The problem with “generic” programming courses (and a better way)

Saifeldeen Khalaf — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:53:11 +0000

I kept quitting coding courses

I love learning.

But I kept quitting coding courses — not because the instructors were bad, and not because the topic wasn’t useful…

I quit because the experience was generic.

If I already knew part of the material, I got bored.
If the explanation style didn’t click, I stalled.
If I was switching stacks, I had to sit through things I already understood.

And once I dropped off, it was hard to come back.

So I’m validating an idea: TransferStack — adaptive programming courses where the learning path and explanations adjust to your background.

The thesis: the same lesson should feel different for different people

A beginner and a working developer can both be learning “TypeScript interfaces”… but they shouldn’t get the same explanation.

A Java developer might benefit from comparisons to Java interfaces.
A JavaScript developer might want it framed as a “shape contract” for objects.
A complete beginner needs plain English and careful pacing.

Traditional courses usually can’t do that. They’re one track for everyone.

TransferStack is built around a simple promise:

We tailor the learning path + explanations to your background so you learn faster, understand deeper, and skip what you already know.

Why I think this matters (and what the research says)

Online learning has a completion problem.

It’s easy to start. It’s hard to finish.

I put together a research page with sources around:

low course completion rates
why learners disengage
evidence for adaptive/personalized learning approaches

If you’re curious, I’m happy to share the link in the comments.

What exists today (honestly)

I’m not here pretending the full platform is built.

Right now:

there’s a landing page that explains the idea
there’s a research page that explains the evidence
there’s a waitlist

My goal is to validate demand before spending months building the platform.

Who it’s for (first)

I’m focusing on two groups:

Self-taught learners who keep getting bored or stuck halfway through courses.
Working developers who want to upskill or switch stacks without wasting time.

I’m starting with TypeScript as the first track, but the vision is broader: personalized learning for any programming course.

I need your feedback (this is the point of the post)

If you’ve quit a programming course before, I’d love to learn:

What made you quit?
What would have helped you continue?
What would “personalized explanations” need to do to actually be valuable?

And the hardest question:

Would you ever pay for early access to something like this (before it’s fully built)? If yes, what would that offer need to look like?

If you want to follow along

If you want the link to the landing page / waitlist, ask and I’ll share it in a comment.

Also: if you’re open to it, I’m doing a few short 15-minute interviews to learn what you’d want from a personalized learning experience.

Thanks for reading — and if you’ve ever rage-quit a course midway, you’re not alone.

DEV Community: Saifeldeen Khalaf