I'm 18 and passionate about creating projects. Whenever I start a new project, I challenge myself to implement something I don't know yet. For example, I'm currently building an online shop using React, Tailwind, and Django, even though I have no prior experience with Django. To get a head start, I created a simple API for a calculator app that stores usernames, passwords, and calculation histories. However, I'm feeling uncertain about my learning process. While I'm picking up concepts related to models, serializers, JWT tokens, REST APIs, and React design patterns like useEffect and context, I haven't been reading official documentation. Instead, I rely on AI tools like ChatGPT to explain things to me. When I hit a snag, I often ask ChatGPT for code solutions and explanations. I'm concerned about this approach since I've heard that AI-generated code isn't always reliable. I'd really appreciate your opinions on my learning method. Thank you!
4 Answers
Think about how developers learned years ago without AI. It's not the worst approach to use AI, but remember that just being able to read code doesn't mean you can write it effectively. You should focus on understanding the design and reasoning behind your implementations, not just the code itself.
You're on the right path in terms of learning. Just remember that smaller projects might not teach you everything you need to know about frameworks like Django or React. To deepen your understanding, try to tackle more challenging projects over time. This will help you get past your reliance on AI and push you to read the documentation more.
Since you're implementing a login system, take the opportunity to learn proper authentication methods. Research about OAuth and security principles, which are essential for developing safe applications. The best way to learn from projects is to keep identifying areas where you can improve.
Maybe consider slowing down and reading the documentation instead of depending solely on AI. Google and do research; AI can give quick answers, but it's not always reliable. Understanding how to find info on your own is crucial. You need to confirm what the AI gives you, and for that, reading the docs is key.
Exactly! Learning to look things up the old-fashioned way is super important. If you just rely on AI, you might miss out on the deeper understanding of concepts.
Thanks for the encouragement! I've been thinking of taking on bigger challenges to understand my projects better. It’s definitely time to dig deeper into the frameworks I'm using.