My Favorite Way to Keep Programming When I‘m Traveling or Don‘t Have Internet

As a full-stack developer, I often find myself in situations where I need to continue honing my programming skills, even when I‘m on the go or without a stable internet connection. While books can be valuable resources, they have their limitations when it comes to hands-on practice and problem-solving. In this article, I‘ll share my favorite approach to staying productive and sharpening my skills in such scenarios: reimplementing a popular library.

The Challenges of Programming Offline

When you‘re traveling or in an area with limited internet access, it can be frustrating to rely on online resources like documentation, forums, and coding challenge websites. Books, while portable, can only take you so far in terms of practical application and problem-solving. As programmers, we thrive on challenges and the opportunity to apply our knowledge to real-world situations.

According to a survey by Stack Overflow, 87% of developers learn a new technology at least once a year, with 49% learning a new technology every few months (Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 2020). This highlights the importance of continuous learning and skill development in the rapidly evolving tech industry. However, when you‘re offline, accessing the latest resources and staying up-to-date becomes a significant challenge.

Frequency of Learning New Technology	Percentage of Developers
Every few months	49%
Once a year	38%
Every few years	13%

Source: Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 2020

The Power of Problem-Solving

One of the most effective ways to improve your programming skills is by solving problems. Whether you‘re working on a project at your job or tackling coding challenges for fun, the process of breaking down a problem and developing a solution helps you grow as a developer. However, when you‘re offline, accessing coding challenges or collaborating with others becomes difficult.

As a full-stack developer, I‘ve found that problem-solving is one of the most valuable skills to cultivate. It‘s not just about memorizing syntax or following tutorials; it‘s about developing the ability to think critically, break down complex problems into manageable parts, and create efficient solutions. This skill set is essential not only for day-to-day programming tasks but also for job interviews and career advancement.

In fact, a study by HackerRank found that problem-solving skills are the most important factor in hiring decisions for tech roles, with 94% of hiring managers prioritizing problem-solving abilities over programming language proficiency (HackerRank Developer Skills Report, 2019).

Reimplementing a Library: A Rewarding Challenge

To overcome the obstacle of coding offline and continue developing problem-solving skills, I discovered the value of reimplementing a popular library from scratch. By choosing a well-documented library with a wide range of functions, you can create your own set of coding challenges that will keep you engaged and learning, even without an internet connection.

My library of choice for this exercise is Lodash, a JavaScript utility library that offers a wealth of functions for working with arrays, objects, strings, and more. Here‘s why Lodash is an excellent candidate for reimplementation:

1. Comprehensive documentation: Lodash provides a single HTML page with detailed documentation for each function, making it easy to download and reference offline.
2. Modular structure: Each Lodash function is implemented in its own file, allowing you to focus on one function at a time without getting overwhelmed.
3. No external dependencies: Lodash doesn‘t rely on any external modules, keeping the codebase simple and self-contained.
4. Opportunities for learning: Reimplementing Lodash functions exposes you to various JavaScript concepts and techniques, helping you deepen your understanding of the language.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Reimplementation

To get started with reimplementing a Lodash function, follow these steps:

1. Choose a function from the Lodash documentation that you find interesting or challenging.
2. Create a new file for your implementation and stub out the function with its parameters and expected return value.
3. Write a set of test cases that cover different scenarios and edge cases for the function.
4. Implement the function, aiming to make all the test cases pass.
5. Compare your implementation with Lodash‘s source code to see if there are any areas for improvement or alternative approaches.

Here‘s an example of how you might implement the Lodash _.chunk function, which splits an array into smaller arrays of a specified size:

function chunk(array, size = 1) {
  if (!Array.isArray(array)) {
    throw new TypeError(‘First argument must be an array‘);
  }

  if (typeof size !== ‘number‘ || size < 1) {
    throw new TypeError(‘Second argument must be a positive integer‘);
  }

  const result = [];
  let index = 0;

  while (index < array.length) {
    result.push(array.slice(index, index + size));
    index += size;
  }

  return result;
}

And here are some test cases to verify the implementation:

const assert = require(‘assert‘);

describe(‘chunk‘, () => {
  it(‘should split an array into chunks of the specified size‘, () => {
    assert.deepStrictEqual(chunk([‘a‘, ‘b‘, ‘c‘, ‘d‘], 2), [[‘a‘, ‘b‘], [‘c‘, ‘d‘]]);
    assert.deepStrictEqual(chunk([1, 2, 3, 4, 5], 3), [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5]]);
  });

  it(‘should handle edge cases and invalid input‘, () => {
    assert.deepStrictEqual(chunk([], 2), []);
    assert.deepStrictEqual(chunk([1, 2, 3], 5), [[1, 2, 3]]);
    assert.throws(() => chunk(null), TypeError);
    assert.throws(() => chunk([1, 2, 3], 0), TypeError);
  });
});

By working through the Lodash library function by function, you‘ll not only create a valuable resource for your own projects but also gain a deeper understanding of JavaScript and problem-solving techniques.

