I'm a bit puzzled about how to approach learning programming in 2026, especially with the overwhelming presence of AI in the coding landscape. There's a lot of pressure to use AI tools to avoid falling behind, and I've been trying to follow this advice. For instance, I built a basic CRUD app with the help of an AI tool called Claude. I made sure to understand Claude's outputs and can explain the workings like request flow, routing, and database interactions. However, I feel like if I had to create another CRUD app from scratch without AI, I'd struggle. It seems like I might just be memorizing explanations rather than truly understanding the coding process. So, I'm wondering, what does a good learning approach with AI look like these days?
5 Answers
Reading traditional books and putting in practice is still the best way to learn programming. AI can assist you, but don't let it replace the depth you'd gain from self-education through books and coding exercises.
Think of AI as just a tool, like a calculator for programming. Beginners shouldn't rely too much on it right away. Sure, AI can help get answers, but if you're only copy-pasting without understanding, you're missing out on the real learning experience.
Incorporate AI as a part of your learning journey rather than the focal point. As you learn and understand the code, use AI to optimize your workflow, but make sure you're building your own knowledge base!
A key takeaway is to always write code you can personally understand. Just because you can explain what Claude generated doesn't mean you're truly grasping the concepts. You've got to get your hands on the code yourself to learn effectively.
Use AI as a complementary tool, but focus on problem-solving yourself. When you hit a coding roadblock, try to research and figure it out on your own first, then turn to AI for assistance.
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