What if I told you I can show you a framework that can solve just about any problem that you might encounter? Does that even sound possible? What if it is? What do you think it would look like? Could you guess how this framework might look or be? How can we test the framework to see if we have achieved success?
If you noticed from the above sentence, I’m clearly applying such a framework to find the framework. Here it is the Scientific Method, which has taken us across the ocean, across different medical breakthroughs, across multiple species, into outer space, and so much more.
- Ask a question
- State your assumptions
- Conduct the experiment
- Analyze results
- Make a conclusion
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The Scientific Method will be necessary throughout your career as a programmer. It will help you in ways you never thought possible. For example, it can help you increase the speed of your program, eliminate errors, solve problems, avoid security failures, and most importantly, avoid looking at your text editor with a blank stare.
Throughout the series we will be using this method to solve all types of problems. But first, let’s take a closer look at each of the steps.
1. Ask a question
The question that you decide to ask will determine the entire process. Make sure that you take the time to clearly state the question, and avoid answering multiple questions at the same time. Focus on just one question then move on to the next one.
2. State your assumptions
Now that you have clearly stated your question, come up with some assumptions. What do you think will happen? Why would that happen? More than likely you will come up with multiple assumptions. Some of them might be wrong, but eventually you will find the right answer. Here is where you are encouraged to use your creativity. Now that you have all your assumptions, it’s time to predict what will happen in your experiment. Write this down, it’s important for the next step.
3. Conduct the experiment
What do you expect to happen? Actually sit down and conduct the experiment. This would include writing code, editing existing code, or going back to step one for more information.
4. Analyze results
Having implemented the experiment it’s time to reflect on the reasons why it was a success or a complete failure. Your interpreter Node.js will either throw an error or report the results back to you. Take the time and understand why you got the results that you did. Was it what you’re expecting? What assumption failed? Will you need to create another experiment?
5. Make a conclusion
Now that you have analyzed the results from your experiment, you are ready to make a conclusion about the results. Will you need to recreate the experiment again? What went wrong? What can you definitely say is true? Depending on how many times you have gone through the above steps, this will become second nature to you when programming.
Using the Scientific Method will advance you leaps and bounds beyond the common programmer. You will never have to copy and paste another line of code from the internet again. You can say goodbye to trying to make a program work, and say “hello” to a working program every single time.
I always had a passion for the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and I knew I wanted to do something to make a difference in the world. I just didn’t know where to start. I was an immigrant in a new country, grew up in a tough environment, and wasn’t sure how… Read More
