The "just copy this code" tutorials are hurting beginners

I keep seeing tutorial videos where they skip explaining why the code works and just tell you to paste it in. Last week I watched a guy spend 15 minutes copying a login form from YouTube without understanding a single line. How are you supposed to debug something you never learned to write yourself? Has anyone else been burned by following along too fast and then not being able to fix it when things broke?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_taylor3229d ago

You've got a good point but I think calling them "tutorials" is a bit generous. Most of those are just copy-paste demos, not actual teaching. A real tutorial breaks down what each line does and why you're using it. That login form guy probably can't even tell you what "preventDefault()" does or why it matters for form submission. The worst part is when they paste a whole block of code, hit run, and call it a lesson when really they just showed you how to be a human Ctrl-C machine.

the_thea29d ago

Ugh, yes, I totally feel that. It's like watching someone just go through the motions without actually understanding what they're doing. I mean, you're right, a real tutorial should explain the "why" behind the code, not just show the "how".

taylorshah29d ago

Lol right, the "watch me type" school of programming.