In the world of programming, we often talk about complex algorithms, intricate code structures, and the elegance of a well-designed system. But let’s strip it all back to basics. What is programming at its core? It’s fundamentally about typing. We, as programmers, are essentially highly specialized typists, translating ideas into code by pressing keys in a very particular sequence. These sequences are then interpreted by compilers and turned into the machine language that powers our digital world.
Therefore, let’s face a simple truth: if your typing speed is lagging, it puts a cap on your potential as a programmer. No matter how sophisticated your Integrated Development Environment (IDE) or text editor, no matter how streamlined you believe your workflow to be, a slow typing speed will always be a bottleneck, hindering your overall productivity.
Some argue that typing speed isn’t paramount in programming. They suggest that the majority of a programmer’s time is spent in thought – analyzing problems and devising solutions – rather than actively typing. There’s validity to this point. However, in a field where efficiency is prized, and time is often of the essence, wouldn’t it be beneficial to execute your thoughts into code more rapidly? Over the span of a career dedicated to coding, we’re talking about writing tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of lines of code. That’s a significant amount of typing, and even marginal improvements in speed can compound into substantial time savings and increased output.
Assessing My Typing Skills Before the Journey
Before embarking on this quest to improve my typing, I wasn’t starting from zero. My typing speed was around 40 words per minute (WPM), which, from what I could gather, is roughly the average. I could mostly type without constantly glancing at the keyboard. My style, however, was far from orthodox. I had developed a self-taught, four-finger method, primarily relying on my index and middle fingers on each hand.
While I had a general sense of the alphabetic key layout, numbers, symbols, and punctuation marks often required a downward gaze at the keyboard. Commas, full stops, and especially the symbols crucial for coding, like brackets and operators, were points of hesitation. I knew there was room for improvement, a significant opportunity to become more efficient. The question was, could I realistically learn to type with all ten fingers, and would the effort be worthwhile? I decided to dedicate a month to this experiment. If it didn’t yield noticeable benefits, I could always revert to my old, comfortable habits. So, at 29, I resolved that it was time to learn touch typing.
Getting Started with TypingClub
My first step was a simple Google search: “learning to touch type.” TypingClub (https://www.typingclub.com/) was the top result. Its free access and user-friendly interface made it an easy choice. Fast forward nearly a month, and I’ve invested over 14 hours in practice on the platform.
The statistics from TypingClub clearly illustrate the progress. Starting from July 31st, the orange line representing my typing speed (WPM) shows a consistent upward trend. In just one month, my typing speed has increased by a significant 10 WPM. My keyboard coverage, meaning my proficiency across all keys, has also improved. The journey wasn’t without its challenges, but it was far from arduous. Here’s a breakdown of my weekly experience and key learnings.
Weekly Breakdown of My Touch Typing Progress
Week 1: Alphabet Foundations and Initial Frustrations
Average typing speed for Week 1: 15 WPM
The initial days focused on the fundamentals, learning one key at a time. Progress felt rapid in the beginning as new keys were introduced. Within just an hour or so of practice each day, I had covered a substantial portion of the alphabet. The learning process on TypingClub was smooth and relatively straightforward.
However, attempting to apply these nascent touch typing skills in real-world scenarios was a stark contrast. It was, to put it bluntly, a disaster. Not only was I significantly slower than before, but my accuracy plummeted. This combination made even simple tasks feel incredibly unproductive and frustrating. It became clear that I was not yet ready to abandon my old typing habits for actual work. Week one was about building the foundation, but real-world application was still a distant goal.
Week 2: Expanding Keyboard Coverage and Real-World Struggles
Average typing speed for Week 2: 22 WPM
By the end of the second week, I had expanded my reach across the keyboard, covering the entire alphabet and venturing into numbers. A peculiar discovery was the right shift key. It felt completely foreign, as I realized I had never consciously used it before. Touch typing emphasizes using the right shift key for capitalizing left-hand letters and vice versa – a more balanced and efficient approach.
Despite the progress in practice, typing in real-world situations remained painfully slow. I still lacked sufficient practice on all the keys, especially the symbol keys that are indispensable in programming languages. Brackets, parentheses, operators – these were still stumbling blocks, requiring conscious effort and slowing down my flow. Week two was about expanding keyboard knowledge but highlighted the gap between practice and practical application.
Week 3: Speed Breakthrough and Practical Application Emerges
Average typing speed for Week 3: 39 WPM
Week three marked a turning point. I had finally conquered the entire keyboard layout. The most astonishing part? I was already typing as fast as I was before starting this journey. After just three weeks of focused practice, my touch typing speed matched my old, ingrained method. This was a significant milestone and a powerful motivator.
Even more encouraging, I started to feel comfortable enough to use touch typing in real-world programming tasks. It wasn’t seamless yet, but it was functional. Two primary factors were still holding me back from peak efficiency:
- Hand Positioning Delay: It took a noticeable moment to correctly position my fingers on the home row keys (A, S, D, F for the left hand and J, K, L, ; for the right hand). Accurate initial placement was crucial; otherwise, my accuracy would drastically decline. This initial setup time interrupted the flow, especially for short bursts of typing.
- Right Pinky Finger Inefficiency: Touch typing assigns a substantial number of keys to the right pinky finger, as illustrated below.
This small finger is responsible for a surprising number of frequently used keys, especially in programming. My right pinky was still slow and inaccurate in hitting these keys, impacting my overall speed and accuracy. Mastering the right pinky was clearly the next hurdle to overcome. TypingClub’s finger efficiency analysis confirmed this, pinpointing my right pinky as the least efficient finger.
By the end of week three, I was about 70% through the TypingClub curriculum. The remaining lessons were primarily focused on practice and refinement rather than introducing new concepts. My average typing speed had climbed to around 50 WPM, with peak speeds reaching 61 WPM. Accuracy consistently hovered around 95%. Week three was about breaking through the speed barrier and transitioning touch typing into practical use, while identifying the right pinky as the key area for further improvement.
Conclusion: A Worthwhile Investment in Long-Term Productivity
Looking back at this one-month investment in upgrading my typing skills, it’s clear it was time well spent. Weeks three and four witnessed the most dramatic improvements in typing speed, and the potential for continued progress is evident. I’ve already surpassed my previous typing speeds and can now confidently use touch typing in real-world scenarios without significant frustration.
The most persistent annoyance at this stage is the slight delay in positioning my hands correctly on the keyboard, especially when typing short bursts of text. However, I anticipate this will diminish with continued practice and increased familiarity with touch typing. Improving accuracy with numbers and symbols is another ongoing goal that will naturally develop over time.
Overall, I am incredibly grateful for taking the initiative to enhance this fundamental skill. I am confident that improved typing proficiency will serve me exceptionally well throughout my programming career, boosting my productivity and efficiency in the long run.
If you found this account helpful or inspiring, consider sharing it with others who might benefit from improving their typing skills. Faster typing can be a game-changer for anyone who works with computers regularly, especially programmers.
