Are you just starting out in programming, or have you been at it for a while but still struggle with the fundamentals?
Take a moment to pause and reflect: what are you really aiming for?
Don't try to learn everything at once. Choose one language and focus on learning its fundamentals. These are the pillars every good programmer should know — and unlike frameworks or tools, fundamentals don’t change.
Fundamentals are not just the foundation — they define who you are as a developer. They prepare you to understand the logic behind problems and help you build solutions to the real-world challenges we often face in programming.
You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Before you run, learn to walk.”
These days, there’s a rush to learn everything fast. People rely heavily on AI, thinking it can do it all — even replace them. But here’s the truth: AI is just a tool. You can use it to support your learning, but don’t depend on it until you understand the basics.
Learning the fundamentals will empower you to tell the AI things like:
- “That’s not what I asked for.”
- “Use this approach instead.”
- “Why are you doing it that way?”
- “Apply this design pattern.”
Without that knowledge, you won’t know if the code it gives you is wrong — and how will you fix something you don’t understand?
P.S.
Before you run, learn to walk.
Don’t skip the fundamentals just because AI seems to make things easier. Learn the core principles of the language you're using. Most of the time, AI-generated code needs to be corrected. If you don’t know the basics, how will you even notice what’s wrong?
Final Tip:
Start with the official documentation of the language you're learning. Build the habit of researching on your own. Read books — physical or digital, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you develop the skill of independent learning.
The developers who adapt are the ones who thrive.
Top comments (2)
NEVER trust the AI. Most of the time there'll be hallucinations in there somewhere.
Totally agree! AI messes up sometimes, it even makes stuff up 😅
That’s why I say don’t depend on it, understand it.
If you’ve got solid fundamentals, AI becomes a helpful tool, not something you blindly rely on.