ChatGPT: How to Improve Your Coding Skills

May 15 / Ashley Gross

Overview

Learning to code can feel like a maze — error messages, unfamiliar syntax, and endless Stack Overflow searches.

ChatGPT simplifies that journey. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, ChatGPT can teach you concepts, review your code, explain bugs, and even help you practice.

This guide walks you through:

  • Why ChatGPT is helpful for improving coding skills
  • What you’ll need
  • How to use ChatGPT step-by-step
  • Optional enhancements
  • Practical applications and a real-world example

Why Use ChatGPT to Improve Coding Skills?

Unlike static tutorials, ChatGPT responds in real time — letting you ask questions, get feedback, and explore different approaches.

Here’s how it helps:

  • Explains code like a tutor
  • Answers questions as they come up
  • Helps you write and debug your own code
  • Generates examples to practice with
  • Supports many programming languages

You don’t need to wait for a course update — ChatGPT gives instant help 24/7.

What You’ll Need

1. An OpenAI account
Free users can use GPT-3.5; GPT-4 offers more reliable help.

2. A Code Editor or IDE
Use something like:

  • VS Code
  • Replit
  • Google Colab
  • Jupyter Notebook

3. Coding Goals or Problems to Work On
Whether it’s building a calculator, scraping a website, or understanding recursion — bring your questions or goals.

Step-by-Step: How to Use ChatGPT to Learn Coding

Step 1: Ask ChatGPT to Explain Concepts

Use prompts like:

“What is the difference between a list and a tuple in Python?”
“Explain how recursion works in JavaScript.”

ChatGPT gives short, clear answers — and you can keep asking until you get it.

Step 2: Request Simple Examples

“Show me an example of a for loop in Python.”
“Write a JavaScript function that checks if a number is prime.”

Then try rewriting those examples or tweaking them.

Step 3: Build Small Projects Together

Start with a task:

“Help me build a basic to-do list app in Python.”
“Guide me through creating a random password generator.”

Ask ChatGPT to explain each step as it generates the code.

Step 4: Debug Your Code with ChatGPT

Paste your code and the error message into ChatGPT:

“Here’s my code. I’m getting this error — how do I fix it?”

ChatGPT will explain the issue and often rewrite the corrected code.

Step 5: Learn Best Practices

“Refactor this code to follow clean code principles.”
“Make this script more readable.”
“Add comments to this code so I understand it better.”

Step 6: Quiz Yourself

“Give me 5 beginner Python interview questions.”
“Test me on basic JavaScript concepts.”à

Use ChatGPT to simulate a tutor and check your answers.

Optional Enhancements

Take it further with these prompts:

Explore Advanced Topics:
“Teach me the basics of object-oriented programming.”

Compare Languages:
“How is Python different from Java?”

Code Style Tips:
“Format this code according to PEP8 standards.”

Build a Learning Plan:
“Create a 4-week learning path to go from beginner to intermediate in Python.”

Practical Applications

ChatGPT can help you with:

  • Daily code practice
  • Assignment help (with understanding, not just answers)
  • Coding bootcamp prep
  • Portfolio project building

Case Study: From Frustration to Confidence

Prompt Used:

“Explain what this error means: ‘TypeError: list indices must be integers or slices, not str’ and help me fix my Python code.”

Result:

ChatGPT explained the error in plain English, pointed out the issue in the user’s dictionary access, and provided a corrected version of the code.

Impact:

The user fixed their script in minutes — and more importantly, understood why the error happened. Confidence increased, and they stopped avoiding bugs out of fear.

Improving your coding skills takes practice!

ChatGPT makes that practice smarter, faster, and easier to stick with.

You bring the curiosity — ChatGPT brings the guidance.