How to Read Complex Code

Explore the often-overlooked skill of reading complex code in this insightful conference talk by Felienne Hermans at GOTOpia Chicago 2021. Discover why developers spend nearly 60% of their time reading code and why this crucial skill is rarely taught or practiced. Delve into the cognitive processes involved in code comprehension, learn about different types of code confusion, and gain practical techniques for reading any piece of code more efficiently. From the importance of experimentation to the joy of finding mistakes, this presentation covers various aspects of coding education and skill development. Gain valuable insights into teaching programming to children, understanding learning processes, and developing theories for code reading. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting your coding journey, this talk offers valuable perspectives on improving your code reading abilities and overall programming skills.

Intro
How I got started
Coding for kids
The best part of programming is finding mistakes
Programmers only learn from making mistakes
You will fail often & it will be frustrating
Never be afraid to mess around & experiment
Break the rules
And most importantly: it's fun
When & how do you learn to code?
How do people learn?
We don't teach reading code
We don't practice reading code
We don't have theories for reading code
Different forms of confusion
More techniques from reading
Want to know more?
Summary
Outro