Hey everyone! I'm a CS major in college and have been working on coding projects outside of school. This summer, I built a full-stack web app using Spring and React. Since it was my first time with Spring, I utilized AI to help me kickstart my project and navigate the development process. Through this experience, I learned a lot about databases, design architecture, JWT authentication, and reinforced my Java fundamentals while diving deeper into JS/React.
While coding, I often used AI to ask how to implement features in Spring, connect different components, and troubleshoot errors. Importantly, I never just copied and pasted the AI's code. Instead, I took time to read and understand it, adapting it to fit my needs. I also maintain a "code journal" where I jot down everything I learn daily.
However, I've started to feel like I'm doing something wrong since I didn't write all my code from scratch. After seeing some comments online claiming that using AI could harm my growth as a programmer, I became worried. This led me to dive into Java textbooks with the goal of learning everything myself, but that motivation didn't last long. I want to know if using AI in a constructive way, especially as a beginner, is beneficial or if it's undermining my progress. I appreciate any advice to help me feel more productive again. Thanks!
1 Answer
It's great that you're engaging with the code you get from AI! Remember, understanding pre-written code is a valuable skill in itself, and it doesn't negate your learning. Writing code and comprehending it are two different capabilities. Focus on the decision-making and planning that goes into coding; that's where growth happens. So, don’t stress too much about how the code was written, rather, learn from it! AI can aid your learning as long as you actively engage with it.
Thanks for the clarification! So, if I want to add features, should I limit myself to using my own code or a bit of internet guidance just to keep things challenging?