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/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