Should I Relearn Programming from the Basics or Build Projects in a Specific Area?

Start with a project you genuinely want to make and learn through it. Before using AI, spend time breaking the problem down, searching the documentation, and trying to debug your own code. For learning, you may want to restrict AI to autocomplete or occasional hints. For larger projects, it can still be useful, but only if you understand the fundamentals well enough to judge whether its suggestions are appropriate.

A fast fundamentals refresher could be useful, but don’t stay in tutorial mode for too long. Rebuild a few small projects you previously made with AI without looking at the original code, then compare your approach afterward. That will show you which concepts you actually understand and which ones need more practice.

You probably don’t need to restart from absolute zero unless you’ve genuinely forgotten the fundamentals. Pick a field that interests you, build small projects, and study the missing concepts as they come up. The bigger change is how you use AI: try writing the first version yourself, use documentation and debugging first, and only ask for help when you’re stuck. If AI gives you code, make sure you can explain and modify it afterward. The goal isn’t necessarily to never use AI—it’s to be able to design, begin, understand, and debug a project without depending on it.

If your fundamentals feel especially weak, spend a few weeks reviewing the language’s core concepts and reading how real programs are structured. Then immediately apply that knowledge to small projects. Don’t wait until you feel completely ready—confidence usually comes from solving several manageable problems yourself.