Mastering Your Tools

As you embark on this reimplementation journey, take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the intricacies of your chosen programming language. In the case of JavaScript, pay attention to newer features like destructuring, arrow functions, and built-in methods like Array.prototype.reduce and Object.entries. Incorporating these features into your implementations will help you write more concise and expressive code.

For example, let‘s consider the Lodash _.pick function, which creates an object composed of the picked properties from the input object:

function pick(object, paths) {
  if (typeof object !== ‘object‘ || object === null) {
    return {};
  }

  const result = {};

  for (const path of paths) {
    if (path in object) {
      result[path] = object[path];
    }
  }

  return result;
}

While this implementation works, we can make it more concise and expressive using object destructuring and the Object.entries method:

function pick(object, paths) {
  if (typeof object !== ‘object‘ || object === null) {
    return {};
  }

  return Object.entries(object)
    .filter(([key]) => paths.includes(key))
    .reduce((result, [key, value]) => ({ ...result, [key]: value }), {});
}

Remember, the goal is not just to reimplement the library but to use it as a vehicle for learning and growth. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different approaches, even if they differ from the original library‘s implementation. The process of exploring alternative solutions will deepen your problem-solving skills and expand your programming toolkit.

The Benefits of Offline Coding Challenges

Reimplementing a library like Lodash is not only a great way to keep programming when you‘re offline, but it also offers several benefits for your overall skill development and career growth:

1. Interview preparation: Many tech job interviews involve solving coding challenges, often without access to online resources. By practicing offline coding challenges, you‘ll be better prepared to tackle these interviews with confidence.
2. Deliberate practice: Deliberate practice involves focusing on specific aspects of a skill and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Reimplementing library functions is a form of deliberate practice that can help you identify and address weaknesses in your programming skills.
3. Creativity and problem-solving: When you‘re working on a coding challenge offline, you don‘t have the luxury of searching for solutions online. This forces you to rely on your own problem-solving abilities and creativity, which are essential skills for any developer.
4. Portfolio building: The code you write while reimplementing a library can serve as a valuable addition to your programming portfolio. It demonstrates your ability to work independently, solve problems, and create clean, well-documented code.

Staying Motivated and Productive

Coding offline can be challenging, especially when you‘re used to having access to online resources and community support. Here are some tips for staying motivated and productive while working on offline coding challenges:

1. Set clear goals: Before starting your reimplementation project, set clear goals for what you want to achieve. Break the project down into smaller, manageable tasks and celebrate each milestone along the way.
2. Create a schedule: Establish a regular schedule for working on your offline coding challenges. Treat it like any other important task and dedicate focused time to it each day or week.
3. Find an accountability partner: Consider finding a fellow developer who is also interested in offline coding challenges. You can keep each other accountable, share progress, and offer support and feedback.
4. Take breaks: It‘s important to take regular breaks to avoid burnout and maintain productivity. Use techniques like the Pomodoro method to work in focused intervals and give your mind a rest between sessions.
5. Reflect and review: After completing each coding challenge, take time to reflect on what you learned, what you struggled with, and what you could improve. Keep a journal or blog to track your progress and insights.

Conclusion

Reimplementing a library like Lodash is a powerful way to keep programming when you‘re traveling or without internet access. By creating your own set of coding challenges and working through them systematically, you‘ll sharpen your skills, deepen your understanding of your chosen language, and build a valuable resource for future projects.

Moreover, the benefits of offline coding challenges extend beyond just keeping your skills sharp. They can help you prepare for job interviews, engage in deliberate practice, develop creativity and problem-solving abilities, and build your programming portfolio.

As a full-stack developer, I‘ve found that embracing offline coding challenges has been a game-changer for my personal and professional growth. It‘s helped me stay motivated, productive, and continuously learning, even when I don‘t have access to online resources.

So the next time you find yourself on a long flight or in a remote location without reliable internet, consider taking on the challenge of reimplementing a library. With the right mindset, strategies, and dedication, you‘ll be surprised at how much you can learn and accomplish, even without the usual online resources at your fingertips.

Happy coding, and happy travels!