on community support. Learning to make use of online coding communities can improve your coding speed in the long term!

Some of the best coding communities include Stack Overflow, GitHub, and CodePen.

Tip #10 – Use a Task Manager

A task manager will help you keep track of the tasks you need to complete and avoid getting overwhelmed. I recommend using a tool like Trello or Asana to manage your tasks.

You can try setting aside tasks for each coding project you receive.

Tip #11 – Set Deadlines for Yourself

If you’re having trouble staying motivated, then set deadlines for yourself. Having a deadline will help you stay focused and avoid procrastinating.

Tip #12 – Use a Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management technique that can be used to improve your productivity. It involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a five-minute break.

With a set timing to complete a certain amount of work, you’ll tend to have a faster typing speed or try to implement the same result using less code.

I recommend using a Pomodoro timer like Tomighty to help you stay on track.

Tip #13 – Hire a Coding Tutor

If you’re struggling to improve your coding skills, then consider hiring a tutor. There are many other developers out there who are great at writing code, so do make use of them to get a tutor!

A tutor can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can focus on the areas where you need the most help. You can find tutors online or in your local community.

Especially in software engineering where it can get lonely just coding alone, having a fresh set of eyes can help in spotting common mistakes.

Tip #14 – Read Coding Books

Reading coding books is a great way to learn new programming concepts and improve your coding skills.

This can be especially useful when learning a new programming language or when clarifying advanced concepts.

If you’re a self-taught coder like me, you’re more prone to writing bad code, which may result in more time wasted in debugging later on.

Having some solid foundations from reading coding books can help with this!

Another great aspect of taking in formal knowledge from coding books is that you’ll need to write less code but with the same quality and outcome!

Tip #15 – Use a Cloud IDE

A cloud-based IDE (integrated development environment) will allow you to code from anywhere and access your project files from any device.

Having the ability to access your files from any location will give you the added advantage of not having to waste time accessing files and locating your scripts.

Some of the best cloud IDEs include Cloud nine, Codeanywhere, and Koding.

Tip #16 – Practice Common Coding Questions

Practicing common coding questions is not only a great way to prepare for technical interviews, but it also helps you get used to common problems faced when programming.

These questions will help also you improve your problem-solving skills and gain experience. You can find practice questions online or in coding books.

My personal favorite is Stratascratch, where you’ll get to practice common coding questions from big tech companies for free!

With more confidence in your coding skills, you’ll naturally improve your coding speed.

Tip #17 – Memorize Common Boilerplate Code

Boilerplate code is the same code that you write over and over again. Programmers spend hours and hours of work just to use them across many similar functions.

Due to the time-consuming nature of writing boilerplate code, memorizing this type of code will save you lots of time in the long run.

Rather than only just coding fast, it would be so much better to have to paste code directly that works!

Some examples of boilerplate code include import statements, class definitions, and function signatures.

Tip #18 – Use a Code Formatter

A code formatter is a tool that will format your code so that it adheres to a specific style guide. This is important because it can help you avoid errors and make your code more readable.

Some of the best code formatters include Google Clang Format and Prettier.

Tip #19 – Write Unit Tests

Unit tests are tests that check the functionality of a specific component in your code.

Writing unit tests can help you catch errors early on while writing code and save you time in the long run.

Some of the best unit testing frameworks include JUnit and Google Test.

Tip #20 – Use Code Snippets

Code snippets are pieces of code that you can reuse in your projects. Using code snippets can save you time and help you avoid making mistakes. I recommend using a tool like Snippets to manage your code snippets.

Tip #21 – Use a Code Linter

A code linter is a tool that will analyze your code for potential errors as you write code. This is important because it can help you identify and fix errors before they cause problems.

Some of the best code linters include JSLint, ESLint, and StandardJS.

Conclusion

Improving your productivity as a programmer is essential to your success.

These are just some of the productivity tips that you can use to code faster. I hope these tips will help you code faster and improve your workflow.

Implement these tips into your workflow and see how they help you save time and improve your productivity.

Thanks for reading! I hope this article was helpful.

Happy coding!

My Favorite Learning Resources:

Here are some of the learning resources I’ve personally found to be useful as a data analyst and I hope you find them useful too!

These may contain affiliate links and I earn a commission from them if you use them.

However, I’d honestly recommend them to my juniors, friends, or even my family!

My Recommended Learning Platforms!

Learning PlatformWhat’s Good About the Platform?
1CourseraCertificates are offered by popular learning institutes and companies like Google & IBM
2DataCampComes with an integrated coding platform, great for beginners!
3PluralsightStrong focus on data skills, taught by industry experts
4StratascratchLearn faster by doing real interview coding practices for data science
5UdacityHigh-quality, comprehensive courses

My Recommended Online Courses + Books!

TopicOnline CoursesBooks
1Data AnalyticsGoogle Data Analytics Professional Certificate
2Data ScienceIBM Data Science Professional Certificate
3ExcelExcel Skills for Business Specialization
4PythonPython for Everybody SpecializationPython for Data Analysis
5SQLIntroduction to SQLSQL: The Ultimate Beginners Guide: Learn SQL Today
6TableauData Visualization with TableauPractical Tableau
7Power BIGetting Started with Power BI DesktopBeginning Microsoft Power BI
8R ProgrammingData Science: Foundations using R SpecializationLearning R
9Data VisualizationBig Book of Dashboards

To see all of my most up-to-date recommendations, check out this resource I’ve put together for you here.

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