I've been trying really hard to learn MERN and Next.js, but despite watching numerous tutorials and even completing a full project step-by-step, I still don't get the overall flow. I find it difficult to build even the simplest apps. I feel like I'm stuck in a loop of hopping from one tutorial to another without really understanding anything. Should I focus more on practicing or on building my own projects? Plus, I've been relying on AI tools like ChatGPT, and I think it might be hindering my ability to think critically and learn effectively. I'm eager to become a developer and create applications, but I want to make sure I'm channeling my energy in the right way. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like you're caught in "tutorial hell." It's easy to feel productive watching full project builds, but that doesn’t really help you grasp the concepts. What worked for me was stopping the tutorials earlier and attempting to rebuild small parts on my own. Try setting up a single API route or a basic component without following along. It may seem slower, but that's where real learning happens! And as for using AI, it's a great tool, just make sure you're using it to help you think, not do all the thinking for you. Focus on building instead of just consuming content.
I was in the same boat for months! What helped me was just building something, even if it was messy and barely functional, instead of strictly following tutorials. You truly learn more from encountering problems and searching for solutions than from just copying code. Don’t stress about making it perfect – just get something working, and you'll improve along the way!
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