When I start learning a new library or SDK, I usually rely on reading the official documentation and experimenting on my own rather than watching videos or taking courses. I'm wondering how to make that process more efficient. Should I try to study and memorize most of the documentation, or is it better to skim the main concepts, build a small project, and return to the docs whenever I need specific syntax or methods? I'd also appreciate any techniques for retaining important fundamentals while avoiding time spent on information I may never use.
2 Answers
Start with the fundamentals that support your goal, such as the main objects, data flow, configuration, and common patterns. Take brief notes or write tiny examples for those concepts, then reinforce them by using them in a project. There’s no need to memorize every option or method upfront; focus on understanding what the library is capable of and knowing how to find the exact details when you need them.
Treat documentation more like a reference manual than a textbook. Skim the overview, installation steps, and getting-started guide first so you understand how the library is organized. Then build something small and use the docs whenever you run into a problem. Looking up the same feature a few times usually makes it stick, while trying to memorize everything is inefficient because much of the documentation may never be relevant to your project.
That makes sense. I’ve been worried that needing to check the documentation repeatedly means I’m not learning properly, but it sounds like that’s a normal part of working with libraries.