Don't Just Copy & Paste

Source: https://twitter.com/thecodercoder/status/1257299407151783936

When you are learning something, following a tutorial or guide, reading StackOverflow, or learning a new language:

• Don't just copy & paste. It's harder to make yourself stop and try to understand but worth it.

• When you're are learning a new concept, go through each section one time to start off

• Take notes and jot down thoughts or key parts

• Then pause, digest, and try to recreate the example. See how far you can get without looking back.

• Reread or rewatch the same material again, with a focus on what you missed last time

• At each stage, try to force yourself to understand why the code is working or not.

• Be mindful of where you have gaps in your understanding and write those down

• Then work to specifically fill in those gaps, this helps you retain knowledge better

• The more gaps you fill up over time this way, the more you will expand your knowledge

• Google around and check Stackoverflow to further build knowledge and close gaps