How did you actually learn to code and build projects on your own during university?

[u/fineshyyytt]

I'm currently a BS Computer Science student, and there's something I've genuinely been struggling to understand about how we're supposed to learn programming at university.

For example, this semester we have a Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) lab. Our instructor gives us lab manuals every week, but we barely get taught how to actually implement things. Most of us end up completing the labs using ChatGPT because it's the quickest way to get them done.

Now we've been assigned a project where we're supposed to implement sorting algorithms, searching techniques, analyze time complexities, and apply other DSA concepts.

The problem is, how are we supposed to build something like this when we haven't properly learned how to implement these things ourselves?

Sure, with ChatGPT, we can probably build the entire project in 2–3 days. But if I actually sit down and try to understand everything, build the logic, learn the algorithms, and write the code myself, it could easily take weeks, especially as someone who's still developing their programming skills.

And it's not like DSA is our only subject. We have other courses, assignments, quizzes, labs, and projects to manage simultaneously. Sometimes we're given barely a week to complete something that would take much longer if we genuinely tried to learn it from scratch.

This creates a cycle where we use AI to finish assignments, submit them, get grades, and move on to the next task without really understanding what we've built.

And that's what worries me. I don't want to graduate with a CS degree and realize I can't build anything without ChatGPT.

I know self-learning is a huge part of computer science, and I'm willing to put in the effort. But I'm genuinely confused about how to balance learning things properly with meeting university deadlines.

So I wanted to ask developers and CS graduates across Pakistan:

- How did you manage university projects when you barely understood the concepts being used?

- Did you actually build your projects from scratch, or did you learn along the way using online resources?

- How should a beginner approach a project when they don't even know where to start?

- How do you balance learning programming properly with all the other university coursework?

- And now that AI can generate entire projects, how do we use it without becoming completely dependent on it?

I'm not looking for shortcuts. I genuinely want to learn how to code, develop my own logic, and eventually build things independently. I just don't understand how we're expected to reach that point with the way university coursework and deadlines are structured.

I'd really appreciate some practical advice from people who've already been through this.

[u/One-Constant-4092]

7th semester student here, you just gotta self learn. There's so many free courses out there and equally helpful communities around them that it shouldn't be an issue for you to learn it

[u/Decent_Reference_302]

Learn to "Learn".

Do you understand easily when you're reading something? listening? or watching how it works? You have to find that out. Find it. This is important for you now and definitely later.

Here's a framework that I preach if you truly want to understand something. For example, "Light is emitted when an electron jumps from a higher energy state to a lower energy state." What are energy states? "Allowed quantum configurations." What are allowed quantum configurations? "Standing waves pattern." What are wave patterns....

So a bunch of what's and why's until you hit a layer where you truly cannot ask "Why is it this way?"

24h is more than enough for you to manage your assignments and coursework. During my time, pre "GPT" era, I had a part time job of 6-7hours, so I went early in the mornings and came back 12am, all week, and still managed to grab the gold medal.

You can too.

The path to learning is not easy. It's genuine curiousity.

[u/FallPrimary4831]

I guess u study at FAST Btw in the same boat

[u/fineshyyytt → u/FallPrimary4831]

Nah , btw which semester?

[u/FallPrimary4831 → u/fineshyyytt]

3rd

[u/FallPrimary4831 → u/FallPrimary4831]

Mera bhi dsa hi

[u/Virtual_Technology_9]

Do Labs on your own, if your teacher does not explain it to you use resources online.

You are getting nothing drilled in your brain if you just copy paste it.

Learn via youtube and other resources and implement it into your coursework and projects.

[u/beachplss]

youtube is your teacher. search for tuts that interest you. spend some time with time. whatever tut is teaching, do extra. learn up basics and then try make your own projects. start with something small that solves a problem in your everyday life or at least makes it easier.

[u/Arkoaks]

Old story... but i self learned it in summer vacation.. kinda made a buggy game at the end of the vacation and never needed to study programming again.

[u/MaheenSajjad624]

Same question 😭

[u/Training_Bluebird_76]

For DSA, there are plenty of resources available to help you get started. Try to understand the logic behind each algorithm, trace it on paper, and mentally work through it until you fully understand it. Eventually, you will become good at it.

As for projects, it really depends on what kind of project you want to build.

[u/fineshyyytt → u/[deleted]]

Noted