How to get more comfortable with the API

So I have been playing with unity for a while trying to make something. But every time I watch a tutorial, and then try it, I just forget the functions,classes and whatever was there !
It's weird because I can understand programming very well. I have the logic, but I lake the api.
I was wondering what should I do to get to know the API quickly and start working with it ?

 

The best way to learn it is by using it. Eventually you'll remember the parts you use frequently, and the rest you can look up in the scripting reference as needed.

 

Repetition? I don't think there's any shortcut. You do stuff over and over and at some point you don't need to check documentations anymore. At least for most common stuff. Don't ever copy paste tutorials and always try make your own modifications to them. Make your own things.

 

I am pretty aware of this. I always never copy scripts from tutorials. I sometimes even pause the video and try to guess the rest of the script on my own. And 90% of the time I success. But still, if there is something I am the best at, it would be forgetting things. So looks like I will learn by time anyway !

 

Yes and yes.

 

Thanks very much Daniel, Probably that's what I need to do. I actually tried to type something on my own since about a week, and found my self forgetting every thing. However, after I read about what I needed at the documentation, and applied it to my script. I can't seem to have forgotten it !

 

Just can't wait ! lol

 

I don't believe that "memorizing" an api is the right goal; learning and understanding an api is better. Learn about who made it, why they made it, and in general, how to use it. Trying to memorize what parameter number 3 is on method Translate() is a waste of effort.

 

How am I supposed to translate an object If i can't remember that Translate () is used for it ?
btw I am not sure what does Translate() do really. just assumed it does that lol

 

Like the others have said, you will memorize methods and parameters as a side effect of using them a lot.

 

The more you use it, the more it becomes second nature. Don't be hard on yourself. It will come with time.

EDIT : Are you using C# and Visual Studio and Resharper?
If you're on Windows and you're not, then you're making your life a lot more difficult than it should be.

 

Oh? I've been here since Unity 1.6 and I still need to check the docs.

Using an IDE with built in lookups, like MonoDevelop or Visual Studio or whatnot is a massive help. As long as you know roughly what you're looking for it'll help you find it in no time without needed to explicitly pull out the docs. It also means you don't need to check spelling/names/so on outside of your coding environment, so more or less the only time you need to go for your browser is when you need to know the details of what something does or how it works. Massive productivity boost.

 

Yep, same here. The Unity API is too big for anyone to memorize it all.

--Eric

 

Memorising the entire API.. you're not doing it right

 

Sure. Docs checked on a daily basis here.