How To Get Out of Tutorial Hell (Step by Step Guide)

Summary

This video tutorial introduces 'Question Driven Development' (QDD), a method to escape 'tutorial hell' and foster real-world coding skills. It advises beginners to focus on small projects under 100 lines of unique code, using Google to solve specific problems. The speaker recommends completing at least 50 mini-projects to build a foundation, then cloning 10 cool websites to apply the skills. By breaking down tasks into smaller questions and using tutorials sparingly, learners can develop a positive feedback loop and become proficient developers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video introduces a two-part program to help beginners escape 'tutorial hell' and start creating their own software.
• 🔑 Prerequisites for the program include understanding of basic programming concepts like variables, loops, conditionals, and functions, and optionally HTML and CSS for front-end development.
• 🚫 A key rule is to refrain from watching any more tutorials until the exercise is complete to encourage independent problem-solving.
• 🔍 The video recommends using 'Question Driven Development' (QDD), a framework that involves breaking down goals into a series of small questions and finding solutions through Google.
• 📝 For beginners, small projects are defined as having less than 100 lines of unique code and avoiding boilerplate code.
• 💡 To find project ideas, the video suggests searching for 'beginner problems' or 'exercises' in a specific programming language.
• 🔄 The process of QDD involves Googling each step of the project, starting with setting up the development environment and moving on to specific coding challenges.
• 🎯 Completing a minimum of 50 small projects is suggested to build a positive feedback loop and make coding fun.
• 🌐 After warming up with small projects, the next step is to clone 10 cool and unique websites, which helps in avoiding procrastination and the pressure of originality.
• 📋 Defining an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) for a project helps in breaking it down into smaller, achievable goals that can be tackled individually.
• 🔑 Decomposition is highlighted as a vital skill in computer science, allowing developers to break down complex problems into smaller, solvable parts.
• 🔄 The video concludes with the advice to maintain a healthy relationship with tutorials by building small projects after learning new concepts.

Q & A

What is the main issue being addressed in this tutorial?

The tutorial addresses the issue of 'tutorial hell', where beginners in programming follow many tutorials but struggle to create original software on their own.

What are the three prerequisites mentioned for this beginner's programming tutorial?

The prerequisites are understanding of basic programming concepts like variables, loops, conditionals, and functions, picking a specific area of software development to focus on, and a commitment to not watch any more tutorials until the exercise is over.

What is the framework called that the tutorial suggests for breaking out of tutorial hell?

The framework is called Question Driven Development (QDD), which involves setting an end goal and breaking it down into a series of small questions to Google and solve.

What is the significance of using QDD in learning to code?

QDD is significant because it resembles real-life software development, encourages independent problem-solving, and helps in building a positive feedback loop by solving small, manageable problems.

What is the recommended approach to finding small projects to work on using QDD?

The recommended approach is to search for beginner problems or exercises in a specific language, which will provide a list of small projects like creating a temperature converter or checking if a word is a palindrome.

How does the tutorial suggest using QDD for a specific problem like checking if a word is a palindrome?

The tutorial suggests starting by Googling how to code in VS Code, then how to reverse a string in JavaScript, and finally figuring out how to integrate the found solutions into your own code with the necessary conditionals.

Why is it suggested to do a minimum of 50 small projects before moving on to larger ones?

Doing 50 small projects helps in warming up the brain without overwhelming it with too much information, and it creates a foundation that can be pieced together into full-blown projects.

What is the purpose of cloning websites after completing the minimum number of small projects?

Cloning websites helps in avoiding the pressure of coming up with original designs and functionalities, and it allows the programmer to focus on applying the skills learned without the distraction of creativity.

What is the concept of an MVP in the context of this tutorial?

An MVP, or Minimum Viable Product, refers to defining the minimum set of features that a project must have to be considered complete, which helps in focusing the development process.

How does the tutorial suggest breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable parts?

The tutorial suggests using the technique of decomposition, where each feature of the project is broken down into smaller components, each of which can be researched and solved independently.

What is the final advice given in the tutorial regarding the relationship with tutorials after completing the exercise?

The final advice is to build a healthy relationship with tutorials, where after learning something new from a tutorial, one should immediately apply it by building three small projects, thus reinforcing the learning with practice.