I'm just getting started with coding in Python and I've been diving into a mini project. I've spent quite a few hours trying to figure out how to copy a file from one folder to another while also deleting it if it already exists. At first, I had a different approach, but thanks to AI and some help from Google, I've made some progress. I realized I should declare my source and destination variables first and learned about using os.path.exists, which I didn't know before. My concern now is whether using AI to finish and polish my project might ruin my learning experience. I did pick up some important concepts along the way, but I'm worried that my initial method and the way I've tackled problems were all wrong. What do you think?
2 Answers
Nah, you didn't ruin anything! That's how most people learn to code—by searching for answers and figuring things out. Even experienced developers rely on tools like AI and documentation all the time. The important part is that you learned how to declare variables and use functions like os.path.exists. You're doing it right!
Not at all! AI helped you just like reading StackOverflow would have. To deepen your understanding, try reading through the documentation for libraries like shutil and os. You'll discover what else they can do, and if you come across anything unfamiliar, like 'syncmp,' just look that up, too. It's all part of the process!
I did have the docs open and asked that same question lol. I wondered what a symlink was but overlooked it since I didn't think I'd need it. I guess I'll explore it more now, thanks for the insight!
This is actually a huge relief to hear! I was worried I ruined my learning environment.