I'm trying to figure out the best way to learn coding effectively. When following tutorials, I find myself either pausing constantly to take notes or just coding along, promising myself I'll remember everything, but then I usually don't. Do you think structured note-taking is beneficial, or should I focus more on just building small projects to lock in the knowledge?
5 Answers
I really believe that building projects is way more effective than taking extensive notes. You can easily get bogged down in writing every detail. For instance, if you're building HTTP endpoints in web development, you'll remember the syntax better by practicing and fixing bugs than by trying to memorize every line of a tutorial. Focus on building things that challenge you, and look for solutions as you go. That way, you'll remember concepts much better!
I've switched to using notes in my code for practice projects rather than extensive written notes. I just bookmark key documentation links for quick reference later. It simplifies things and keeps my focus on coding.
At this point, I just jot down key ideas when I self-study and use hands-on projects to cement my learning. Bullet points for essential points work best for me, but I don't let notes replace practical coding time.
I find that when I'm learning complex systems, I like to document everything in an app like Notion. For simpler things, I just add notes in the code comments. It really depends on how deep the topic is!
I used to take detailed notes at first, but now I see it as a waste of time. Doing related projects and exercises has been way more effective. I keep some snippets nearby just in case I need to reference them later.
I prefer whiteboards or my Wacom tablet for brainstorming before moving to apps. I code most of the time, though. I find that once I know a design, I’ll document it, but initially, I just work through the code.