I'm currently working in product design and I'm looking to develop my own products in the future. I'm not seeking a job in development; this is all for personal growth. With the rise of AI tools that can generate code, I wonder if I should still start learning from the very basics, like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript? Or is there a better path I should follow? My goal is to understand coding well enough to recognize problems and manually solve them, even if I'm using AI to generate code. I'm looking for suggestions on a smart learning path to follow.
4 Answers
There really isn't a shortcut. You need to learn HTML and CSS, plus a front-end scripting language like JavaScript or TypeScript because they run in the browser. Also, get a grasp of Python fundamentals. Understand concepts like objects, functions, control flow, and variables. While AI might help someday, it won’t design software or address problems critically—those are skills you need to develop yourself.
The key with AI is to use it only for things you already know how to create on your own (even if it takes longer). So, start by learning programming without relying on AI. The traditional path of learning HTML, CSS, and a scripting language like JavaScript hasn’t changed much. Just remember, while AI can assist, it’s not a substitute for the critical thinking involved in programming.
Even in the age of AI, traditional learning materials like books are still invaluable. If you're serious about learning, consider sticking with structured resources like the website 'How to Design Programs'. It provides a solid foundation for programming.
What type of product are you thinking about building? If it's for the web, learning HTML and CSS is a fantastic start! After that, dive into JavaScript. Once you’re comfortable with those, you can expand to frameworks like PHP or even WordPress for web applications.

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