# Problem-solving is the key skill if you want to become a programmer.

I am an aspiring Android developer. My path started in march 2020 during the first lockdown due to the pandemic in France. 

I started to (re)learn HTML5, CSS3 on [freecodecamp](www.freecodecamp.org). However, I knew I did not want to be a front-end developer.

I explored different career paths, and while doing it I kept learning front-end technologies. 

**However, I made one major mistake. I did not learn how to solve problems.**

### How I realized? 

%[https://twitter.com/devatTheCave/status/1431919378115833856?s=19]

Solving problems is a skill, we all use it every day without being aware of it most of the time. It can be influenced by many factors, like playing chess, football, or anything else that involves finding a solution. But if you want to be a programmer, you need to train it in order to be better. 
**You need to be able to break a problem to solve it by giving correct instructions to a stupid machine, a computer.** 
The language you know and how good you know the syntax of it does not matter if you reached the point where you can write a program. If you cannot resolve the problem, it is useless. 

### How to fix it?

If I could go back in time, I would add an hour or two to learn this skill. However, it is never too late to learn. It is a slow process, it takes time and it probably is a never ending learning path.

Personally, I learn it on [France IOI](www.france-ioi.org), it is free and currently available in English, French and Spanish. It also allows me to learn Java as well. 

However there are many other ressources you could use. 
It does not have to be boring, many are games. 

Do not hesitate to let me know in the comment section if you know a good resource to learn it.