Hi there

Ever noticed how chatting with friends and coding might actually be two peas in a pod?

Yep, you read that right. The same tricks you can use to control computers can also make you a conversational wizard.

It's all about being clear, to the point, and ready to switch gears on the fly.

I’ve been busy teaching myself to computer program using Python.

No real reason why other than a love of learning and a desire to get involved in the open-source coding community one day.

I’m only at beginner level btw but really enjoying the process.

As a result of getting into programming, the following thoughts, and more, have been spinning around in my swede for a while now so I thought I’d share them with you this month.

Life works better with better communication so let's dive into how I see the worlds of code and casual banter as being more alike than you might think.

Thinking in Blocks: The Building Blocks of Chats and Codes

At the heart of coding is breaking down big problems into smaller bits that a computer (and a fledgling programmer) can digest.

Guess what? That's pretty much what we do when we're trying to explain something complicated to someone.

Instead of dumping a great big chunk of information on them, we try to break it down, making sure they get the gist of each bit before moving on.

It's all about keeping things tidy and easy to follow, whether you're dealing with a chunk of code or a chunky story.

Reusing Your Best Lines: Copy-Paste in Real Life

In coding, why write a new piece of code if you've got something that works? Just tweak it if necessary and use it again.

The same goes for your conversations and communications. Got a variety of ways of explaining things which just click with various people? Do you have styles of joke telling which always get a laugh, even with a wide variety of people in your audience?

Try recycling these things. What other reusable and versatile communicational elements might you already have? What other “routines” would be useful to you?

Technically they’re called patterns or, more technically, schema. We all have and use them and with practice it's like having your own personal communications toolkit that you know will cover all the bases for you.

Keeping Up with the Times: Learn, Adapt, Repeat

Just like how there's always a new programming language or update around the corner, the way we talk and the words we use are always changing.

Staying on top of the latest slang or trends keeps you in the loop and makes chatting a breeze.

Being adaptable and ready to learn is key, whether you're coding or conversing.

Debugging Your Dialogues: The Art of Fine-Tuning

Ever written a piece of code, or anything for that matter, which just doesn't work, and you've got to figure out why?

It's not too different from telling a joke that flops or having someone show an unexpected reaction to your words.

You've got to “read the room”, then reflect and see where things went wrong, and maybe tweak your delivery for next time.

It's all about that feedback loop – tweak, try again, and improve.

Bottom Line

So, there you have it.

These are just some of the many thoughts which spin round my brain at great velocity.

Whether you're a code jockey (newbie or seasoned pro) or just love a good natter, applying some of the general principles of coding can totally up your chat game.

It's all about being clear, keeping things interesting, and being ready to shift gears when needed.

So next time you're stuck on a bug or trying to keep a conversation lively, remember that it's all potentially just different sides of the same coin.

Hopefully that's offered you some food for thought.

Have a good one and I'll see you next month.

​BTW If you want to learn to code and don't know where to start then I can highly recommend ​FreeCodeCamp​ because it's brilliant and it's free (also brilliant).

All the very best to you and yours

Andrew D Pope.