A common question I received on Twitter recently was how to go from tutorials to actually working on projects. This is an interesting topic because I firmly believe that true mastery of a technology comes from building something with it, rather than just reading or watching tutorials. However, tutorials still play an essential role in the learning process.
Nobody is born knowing how to use a particular technology. We need to be taught, dig into documentation, or even understand how things are supposed to work by working with open source software. Learning new things on a regular basis is a key part of my job and something I personally enjoy. I then leverage this knowledge to create projects and software or to teach others about the technology.
That being said, transitioning from learning to actually building projects can be challenging. There’s no clear line between following tutorials and creating the next big thing like Airbnb. Tutorials can take you to a more advanced level, but at some point, you need to start working on your own project to truly move forward.
There’s a mysterious interval that exists between the “ending tutorials phase” and the “beginning project phase.” By “project,” I don’t necessarily mean a large or definitive project, but rather a sample web app to test your ideas. You can’t reach the next level without actually doing a project.
The famous saying “what got you here won’t get you there” is very appropriate in this context. There comes a point of diminishing returns where simply following tutorials won’t be enough, and you may even start to forget what you’ve learned. That’s when you’ll find yourself going back to tutorials for specific needs that arise while working on your own project.
Having an idea for a project is crucial, and if you don’t have one yet, take some time to think about it. You can also check out my list of sample app ideas for inspiration. Transitioning from following step-by-step instructions, like assembling IKEA furniture, to building something from scratch can be challenging. But if you never start, you’ll never reach that point.
It may be difficult at first, but remember to take your time and just go for it. Building your own projects is where you’ll truly gain mastery and understanding of the technology you’ve been learning. So don’t be afraid to make the leap from tutorials to your own projects.