I'm curious about my learning process. Can anyone tell me if typing out code line by line, instead of just copying and pasting, really helps improve my coding skills? I get the purpose of the code, but I'm unsure if this method will make a real difference in my understanding or if I'm just mimicking tasks without truly learning.
3 Answers
Honestly, if your aim is to learn, just copying code—whether through pasting or typing—isn't going to cut it. It’s similar to knowing a bunch of words in a new language without knowing how to create sentences with them. It's tough to think in a new way, and you're definitely not alone in feeling this way. The best thing you can do is to minimize reliance on tools like ChatGPT while you're learning. Dive into the documentation for whatever language or framework you're using. Learning to read docs and conduct searches is a big part of becoming a developer. Understanding what you're coding and why it works is crucial if you don’t want to be stuck just copying code forever.
Exactly! Learning from mistakes is part of the journey. It's like problem-solving practice.
Think about it this way: would copying the greatest works of literature help you become a great author? Type it all out, and you’ll get a better feel for the structure, but don’t expect miracles. At the end of it all, you need to research and form your own conclusions to really learn quickly.
At the beginning, typing the code can help a little, but if you keep copying without understanding, it leads to what's called 'tutorial hell.' Try to tweak the code you copy to make it your own—that makes a huge difference!
That's a solid suggestion! Modifying code sounds like a fun way to learn.
Right?! You’re forcing yourself to engage with the code more when you make changes.
I get what you're saying! It's hard to let go of those quick fixes, but building that foundation sounds important.