I'm stuck! How can I get back on track quickly?

You've hit a roadblock. It's perfectly normal and happens to all of us! It's actually kind of awesome. People who work in tech are problem solvers, and having to resolve an issue gives us practice in an essential skill you'll frequently use on the job.💪 Let's look at a few ways to get unstuck and back up and running as quickly as possible!

Debugging Your Work

To start, let's see if this is an issue you can solve yourself. Wouldn't that feel fantastic?! We have an awesome Debugging Guide that can help with plenty of tips and tools like using a Rubber Ducky 🐥 to debug your code (a tried and tested method!). The debugging guide also has suggestions on how to maximize your Google searches. You can also ask the AI, CorgiBot! Click on the icon in the lower left corner of the lesson.

When you debug an issue, an hour is usually enough time to research the problem and try out some solutions. Keep track of the steps you took to resolve the issue. A list will help you avoid repeating steps you've already tried, and the list will come in handy if you need to ask someone to look at your work.

Reaching Out for Help

Where to Get Help

When you're ready to reach out, there are plenty of ways to contact us! The first place to start is the Student Slack channels. Asking your question in Slack will get the most eyes on it since instructors and other Skillcrushers can weigh in. If you feel more comfortable, you can send an email to [email protected]. We also hold Live Q&As, which are weekly group meetups over Zoom where you can get immediate feedback on your project.

One note - it's best NOT to direct message (AKA DM) an instructor in Slack. (They may be off that day.😞) We know you're busy and want quick feedback so you can keep moving!

How to Ask a Question in Tech

Ok, so you've decided to reach out! Part of working in tech is knowing how to ask a question, so it's important to get in some practice. Here's how to frame your question:

What did you expect to see, or how did you expect it to work?
What is happening instead?
What steps did you take to resolve the issue?

What to Include with Your Question

Then send all the resources to help someone respond as quickly as possible.

Design Projects:

Please include a link to the lesson, and let us know which step of the lesson you're working on. A link is super helpful so we can click right to the lesson you need help with.
If you send a screenshot of your design file with questions about the software, make sure to include your layers panel.
If you're in the HTML & CSS class or sending a design file, zip up your entire project folder or design file and upload it. Sending your entire project folder will make sure we have all your files and we can see the folder structure. This Skillcrush FAQ can walk you through the process.

Developer Projects:

Please include a link to the lesson, and let us know which step of the lesson you're working on. A link is super helpful so we can click right to the lesson you need help with.
Send us your code
If you're in the HTML & CSS class or sending a design file, zip up your entire project folder or design file and upload it. Sending your entire project folder will make sure we have all your files and we can see the folder structure. This Skillcrush FAQ can walk you through the process.
If you're in one of the other development classes, send a link to your GitHub repo, CodeSandbox, or Replit.
For Git & GitHub issues, send a screenshot of your command line showing the commands you've run.
A screenshot of what your site looks like on your computer would also be helpful. (It's no substitute for sending your code, though!)

Once you've done that, take a walk, a nap, or have a snack. Sometimes writing down precisely what the issue is and how you've tried to solve it, plus getting a break from it, will let your subconscious work away. You might find that the answer just pops into your head! 🙌

And finally, believe in yourself. You've got this, and we're here to help!