How to improve your coding skills using ChatGPT

Published at: Feb. 1, 2023

As a language model, ChatGPT is primarily used for natural language processing tasks such as text generation and language understanding. While it can be used to generate code samples, it’s not designed to help improve coding skills. However, here are a few ways ChatGPT can be used to help improve coding skills.

Practice explaining coding concepts

Use ChatGPT to explain coding concepts and algorithms to help solidify one’s understanding of them. This can also help users identify areas where they may need to study further.

For instance, when using ChatGPT to practice explaining coding concepts, one can input a prompt that describes a specific coding concept or algorithm, such as “Explain how a hash table works” or “How does the quicksort algorithm work?”

ChatGPT will then generate a response that explains the concept in a clear and concise manner, using natural language. This can help users understand the concept better by hearing it explained in different ways and also help them identify areas where they may need to do further study.

ChatGPT can explain a JavaScript code in plain English. It “understood” the code was computing the pixel differences between a previous and next frame. Really good to start blog posts from code snippets! This function is used in @screenrunapp to detect mouse positions in a video pic.twitter.com/a44r7z5Qoy

— Laurent Denoue (@ldenoue) January 28, 2023

One can also use this approach to practice explaining coding concepts to others, which can be an important skill for technical communication and teaching. By reviewing the output generated by ChatGPT, users can identify areas where they might need to improve their explanations and practice different ways to present the information.

Generate code snippets

ChatGPT can be used to generate code snippets based on certain inputs. This can be useful as a starting point for one’s coding projects or to help understand how a certain function or algorithm works.

To use ChatGPT for this purpose, users can input a prompt that describes the code snippet they want to generate, such as “generate a Python function to reverse a string” or “generate JavaScript code for a simple calculator.”

ChatGPT will then generate a code snippet based on the input prompt, and the output will be coherent and functional code that one can use as a reference or starting point for their project. However, keep in mind that the code generated by ChatGPT may require some modifications and debugging to fit one’s specific use case or project requirements. Additionally, users should always review and test the code before using it in a production environment.

Research and learning

ChatGPT can be used for coding research and learning by inputting prompts that ask for information on a specific technology or programming language. For example, one can input a prompt like “What are the key features of Python 3.0?” or “What are the best practices for writing efficient JavaScript code?”

ChatGPT will then generate a response that summarizes the key concepts and information users need to know about the topic, which they can use as a starting point for their research and learning. Additionally, they can use the generated output as a reference, while they are learning the new technology or language.

Nonetheless, while ChatGPT can provide a good starting point, it’s not a substitute for hands-on practice and in-depth learning. It’s essential to supplement the information provided by ChatGPT with additional resources and practice.

Practice coding challenges

By entering prompts that outline a challenge or problem that users desire to tackle, ChatGPT can be used to practice coding problems. For example, one can input a prompt like “Write a function that finds the second largest element in an array” or “Create a script that takes a string and returns the number of vowels in it.” ChatGPT will then generate a response that includes a code snippet that solves the problem or challenge.

One can then use the generated code as a reference and try to implement the solution on their own, comparing their code with the generated one. This can help users practice their coding skills and improve their understanding of specific concepts or algorithms. Additionally, users can modify the generated code to fit their specific needs or to add more complexity to the problem.

" 5 Days Challenge Achieved! I learned #Angular and built a simple #ecommerce app with it. Big shoutout to #ChatGPT and @maxedapps for providing concise explanations and guidance! Check out my demo here: https://t.co/BaQ1kEOyst #coding #webdevelopment #success "

— Mayowa.js (@dami0la) January 30, 2023

It is critical to note that while ChatGPT can generate functional code, it’s not a substitute for hands-on practice and learning. Reviewing the generated code and trying to implement the solution on their own will help users solidify their understanding of the concepts and algorithms used. Additionally, users should always test and debug the code before using it in a production environment.

Collaborate with other developers

ChatGPT can be used to collaborate with other developers by inputting prompts that describe a specific coding problem or challenge and then sharing the generated response with other developers for review and feedback. For example, one can input a prompt like “I am having trouble with this function; can you help me optimize it?” along with the code snippet and share it with other developers. They can then use the generated response to provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve the code.

ChatGPT can also be used to generate detailed explanations of the code, which can be helpful when working on a team or trying to understand the code written by others. Additionally, ChatGPT can be used to generate comments and documentation for the code, which can make it easier for other developers to understand and maintain the codebase.