Thanks HT, yeah this has certainly forced me to push some things into my memory much more solidly than I would by just reading it all, but it has been one heck of a challenge, and for sure there is nothing to worry with regards to a lack of challenges in the stock market, that's an absolute devil for challenges. When I first started learning to code, I was complaining that there are not enough relevant things being taught in terms of what I wanted to get done. I can see now why, it's because most of what we would want to get done is so different to what tutorials could cover in order to suite everybody, and when you have a challenge that is much too far away from the basics you already know, then it certainly can actually act as a roadblock to the basics you may have picked up quicker. So from now on, I think I'll need to trust in the purposes of the basics a bit more, learn them and then deal with tough challenges. But aside from that point, I think it would definitely be good to have challenges that seem not too far out of the scope of what I already know. I feel like sometimes the basics barely show you any tangible and beneficial, relevant outcome to a current problem, to motivate you to learn them. It's very hard to find a balance between what we want, and what we can only "just about" not achieve yet. If the challenge is far too big, it can drive you nuts in this world I would say. i was on the verge of cracking up because of this. But well worth it though
Not all students are interested in the same (financial, stock trading) applications as you. Which makes it difficult for the teachers to come up with examples which are interesting for the majority of students. If you can't solve your own coding challenges today just leave them open. Sooner or later you will learn about "the missing piece" which you needed. Having an application ready to receive that piece makes you remember it much better in the future. And gives you the satisfaction of having achieved a "next level" of knowledge.