Should i write code in paper for better memorization ..??

Question

I read some programming related question in quora.com , some programmers and software developers says writing code on paper is better practice and some programmer says it's useless..

What you're think is writing code on paper helps us to better memorization of code..??

Answer 1

Hello, hope you're having a good day! I've been a web developer for more than 4 years now, along side with other more general purpose languages such ad python or C. The first code I ever tried to memorise was HTML's base structure, and it was very diffuclt even if the code was so small. So to answer your question the answer is no, that will only make things worse and here's why: Writing the code may let you memorise the code in the short term memory, but as long as the day goes by, you won't remember anything from it, cos you're basically telling your mind to not bother remembering it, it's already saved somewhere, but trying to memorise it, and understanding the code will make it easier to memorise it especially when you trouble yourself to lookup the source allover again because you didn't recall it and not just seek it up easily from a paper.

Answer 2

I don't memorize code, i try to understand why it was written the way it is. Memorising makes it 'static' loose the ability to improve it to be used for other purposes.

Answer 3

For your brain it makes no difference if what you want to learn is on paper or not.

What your brain needs in order to remember: Repetition (with a bit of variation) after increasing time intervals (after one day, after two days, four days, eight, sixteen ...)

If you write stuff down and never look at it again, then of course it's useless. If you repeat what you wrote with a proper plan, then it's not useless at all.

But actually it's two questions: Learning by paper and writing code on paper.

I think from time to time it can help to code on paper, because you can not test, you have no syntax highlighting, you can not easily erase crappy lines...

It teaches you to write carefully. Make it a challenge and correct the code so that when you finally run it, it works the first time without any errors.

Aside from that practice, it's probably impractical to write on paper - too slow, too inconvenient. Why not use the tools you have?

But as a practice session I think it may have some value.

Answer 4

When you understand code and then go on writing more code, you naturally get into a repetitive flow: you'll remember what you use.

On the other hand there's nothing wrong using the paper method to help you remember the stuff you don't use that frequently.

Answer 5

If you ask me, writing code on paper is a waste of time. I learned to program by solving problems. Using the same piece of code over and over again makes you memorize it e.g the prime number verification.
You should try every method and see which one suits you.
Farewell!

Answer 6

I think you shouldn't memorize your code,if you have basic skills,it'll be not so difficult to write code again

Answer 7

Okay, now I am not sure what was meant originally.

I interpreted the question as 'memorize elements of the programming language'.

If really memorization of the singular code you wrote was meant ... yeah, I wouldn't see a meaning in that.

But if possible you should read your codes again after a while to see that you still understand what you did there - while moving on writing lots of new code! ;-)

Answer 8

Yes that's was great in starting when I started to learn HTML tags I forgot all of them easily and after some time I make an separate note book and write them all

Answer 9

Look at strength point and you will do better.Is it memorization or write the code down?. It's your choice.

Answer 10

Try both. See if you notice it helps you recall things later. Everyones different.

Answer 11

in your way through learning how to code you may encounter some Peaple who recommend you to write your code on paper before entering it on your divise.
but I can ensure you that's a waste of time.
you can spend that much time you dedicate to that work on practicing and coding on your laptop and become more aware of your mistakes and better ways to write code rather than thinking for hours what's wrong with your code on the paper!

Answer 12

This might go off-topic slightly, but you should never try to memorize multiple lines of code. You can develop projects with that, but it really requires a lot from your memory which is something we want to avoid in our programs as well as our own brains. The comparison to programs memory allocation with this is actually really fitting ;)

If you want to write down code, that's okay. But not for the purpose of memorizing the code itself, but its' substance. When you write down code, write also what every single lines or actions does, so you actually learn from it.

EDIT: Just noticed this is an old topic, but now it's awaken again I quess :P