I’ve been doing a lot of reading about “type-in programs”.

There are a lot of old-timer programmers recounting their enjoyment of typing in programs from magazines and books in the 1980s and 1990s.

Some highlights I enjoyed reading:

Great stuff.

Generally, it seems if you type in code listings slowly and manually (not copy-paste programming), you can’t help but learn something useful.

For example:

  • The listings are often more challenging/complex than an exercise one would write themselves (being pushed)
  • You have to read and transcribe (forced to read)
  • You look up syntax or functions or API calls in understand what they are doing (follow curiosity).
  • You have to debug/fix the code because you almost always make errors (more careful reading)
  • You use a text editor instead of an IDE (every character is typed, no auto-complete)
  • You modify the example to do new/different things (forced to understand the example more deeply)
  • You re-type the whole example from scratch because it still doesn’t work (forced careful re-read)

It’s “the hard way”, and that’s why it is effective.

Some benefits from gpt4o:

  • Muscle Memory & Syntax Familiarity – Reinforces correct syntax and structure by physically typing out code, making it easier to recall later.
  • Attention to Detail – Helps develop a keen eye for syntax errors, missing semicolons, or incorrect indentation, improving debugging skills.
  • Understanding Code Flow – By manually entering code, you actively follow the logic, making it easier to grasp how different parts interact.
  • Debugging Practice – Typing code often results in mistakes, providing a valuable opportunity to debug and understand how errors occur.
  • Exposure to Real-World Code – Allows you to see how experienced programmers structure and write functional programs, exposing you to best practices.
  • Pattern Recognition & Problem Solving – Repeating common structures (loops, conditionals, functions) helps recognize patterns and solutions faster in new coding challenges.
  • Building Patience & Persistence – Encourages discipline and problem-solving when debugging or modifying code to get it working.
  • Creativity & Experimentation – Once you’ve typed in the original code, you can tweak and modify it to test new ideas and reinforce learning.
  • Retaining Concepts Better – Compared to passive reading, actively typing out code strengthens memory retention of programming concepts.
  • Historical Insight & Appreciation – Especially with older books or magazines, typing in classic programs offers a sense of programming history and evolution over time.

Great!

I don’t think this is appreciated fully by newer youtube and stackoverflow “programmers”.