This is a serious question.  How do you "understand" how a circuit works and how do you create with your imagination a new one?

I've been a programmer most of my life.  But since I was a teenager I've been reading electronics books, ones like Forrest Mimms and others, and I've always been fascinated with electronics.  

As a programmer I need to understand how the computer works, to some extent, but to create a program I need to know the basics like what the verbs are, how to control the flow, input/output, etc.  And then after a while and with practice I can do more and more complex programs.

Well, I've read many books many times on electronics and I think I understand what the components do, but I just cannot figure out how to truly understand circuits.

How do you do it?  At first I tried to imagine water flowing from the power supply through the wires and components going from + to - but that didn't get me very far.

I loved Pic because it was mostly programming, but I always got thrown by _how_ the components of a circuit board were put together.  I do admit I lack some of the math that is necessary to get the correct values of components, but I think that can come after I understand.

Why can't I "get" it?  I'm not stupid, just I don't think I'm looking at things the correct way.

I've been on the Piclist for at least 3 or more years now so it's not like I'm not trying.

Any helpful advice for people like me I will take to heart.

Kind regards,
Lindy

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