For how long would I have to be NOT coding to forget how to code?

Question

With school now, I barely make codes. Usually only on the weekends is when I make a code (during school).
I feel like I'm not coding / practicing enough to keep my coding journey going.
So I was just wondering if I would forget how to code, if I stop coding for a while.?

Answer 1

I’m sure everyone is different, but for me, it’s hard to forget how to code, it’s the syntax that starts to get fuzzy after a while, but that comes back fairly quickly when jumping back into it

Answer 2

I'm not sure, because different people have different capability of remembering things. As for me, I didn't code for six months once, and then I found out I've forgotten how to print a text 😂😂
I can tell this, when we don't use any knowledge of our brain, it starts to fade, and practicing is the best way to keep your mind active. Although you'll manage to remember what you've forgotten in a very little effort, it's better not to forget them at all. So never stop practicing ✌🏼
Happy Coding 🙂

Answer 3

You may forgot some of the things you have learned, but after some time reading or practicing stuff, you will remember what you learned.

Answer 4

For every language element it depends on how well you have ingrained it in your long-term memory.

If you systematically do it, it looks about like this:

https://code.sololearn.com/cBsq5rYsIB1A/?ref=app

So it depends, really. If you have spent a lot of time coding, maybe for a year or more, then stop, you'll probably be a bit rusty, but reentry will be quick and easy.

If on the other hand you had little exposure and didn't spend a lot of time with it and then look at it again after a long break, you may have forgotten it so well you think you never saw it before.

The trick is not to let this happen. Control your repetitions, be steady, always write code, and for a long time, then it will carve sufficiently deep tracks into your brain.

If I had to define a minimum of exposure, I would say, if you do some real work on the weekends, you should at least do another study session around midweek. Otherwise the distance might be too large.

Answer 5

Ask your brain, that is individually different between you and us. but actually you can't forget the things that you have learned once. you would memorize as soon as you read it back or code it back. syntax are easier to memorize and even our fingers remember it sometime.

Answer 6

If you leave it for a long time, it will leave you

Answer 7

depends on your memmory

Answer 8

Yes you forget. everyone forgets not only coding .. everything even eating food or making food or playing a game .. but when you start again you understand faster than the first time you learned that thing and you get the old information back after a while without going over every single old thing ☺

Answer 9

well personally i left programming for about 3yrs due to some personal issues.
At first i was scared, i thought i would be starting afresh but now i start recalling many things i thought i forget.

So when you leave coding it will leave you, but once you start coding again it will require sacrifice and time to catch up again.
Coz ICT is ever evolving

#HappyCoding

Answer 10

Its natural to forget things that arent used by the brain, this happens to everyone. Its about creating synapses, you have to study or practice code to keep remebering until its synapses are formed. I lack of details to give, its a Very interesting aspect to read about. Search for articles on Google that have this subject, its Very interesting because it talks how can we create memory and try to not forget about Important things. Its not just about coding, its about exercise your brain 👍

Answer 11

it's kind a like bicycle ride you never really forget. I still remember a lot of the code I wrote in lisp , but playing on SoloLearn helps you get a good refresher to coding

Answer 12

That would be different for each person but I guess you never completely forget like riding a bike.

Answer 13

It really depends on your level of understanding and mastery. If you totally understand how things work and get together,you will not forget it in a short period of time. If not,you will gradually forget which function is for what or even the framework. It is normal to forget things so my recommendation is to make projects that contain different methods and functions. For one,you understand better. For another,you can refer to them if it has been a while since you stopped coding.

Answer 14

You may lost the knowledge of coding but when task is needed to be carried on coding, by default, 77% of what you can code or what to code will be retrieve, while the remain 23% lost, will be for the while you didn't code
Nonetheless, it depends also on individuals memory strength

Answer 15

Actually, this question seems like asking if someone staying off his/her native language for some time will forget how to speak it. That's how long it will take. Now, it will only be shorter if the victim was into cramming of syntax and/or wasn't really passionate about it

Answer 16

Depends on the brain capacity I guess. Retentive ability of individual varies

Answer 17

You should not stop coding be in touch with it

Answer 18

It's Just like riding bike once you learn how to ride you cant forget it!

Answer 19

try study yourself well. after a few rounds of ON and OFF coding, you will come up with a rough estimate of how long. but basically it depends on how long also you had ingrained coding in you.
DON'T STOP CODING

Answer 20

Ok. Thanks guys. It was kinda concerning me, "I really don't want to forget" coding.
I think coding might be part of me, which i probably won't forget it i guess.