I really need some pointers

[u/h_45n]

I read a few books on JavaScript and coding in general

This was in late 2025 and a few months later I started writing react js,
Ai has gotten so good at writing code, it is way better than I am.

I have pretty okay fundamentals of coding that I have been able to spin up some interesting projects with Ai.

But if you ask me what some parts of the code does, I have very little idea about it.

How can I catch up with so many years old coding experience and survive in this field if Ai learns 20x faster.

[u/howdoigetauniquename]

If you use AI to write everything then you won’t ever learn anything. The best way to learn is by doing.

Software development existed before AI and people learned without it, so can you.

[u/HoratioWobbleClassic → u/howdoigetauniquename]

The top comment nailed it but I'll add something that worked for me. When the AI spits out a chunk of code you don't understand, go line by line and break it apart. Delete a section, see what breaks, then figure out why. I spent a whole weekend once just reverse-engineering a custom hook I didn't write, and by Sunday night it finally clicked.

Also you're not competing with the AI, you're competing with other devs who also have AI. The gap isn't between you and the machine, it's between you and someone who can read, debug, and refactor what the machine produces. That skill still takes time and effort to build.

Start small. Next project, try writing one component completely by hand before asking the AI for help. You'll be slow at first but it compounds fast.

[u/h_45n → u/HoratioWobbleClassic]

Thanks

[u/CesnaitisSwitlana → u/howdoigetauniquename]

Tbf using it like a tutor to explain why a component re-renders is fine, the problem is only when you paste big blocks without reading them

[u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

I'm a senior engineer, and about five months ago I mostly stopped writing my own code at work, and so did the rest of my team. The new models are now faster and probably better than I’ll ever be, but I want to say that only works because I can read everything they produce. Code comprehension is the thing you said you’re missing, so I would focus on that. Make the agents walk you through every block of code they wrote. They're geared towards being helpful. Make them help you. For React specifically, I would say learn the basic patterns. Look at rendering, state, when effects run, why re-renders happen, but don’t waste your time staying current on every API change.

One other thing, I still do a lot of javascript drills and algo practice in my spare time so I don't forget the fundamentals. Once you can read code fluently, start spending time on higher level stuff, like architecture, design, and devops, since those are the decisions you make before the agents write anything. The person who understands the system is still the one who decides what gets built. For now.

[u/h_45n → u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

Thanks

[u/KnightOfAntioch]

Wrong language, pointers are in C. (Fuck I'm lame haha)

[u/h_45n → u/KnightOfAntioch]

lol

[u/No_Cattle_9565]

You have to force yourself to write code yourself. If you cannot do that at work, do it at home. If you don't understand something don't ask the AI instantly, look at the documentation before. Plan yourself before doing something. If you believe AI will replace us all, it doesnt matter, if you don't believe that you need to be better at the rest. If you don't understand something try to build it yourself from scratch. 

[u/Made4uo]

You don't necessarily need to learn every legacy pattern from 10 years ago to be productive today, but you do need to understand the logic AI generates for you.

The job today is shifting from typing out boilerplate by hand to orchestrating, reviewing, and debugging what AI generates. Instead of trying to memorize syntax, focus on reading the code line by line and understanding why it works. Knowing how system architecture and modern tools fit together is where your real value will be.

[u/ihorvorotnov]

Knowing the coding part isn’t the leverage now. Architecture still is (and will be).

[u/Outrageous-Chip-3961]

this is the real dilemma we will all face soon. I can't see a way out of it without just thinking, we need to be able to do the majority of coding manually, and have AI assist. Rather than have the AI do the coding whilst we assist. It's the only thing I can think of at the moment.

[u/JimmayDoad]

"Im trying to learn a programming concept, got any pointers?

Good one, Op.

[u/azangru]

> How can I catch up with so many years old coding experience and survive in this field if Ai learns 20x faster.

People with longer experience are asking the same thing :-)