I just started to learn programming past couple days. I have completed 56 levels in the forest. Yet, now I feel like I am just getting stuff thrown at me that I have not used before. I sit here and struggle to solve a single level. One level took me 2 days to solve and I woke up at 3 A.M. just to realize. I was over thinking it. I seem to be struggling with functions and how they work. Trying to do the level buddys name but it keeps giving me errors. Is this struggle normal? Should I keep getting stuck in multiple levels. I currently can’t even progress anymore. So, I started to redo past levels in hopes I will figure out a problem in a newer level.
I got confused several times in the forest/desert. When you are first starting out with coding, then you will certainly get confused. And that is okay, because then you will learn
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That is what I am hoping on that I learn and it magically makes sense. Currently stuck on agrippa defense A. Code is slightly broken I guess. It starts out fine. Then the character freezes up. The else statement is being ignored. The code only wants to act on the If statement. So, I am trying to figure why it keeps locking up.
Well, you can always write a level-help topic on the Discourse and people will be happy to help you!
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I did that on an earlier level after being stuck on it for 2 days. Then solved it myself 8 hours later 3 A.M. in the morning. It is a last resort.
It can be quite the journey until debugging code in new concepts becomes easy, and halfway through the forest is definitely one of the inflection points in difficulty. Taking a break, asking for help on the forum, trying it a different way, and other debugging strategies can all be helpful. You can also try a free 1:1 live CodeCombat class with a teacher, open to all, to help get unstuck or to learn some more general debugging tactics.
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I struggled on the forest and barely made it to the desert where I am really having a hard time. (But I’m not very good at coding so it makes sense) thankfully though, I have a brother who is good at coding and he sometimes helps me.
you know, @johny_johny. I think coding is something everyone is constantly getting stuck with. even the pros. I say just stick with it, and you will eventually get it. And then comes the next level. And you work on it for 3 days. and then you get it. And then comes the next level…
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I was curious about if I am just bad or not at coding. Yet, it seems to early to tell. The forest is definitely a different beast. Dungeon was repetitive but it slowly stripped away code forcing you to add what is missing. I was kind of expecting that with the forest. The forest portion clearly plays by different rules. Forcing you to think and solve yourself problems yourself more often. Sometimes forcing you to give and ask for help or sometimes just outright the answer.
@nick I didn’t know 1:1 class was a thing. I will have to look into it. Sometimes my code is missing something, sometimes it is just the wrong order, maybe using wrong word, or just not capitalized right.
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Very well said, @johny_johny.
It’s sometimes just the matter of taking periodic breaks when doing levels. It’s important to take frequent breaks so your brain doesn’t fry to the amount of work you’ve put in. It also helps to potentially figure out the issue within your code. Time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique will definitely help 
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Yes, I learned this the hard way. Very well aware now but I neglect that fact because I get so engrossed into it.
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I was once stuck on Lost Viking for a few hours. I decided to take a run outside and the solution just popped up on my head during the run. Refreshing your mind is definitely key to debugging.
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Yeah, If this is what I try to do. Play two levels max every hour. If I don’t understand even the slightest what it wants me to do. Leave comeback. If I understand enough that I can try to complete level. Then I give myself a half hour tops. After that come back after the hour past. If I waste the whole hour trying to solve a level. I walk away for an hour.
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Don’t worry I get confused all the time and I’ve been trying to learn for a LONG time. Don’t beat yourself up just keep going and eventually it’ll come to you and if not just look through the notes on the level
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Are you talking about the hints? The hints sometimes confuse me more because they seem out of place or more complicated than what the level wants. Granted though sometimes they are very helpful. Which I am always thankful for.
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Haha the hints can be confusing as hell sometimes but the list of commands and hiw to use them on the side of the console can help
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