9 Years of "Learning to Code" and I Still Couldn't Build a To-Do App
5 days ago
- #productivity
- #coding
- #tutorial hell
- The author spent nine years 'learning to code' without completing a single project, stuck in 'Tutorial Hell'.
- Realized the difference between learning to code and feeling like learning to code after seeing a 16-year-old build a Discord bot effortlessly.
- Common pitfalls include accumulating unfinished tutorials, courses, and bookmarks without practical application.
- Breakthrough came by rage-deleting all tutorials and building a simple, ugly but functional countdown webpage.
- Key lessons: Debugging is a major part of coding, ugly working code is better than perfect non-existent code, and learning happens by doing, not watching.
- Adopted a new approach: Start with simple, 'dumb' projects, embrace the mess, and focus on building rather than consuming tutorials.
- Result: Built three functional projects in three weeks, more than in nine years of passive learning.
- The secret to progress is accepting imperfection and consistently building, not just preparing or consuming educational content.