Learn Hardcore Turkish: Programı yeniden başlatınca ekran düzeldi. - When I restarted the program, the screen was fixed.

The suffix -ınca/-ince/-unca/-ünce forms a time clause meaning “when,” “once,” or “upon (doing).” So başlatınca = “when (someone) restarts/starts (it).” It can refer to a specific event (“once X happened…”) or a habitual one (“whenever X happens…”), depending on context.

Why is it başlatmak and not başlamak?

başlamak = “to start (by itself)” (intransitive).
başlatmak = “to start something; to make it start” (transitive, causative). We’re causing the program to start again (restart), so we need başlatmak. Using program başlayınca would mean “when the program starts (by itself).”

Why is it programı with the accusative -ı?

Because başlatmak is transitive and the object here is definite (“the program”). In Turkish, definite direct objects take the accusative:

Definite: programı başlattım = I restarted the program.
Indefinite: bir program başlatınca… = when (you) start a program… (no accusative on an indefinite object).

Who is the subject of başlatınca? How do we know who restarted it?

The -ınca form doesn’t mark person. The subject is understood from context. If you want to make it explicit, you can:

Add a subject: Ben programı yeniden başlatınca ekran düzeldi.
Or use a person-marked time clause: Programı yeniden başlattığımda ekran düzeldi. (clear “I”)

What’s the difference between -ınca and alternatives like -dığında, -dıktan sonra, or -(y)ken?

-ınca/-ince: “when/once/as soon as”; often a bit immediate or causal-feeling.
-DIĞINDA/‑DUĞUNDA: “when” with explicit person marking; a bit more formal/precise. Example: başlattığımda (when I restarted).
-DIKTAN sonra: “after (doing)”; purely temporal sequence. Example: başlattıktan sonra.
-(y)ken: “while/as” (simultaneous). Example: program çalışıyorken (while the program is running).

Does -ınca ever mean “because”?

Its core meaning is temporal (“when/once”), but in real use it often implies causation (“when I did X, Y happened” → X caused Y). For explicit cause, use -DIĞI için or çünkü:

Programı yeniden başlattığım için ekran düzeldi. (because I restarted it)

Can I replace -ınca with -ıp/-ip (e.g., başlatıp)?

Not with the same meaning. -ıp/-ip links actions (“and (then) …”), not a “when/once” time clause:

Programı yeniden başlatıp ekranı kontrol ettim. = I restarted the program and (then) checked the screen.
To say “when/once,” keep -ınca or use -DIĞINDA.

Where can the -ınca clause go? Do I need a comma?

Time clauses are often placed first:

Programı yeniden başlatınca ekran düzeldi. You can also put it later:
Ekran (,) programı yeniden başlatınca düzeldi. A comma is optional; use it if it helps readability.

Is yeniden the only way to say “again”? What about tekrar?

Both mean “again,” but in tech contexts yeniden başlatmak is the standard for “restart.” Tekrar başlatmak is understandable but less standard. Other natural phrasing:

Programı kapatıp açınca… = when I closed and reopened the program…

Could I use çalıştırmak instead of başlatmak?

çalıştırmak means “to run (a program/process).” Yeniden çalıştırmak = “run again” and is understandable, but for the specific idea of “restart,” yeniden başlatmak is the idiomatic choice.

Why is it ekran düzeldi and not ekran düzeltildi?

düzelmek (intransitive): “to get fixed/improve/return to normal.” → ekran düzeldi = the screen got fixed.
düzeltmek (transitive) + passive: düzeltildi = “was fixed (by someone).” Here, the natural choice is the intransitive “got fixed.”

What’s the morphological breakdown of the sentence?

Program-ı = program + accusative -ı (definite object)
yeniden = again/anew
başlat-ınca = cause-to-start + “when/once”
ekran = screen (subject)
düzel-di = get fixed + past -di

How does vowel harmony affect forms like -ınca and the accusative -ı?

-ınca/-ince/-unca/-ünce follows 4-way vowel harmony: after back vowels → -ınca/-unca; after front vowels → -ince/-ünce. Examples: yapınca, gelince, konuşunca, düşününce.
The accusative is -ı/-i/-u/-ü, chosen by the last vowel of the stem: program-ı, evi, konuyu, günü.
Past -di/-dı/-du/-dü also harmonizes: düzeldi (front vowel → -di).

If I want to talk about a habitual pattern, what tense should I use?

Use present habitual/“aorist” or present continuous in the main clause:

Habitual: Programı yeniden başlatınca ekran düzelir. (whenever I restart, it gets fixed)
Colloquial habitual: Programı yeniden başlatınca ekran düzeliyor.

Can the subjects of the two clauses be different with -ınca?

Yes. -ınca doesn’t force the same subject. You can specify each subject:

Ben gelince o gitti. = When I arrived, he left.
Similarly: Ben programı yeniden başlatınca ekran düzeldi. (I restarted; the screen got fixed.)