The uncomfortable truth about learning to code
I want you to answer this question honestly. Your answer will decide the value of this article for you. It might be the thing that pulls you out of this trap and helps you get 10x more productive.
Has it ever happened to you that you watched a 6-hour-long tutorial, and when you try to build something on your own, you're blank?
I mean, how is this even possible? You understood everything in the video, but the moment you had to think for yourself, you couldn't start.
Have you ever felt that you spent a few hours watching a tutorial that had 20 minutes worth of information?
If you've faced any of those problems, I want you to stay for the next 5 minutes, and I will help you solve this frustration.
The Illusion
4 years ago, I was also falling for this trap. I used to watch long tutorials, and yet face issues while building something of my own.
I used to think that if I completed this tutorial, I would be an expert in that topic. Turns out that was the whole trap.
You can never be an expert by watching what others do.
I am not saying YouTube tutorials are full of false promises. But it's important to spend more time building things and less time following along.
When you follow a tutorial, you're on a very smooth path that the creator has paved for you. The creator has faced all the problems, struggled to build the perfect solutions, and learned most of the stuff behind the scenes.
But when you follow along, you won't face any of those problems.
But the real world of software engineering is full of mess.
And the worst part? If you blindly follow these creators, you're destroying your creativity.
When you depend on a tutorial, you are restricted to the creator's plan. You stop thinking about how you want the application to work.
You settle with what they've built.
Break The Trap
I realized watching a 6-hour-long tutorial just to get 40 minutes' worth of information was not my thing.
And I firmly believe that nobody should fall for this trap either. This is because while you're watching long tutorials, your competition is building things out there.
It's about time we build a system that pushes your limits and blows your productivity through the roof.
The very first rule is you need to stop watching other people code. Start coming up with your own ideas. And most importantly, get your hands dirty building them.
Doesn't matter if it's the simplest idea that you can think of.
Just start building.
If you've reached here, congratulations! You are on the right track. Now I'll explain a method I use to learn rapidly while building stuff.
Let's not fall into tutorial hell again.
1) Brains Of The Operation
In today's world, the most significant skill one can have is the ability to think critically.
So you start by thinking of an idea that you want to build.
Suppose you thought of building a RAG pipeline or maybe a smart AI agent using Python. Most people would open up YouTube and search for a tutorial on this exact idea.
But this time, you're going to open your code editor and start building.
You do your research using any AI tool you prefer, and you become the brains of the operation.
So now everything works the way you want it to. You plan the architecture.
I am sure your code may break. Your plan may have flaws.
But that's how you get better. You learn from your mistakes and never repeat them again. That's how real learning takes place.
This is where you become better than what you were yesterday.
2) Search And Rescue
When you're stuck, you do not watch a 3-hour video. You look for the exact issue that is stopping you.
You can read the official documentation or read a 2-minute article that explains the part you're missing.
You can use AI tools to debug and explain the missing part so your momentum never breaks.
You only consume the information that you desperately need in that moment in time. And this is how your brain remembers the solution for the next time you face a similar problem.
You're solving a puzzle and not memorizing a textbook.
3) Accept The Mess
At first, your code is going to be messy. This is because you are the one who is planning and executing. You are no longer following a polished tutorial blindly.
And that is completely fine. Initially, your plans and application might look terrible.
But remember the goal is momentum and not perfection.
A tutorial will help you build something beautiful and production-ready on the first attempt.
But that's not how things work in the real-world.
What matters is building your logic by thinking yourself, making mistakes, and getting better at your craft.
The Challenge
Now that you know what to do, here is a challenge for you. Watching a long tutorial feels safe and is comfortable.
Let's jump out of your comfort zone. It's time to take your creativity back.
I want you to pick one small idea that you're interested in building. Open your code editor and start building. Use AI to understand the logic and execute it.
It might be frustrating to make mistakes and see errors. But soon enough, you'll master the process.
When your app finally runs, you realize you no longer need someone to hold your hand and teach you every step. You are finally building on your own.
If you enjoyed this article, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn:
Md Rashid Arif
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