Programming Tricks Every Developer Should Know

Ever felt stuck on a simple bug for an hour? You’re not alone. The good news? A handful of tried‑and‑true tricks can shave minutes—or even hours—off your workflow. Below are the most useful shortcuts you can start using right now.

Speed Up Your Coding with Smart Shortcuts

First, master your editor’s built‑in shortcuts. Press Ctrl+Space (or Cmd+Space on Mac) to trigger autocomplete; it saves typing and reduces typos. Next, use multi‑cursor editing (usually Alt+Click) to change several lines at once. You’ll wonder how you ever edited one line at a time.

Second, set up snippets for repetitive code blocks. Most IDEs let you define a short trigger—type "fori" and hit Tab to expand into a full for loop. Once you have a library of snippets, you’ll write less boilerplate and focus on logic.

Debugging Hacks That Actually Work

When a bug appears, avoid the classic “print‑everything” approach. Instead, insert a single console.log (or print) right before the suspect line and check the output. If the value looks off, you’ve narrowed the problem to a few lines.

Another life‑saver is the “binary search” method for bugs. Comment out half of your code, run it, and see if the error persists. Keep halving until you isolate the faulty section. It feels like a puzzle, but it’s far quicker than scrolling line by line.

Don’t forget to use the debugger tool built into your environment. Set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables in real time. It costs a few seconds to open the debugger, but it can save you an hour of guessing.

Lastly, keep a “cheat sheet” of common error messages. Search for the exact wording; chances are someone has already posted a fix. Over time, you’ll recognize patterns and troubleshoot faster.

These tricks don’t require extra software or a steep learning curve—just a bit of habit. Try one new shortcut each week, and you’ll notice a steady boost in speed and confidence. Happy coding!