This study reports on an in-depth research into the perceived difficulties which novice programmers endure during code composition, combining multi-faceted data from observations to students’ perceptions via interviews, think aloud, task ranking, and task rating. In addition to analysis of the above, The students solutions were analyzed for performance (correctness, completeness, SOLO, Neo-Piagetian stages) as well as construct (combinations) used. The data set includes transciptions of all the interviews, the data collected from task rating and ranking, and students solutions as well as the analysis of this data.