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Tutorial Hell. You’ve probably heard the term a million times. But do you truly understand what it means? And why it’s so important to break free from the constraints tutorials can impose?
Don’t get me wrong—tutorials are great. They’re typically a step-by-step guide to a particular technology, often taught by talented instructors. But here’s the downside: tutorials are exactly that… you’re led by the hand through each step, spoon-fed what to do and when. There’s very little independent thought involved. You just follow instructions and… voila, job done.
The problem is that after completing the tutorial, you don’t actually know how to do it yourself. You code along, pause when necessary to catch up, then continue until it’s done. This approach is fine on its own, but it becomes a problem when you try to apply what you’ve learned independently. Suddenly, you realize you don’t know how to replicate it without guidance!
If you’re stuck in tutorial hell, the first step is to not despair. We’ve all been there, and escaping it is easier than you might think if you follow a few essential steps.
Step 1: Commit to Learning Independently
Breaking free from the habit of relying on tutorials can be tough, but with practice, it becomes easier.
One effective approach is to follow the tutorial’s example but then take control. Start by forming a mental picture of the process and expected outcome. Break each step down and focus on what’s happening, why a specific result occurs, and note any observations. Then close the tutorial. Shut down the video! Open your code editor and try to reproduce the result on your own until you achieve it.
You’ll make mistakes, and you’ll feel tempted to reopen the tutorial. Resist. Refer to your own notes and code snippets. If you’re stuck, search the problem online or consult Stack Overflow. This way, you’re reinforcing your understanding as you work through challenges.
The more you actually think about what you’re doing, the stronger your learning becomes. Running into problems is a crucial part of this process because problem-solving encourages critical thinking. Define the problem, experiment, make mistakes, and keep going until you find the solution.
From Passive to Active Learning
In my early days of coding, I watched hundreds of tutorials, coding along and generally reaching the same outcomes as the instructor. But then, I’d move on to the next tutorial and often forget the last one entirely. If you’re doing this, it’s time to change that habit.
By all means, use tutorials to learn foundational principles. But break each tutorial down into manageable sections. For each part, follow along mentally, take notes on what’s happening and why, and make sure to code along with the instructor.
At the end of each section, stop! Close the tutorial, refer to your notes, open your code editor, and attempt to recreate the outcome independently. You’ll likely fail at first—and that’s okay. The more you practice, the easier it becomes, and the better you’ll get. Eventually, you’ll master each section on your own, at which point you can move on to the next.
How to Put This Approach into Action
To put this into practice, decide what you want to learn, find a good tutorial, and break it down into sections or steps (most tutorials are already structured this way). Then, get a reliable note-taking app. I use Obsidian for this. As you follow along, take notes, code along, and add both the code snippets and your observations. When each section is complete, close everything, and try to reproduce the result until you have it down and are ready to move forward.
I promise that by following this method, you’ll avoid tutorial hell and start using tutorials as a solid foundation for genuine mastery.
A Real-World Example
When I was learning Django, I followed numerous tutorials, coding along but rarely taking notes. By the end of each tutorial, I had a functioning website… but ask me to build one unaided, and I was lost. I couldn’t even remember how to start a Django project!
To break free, I installed a good note-taking app (I think it was Evernote back then) and worked through the tutorial one section at a time. After each section, I closed the tutorial, opened my code editor, referred to my notes, and practiced repeatedly.
Each time I practiced, I got a little further. When I hit a roadblock, I’d search online or check Stack Overflow to see how others had solved similar issues. Over time, I made so many mistakes that I couldn’t help but learn! Soon enough, I could install and configure Django unaided.
Once I mastered the setup, I’d revisit the tutorial for the next step, repeating the process. Each time, I practiced from the complete install and configuration steps through to the next step of implementing something new. This constant exercise transformed the process into second nature.
Conclusion: Use Tutorials as a Launchpad
To conclude, tutorials are valuable learning resources, but use them as a means to an end—not the end itself. The best way to learn is by breaking tutorials into manageable pieces. Watch (or read), code along, take notes, close the tutorial, open your code editor, and practice. Go as far as you can independently; when you get stuck, refer to your notes or research the solution. Then, move to the next step.
Above all, practice. Keep going until you can complete each step without assistance. Celebrate each success and prepare yourself for the next stage in your journey as an independent learner.
Good luck, and happy coding!
