I Would Love To Hear Some Advice From Software Developers

[bazera]

Hey, 

To all the programmers of actualized.org forum

I am about to start my 3rd year at university, studying computer science. But I am confused right now. I kind of know that I will understand everything as time goes but I would like to hear some advice from experienced developers if there are any on this forum.

I understand that programming and coding are two different things: Programmers come up with algorithms, that can be written in pseudocode, not necessary in any particular programming language. And coders are people who translate algorithms into all sorts of programming languages and working applications. That's my understanding.

Now, I also think that being a programmer requires a lot more than being a coder, like coming up with abstract functions and so on. When I entered university, I didn't know much about programming, and I didn't know that there was any difference between a coder and a programmer. 

Now, what confuses me is the following: I am struggling with coming up with algorithms and solving programming problems. I want to develop my skills in algorithms and problem solving, because, as a future programmer, I think that I will be doing that my whole life, but right now, I am not good at it. 

Do you know any ways to develop my problem-solving skills? Is it enough to find websites like HackerRank and try to solve something every day for the next couple of months or something like that? 

Do you know any particular way that I can be better at coming up with complex algorithms? 

And generally, what are your thoughts about becoming a better programmer?