Tackling a Problem Step by Step

Why Break Down the Work

• Less mental burden: thinking about one thing at a time is easier.
• We see results immediately: completing a small step gives us enthusiasm for the next one.
• Clear errors: if something doesn’t work, we know where to look.
• Teamwork: different puzzle pieces can be assigned to different people.

The Child Learning to Walk

A child doesn’t start running. First they sit, then crawl, stand holding the table, finally take one step, then another. Only after much practice do they run. In between there are many falls. Problems work the same way:

1. Sit down - write your problem and the goal to reach.
2. Crawl - break down your problem.
3. Stand up - build the first minimal part.
4. Walk - check that what you’ve created matches the initial goal.
5. Fall - everyone makes mistakes. It’s part of the process.
6. Get back up - figure out how to solve it. Google your problem.
7. Run - solve it and make sure you’ve reached your goal.

How to Break Down a Problem

1. Write the problem in one sentence.
2. Write the goal.
3. List the major blocks of work.
4. Transform each block into micro-tasks of maximum two hours.
5. Order the tasks: first those that unblock others.
6. Do one task, check, then move to the next.
7. Combine everything and clean up.

Example: Building a Web Page

We want a page with a title, a paragraph, and a red button that turns green on hover.

Step 1 - The HTML Structure

First we create the skeleton of the page:

<h1>Welcome</h1>
<p>This is my first page.</p>
<button class="btn">Click me</button>

Step 2 - The CSS Style

Then we add colors and dimensions:

.btn {
  background-color: red;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.btn:hover {
  background-color: green;
}

Step 3 - The JS Behavior

Finally, if interactivity is needed, we add the logic:

document.querySelector('.btn').addEventListener('click', () => {
  alert('You clicked!');
});

We first created the structure (HTML), then decorated it (CSS), finally gave it life (JS). Following the same method, you can build much more complex pages, always one piece at a time.