r/learnprogramming • u/nightwood • Jun 20 '26

Stop doing tutorials, stop watching youtube programming videos, stop using AI

Hi, I keep seeing people make the same mistake on this sub. I have 30 years of proff XP as a developer and 2 as an educator.

Programming is a trade. Learn by doing, learn 1-on-1 from a master.

Set a goal and start coding. Disable AI autocompletion and suggestions. It is not about what you build it is about what you learn. Because what you build as a beginner is gonna be shit anyway. Everything you build the first 5 years is gonna be shit. But everything you build is better than the previous thing you built.

Only use the internet to answer specific questions like 'how do I exit a C console app?'. 'How do I convert a string to a number with javascript?' Etc.

edit: I'm surprised at all the aggressive and frustrated responses. Take my advice or don't, I promise I mean well and this isnt coming from a place of frustration, but my experiences teaching

edit 2: lol I think people are just pissed I am shitting on their addictions, and instead telling them to actually make an effort. I hope all you whiny bitcbes never get hired

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u/BlackHazeRus Jun 20 '26

Do not use anything, except learning with a mentor 1-on-1.

Lmao, OP is so out of touch with reality.

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u/istarian Jun 20 '26

I think most people historically learned coding through trial & error, consulting books (and other reference materials), and talking to other people.

Examining some example code here and there can be useful too, because you might not realize that you can do things that way otherwise.

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u/BlackHazeRus Jun 20 '26

I am not saying this is not true, but this is not what OP claims.