Interview with Felienne Hermans • YOW! 2020

Programming is more like a natural language than mathematics - research shows language ability is a better predictor of programming success than math skills

Comments in code are beneficial and serve as “beacons” that help unlock understanding for readers

Code reading is as important as code writing - deliberate practice should include reading and analyzing existing code, not just writing new code

When people struggle with code, it’s often not due to lack of intelligence but rather insufficient practice or unfamiliarity with concepts

Cognitive limitations play a major role in code comprehension - working memory constraints can make complex code harder to process for novices

Deliberate practice should break down programming concepts into smaller, focused exercises (like flash cards for ternary operators)

Variable names, method names and comments are crucial “beacons” that guide readers through code understanding

Complex language constructs (like ternary operators) can be temporarily transformed into simpler forms to aid comprehension

Context and domain knowledge significantly impact code readability - familiar domains are easier to understand

Code reading clubs and guided questions can help develop better code comprehension skills through structured practice