For programming, it requires skill or knowledge. Some of the parts need to accumulate from experience, some parts may need some education. But there have some kinds of stuff that are not related to your skill. Here is a list from my point of view.
- English typing
I think this is very basic and every programming. English is the main language in programming (at less >80%). During programming, it may take time for you to focus between keyboard and screen. Every little makes a mickle.
Time consumption is huge over time. There have several good websites that provide the tool for practice.
e.g.
The easiest way is to prepare a note and type A~ Z, keeping the accuracy first then speed.
2. Optimal your Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
I believed the IDE is a basic request for every programmer (~ 95 %). A good IDE can help you very much during your programming. There has another article that addresses different IDE tools below.
A good IDE that always provides a lot of keyboard short cut. Those shortcuts can help the programmer speed up during the programming. for instance, Copy/Paste, searching… The purpose of the keyboard shortcuts is to keep the hands-on keyboard. It will not need to move your hand between keyboard and mouse very frequently. Keeping time on your thinking. I am a Visual Studio user. I always can find some good features and shortcuts in every new version of Visual Studio. Those shortcuts are always my program speed. I strongly recommend it. Find a time to understand what features have in the IDE that you use and figure out its shortcuts. Practice it and become your habit.
3. Additional add on into your IDE
Sometimes, the IDE may not have every feature that you need. you may need other tools to help you. If those tools can integrate with your IDE, that will be great. Most IDE both have a feature calls “Extension”. It can help you plug in the additional tools with IDE. For instance, spell checker. it helps me to quickly check any typo that happens in my code.
I recommend one extension tool if you work with .NET language, “ReSharper”. This is not a free tool but it’s worth spending your money to own it.
I really like the feature “Navigate”, “Unit Test”, and “Refactor” in ReSharper. One other thing worth mentioning is "Code Inspection", specifically is “Custom Patterns”. The feature can help you create the “Patterns” on your own and inspect them when you doing programming. For instance, you have 2 if conditions but the same statement. You can create the logic and merge it together with the same statement, even using shortcuts to complete it. ReSharper even can export/import settings. This feature can consistent the coding style in your team.
Another extension I recommend is “VsVim”. This tool is using Vim text editor in Visual Studio. Vim is a text editor that is not easy to get started. But it can speed up the coding very much if you are used to it. The most important feature is “Custom shortcuts”. You can organize the shortcuts with your IDE even those shortcuts can trigger the Visual Studio and Resharper feature. You can optimal the feature even several features in one shortcut.
Speed up your programming always needs.
“Keeping the time for you thinking.”
Hope that information can help you to improve your work.
