Writing Better Programs: More Than Just “Making It Work” When I first started coding, my mindset was simple: if the program runs, I’m done. But after getting into data structures and algorithm design, I’ve realized that how a program works matters just as much as if it works. That’s where algorithmic design and data structures come in—they help you build programs that are not just correct, but efficient and well-structured. 🔹 Thinking Like a Programmer (Before You Code) One of the biggest changes I’ve made is slowing down before I start typing code. Instead of jumping straight into Java, I try to break the problem down into steps first. This is algorithmic design. For example, I’ll: Figure out what the program needs to do Write out the steps (kind of like pseudocode) Then translate that into actual code Doing this helps me avoid confusion and keeps my program organized from the start. 🔹 Are Some Algorithms and Data Structures Better? Yes—but not in a one-si...