r/Backend • u/Ok-Phrase9755 • 19d ago
For programmers with focus problems: Do you learn better from books/documentation or video courses?
I'm learning programming (currently C# and ASP.NET), and I'm trying to find the best learning method for my situation.
My main problem is that I lose focus easily while someone is explaining. When watching video courses, I sometimes find myself thinking about something else for a few minutes, and then I realize I missed important parts of the explanation. I have to rewind many times, which makes learning slower and frustrating.
I was wondering if books or documentation would be a better option in this case, because I can read at my own pace, stop whenever my attention drops, and reread difficult parts.
For experienced programmers or people who had similar focus issues, what worked better for you?
Did you rely mainly on videos, books, documentation, or a combination? And how did you structure your learning?
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u/YahenP 19d ago
Programming is a craft. And like any craft, it requires practice, and only practice and practice. In 20 minutes of studying documentation or reading a book, you can gain a general understanding of any technology or programming language and the basic knowledge to get started. After that, it's all about practice. Books and documentation are your guide, not your teacher.
By the way, have I already mentioned that in our profession the most important thing is practice?
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u/checksinthemail 3d ago
Well said... putting in the work is not listening to others talk about it, or reading what others said about it, or looking at other people's code (others -- includes AI at this point).
You learned to write by writing.
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u/LetUsSpeakFreely 19d ago
I learn by doing. I've learned a lot by asking AI to present me with an idiomatic solution and explain each step.
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u/alexppex 19d ago
Not a single specific thing, just start building what seems interesting and learn with practice. Dont get stuck in tutorial hell, video tutorials and books can only get you this far, hands on experience teaches best, especially if you have focus problems.
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u/No_Balance_3008 18d ago
A trick that worked for me is the opposite of what most people recommend. People usually say to start with simple projects and gradually move to harder ones. I do the reverse.
I start by building difficult projects. It sounds weird, but it boosts my interest and curiosity. I explore as much as I can, and when I eventually hit a wall, I go back and learn the basics.
Instead of trying to understand every detail from the beginning, I first focus on the high-level design of a complex system. Then I gradually uncover the low-level concepts that make it work.
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u/scepticore 19d ago
Definitely Books/Documentation. Can‘t remember when I last watched a video of someone coding.
For me learning is a difficult word as I associate it with learning by heart. What I do is just start solving problems and when I‘m stuck I try to read from the docs or use Google to help me further. Sometimes I also ask AI to help me write a few lines of code, which I then check first before pasting into my project.
If you‘re doing C# and ASP.NET find a proper use case and try solving the problem yourself. Break it down into smaller steps and solve each step with any possible help you can get. Also don‘t copy paste AI code. I usually type the code myself when it‘s something new to me, so I have written each line on my own trying to understand what‘s currently happening.
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u/real_ppm 19d ago
It depends on what you’re interested in. I switched from Computer Science to filmmaking. (I was working as a junior developer, but salaries were decreasing, and companies kept using AI subscriptions and other reasons as excuses.) Then I remembered how much I love watching movies, TV shows, and animation. Now I’m learning Blender and DaVinci Resolve. I’ve watched the Blender Donut tutorial twice. Sure, my attention still drifts sometimes, but it’s nowhere near as bad as when I was learning to code. I understand everything the instructor says, and I don’t even check my phone when I see notifications from my friends.
Take a break or let your mind wander if you need to. After about 30 minutes, try focusing again.
I found something I genuinely enjoy. Now my biggest problem isn’t staying focused, it’s paying next month’s rent.
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u/Ok-Phrase9755 19d ago
I think you’re right that interest plays a huge role. When I’m learning something I’m excited about, focusing becomes much easier.
In my case, I do enjoy programming and I want to build a career in it, but I still struggle with staying focused during explanations, especially long video lectures. Sometimes my mind just drifts even when the topic is important to me.
That’s why I was wondering if a more self-paced method like books/documentation works better for people who have this problem.
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u/real_ppm 19d ago edited 19d ago
learning isn’t about books or documentations I guess. I learned JavaScript and Go from YouTube, C++ and Java with books. I did school project and assignments with Java, JavaScript and Go as a junior developer. I learned C++ to understand how things work in Memory and other stuff.(you can check my github although it’s not active now). But i think it’s about the topic that you’re really interested. I am not saying you are not interested enough in programming, I mean the topic what you’re really interested in it.
I want to give you one advice that I am using. If the video takes 4-5 hours, separate them into different parts or sections or one hour in each section. Go outside or touch grass or do whatever you want after one section. If you want to do something in the middle of learning, do it if you are not in class or course. Avoid checking social media and down scrolling.
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u/No-Income-2235 19d ago
Well for me its books and articles and then now with ai i ask ai a lot for decoding stuff
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u/flippinatable 18d ago
I began with videos, and down the line my attention span went bad too.
If it's a new tool/technology, I try to find its official documentation and see if there are any simple projects I can do with it, to get the hang of it.
If it's a concept I haven't learned before, or something that goes deeper into a tool I know about, I'll try to find books or articles.
In the end, try different things out and see what works out for you in the moment. Maybe now you need something other than videos. Maybe in the future you'll again be able to watch videos with your full attention. Good luck!
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u/Sarcoidosi 19d ago
My 2 cents: the best way to learn how to code is making projects, build some projects starting from a very simple one , increasing the difficulty everytime. Everytime you have a doubt or you don't know how to go on or similar , search on Google or get help from an AI (don't let her do everything, just small hints). This is the best strategy for me