PSA: New coders might be hurting their progress by skipping basics

I mean, I've been helping some friends learn to code, and idk, maybe it's just me but I see a lot of them wanting to build apps right away without learning the basics. For example, they jump into React or Django before really getting comfortable with plain JavaScript or Python. It's like they see cool projects online and think they can skip the boring parts. But then they get stuck on simple bugs because they don't get how things work inside. I think this trend comes from all the quick-start guides and tutorials that promise fast results. Honestly, it might hurt them later if they don't build a strong base.

3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

3 Comments

stellamoore6mo ago

My cousin learned Python by making a Discord bot first and now he's a full time dev. Sometimes jumping right into a project is how the basics actually stick.

3

reed.barbara6mo ago

Was it tough for him to figure out where to begin with the Discord bot? I've seen friends try the same thing, and they often say that solving real problems makes the code make more sense. When you're just reading tutorials, it's easy to forget, but when you need a feature to work, you remember how to do it. Plus, finishing a project gives you a boost to keep learning instead of getting stuck on theory. Do you know if he used any specific resources to get started, or did he just dive in?

5

jason_wells6mo ago

Seriously? That feels like a huge jump.

3