Best Tip for Getting Unstuck in Programming

Many individuals embarking on a programming journey often find themselves in a challenging phase where, despite extensive study, tangible progress remains elusive. This sentiment was echoed by Vittor Logon, who shared his frustration of feeling stuck for two years while working in analysis and development, primarily utilizing SQL and PowerBI. His desire was to transition into programming, for which he diligently studied in his free time, enrolling in numerous courses. However, this dedication did not translate into visible skill progression, leading to significant frustration and a sense of stagnation. This experience is common among beginners, highlighting a critical point where traditional learning methods may fall short in fostering real-world development.

I see that many people, including myself, got stuck for a long time at the beginning. I studied, studied, but didn't see real progress.

Vittor's experience reflects a widespread issue in the early stages of a programming career, where the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, leading to a feeling of being 'stuck.' Despite dedicating considerable time to learning and taking multiple courses, the lack of a clear path to apply this knowledge can prevent learners from seeing measurable improvements. This often results in a cycle of continuous study without the reinforcing feedback of practical application, ultimately hindering genuine skill development and fostering a sense of being trapped in an educational loop.

A significant turning point for Vittor came when he shifted his methodology from solely focusing on courses to prioritizing hands-on projects, using courses primarily as auxiliary resources. This change, implemented in January, dramatically improved his learning curve and made his progress tangible. He realized that while courses provide foundational knowledge, actively building projects is where true understanding and practical skills are solidified. This approach transforms passive learning into active creation, allowing learners to apply concepts directly and observe their development in real-time.

The benefits of focusing on projects include:

The fundamental question arises: why does one learn to do something in the professional field? The purpose is not merely personal enrichment but to generate some form of impact. Every professional endeavor, including programming, aims to effect change or improve something, however minor. If efforts in learning and project development do not culminate in any discernible impact, they essentially represent wasted energy. This perspective is crucial because potential, while valuable, must be transformed into potency—the ability to actively modify or enhance the world, even by a minute fraction such as 0.001%.

Understanding the ultimate goal of generating impact is paramount for any professional. When individuals, especially those supported by employment or investment, lose sight of this objective, their initiatives often fail to thrive and may disappear entirely. Conversely, recognizing that impact is the most critical element empowers professionals to choose any tool or method to achieve their goals, fostering a flexible and results-oriented mindset. This approach starkly contrasts with becoming overly attached to technical details or engaging in over-engineering, which can lead to projects that, despite their complexity, fail to deliver meaningful results.

If you only study and do projects that generate no impact, you just wasted energy.

The distinction between merely acquiring knowledge and actively creating impact can be visualized as two different approaches to development. One focuses solely on internal growth and technical perfection, while the other prioritizes external outcomes and tangible contributions. The latter ensures that every effort is aligned with a purpose, preventing the dissipation of resources and ensuring that learning translates into effective action.

This core philosophy, centered on generating impact, is the driving force behind curso.dev. The program adopts a revolutionary approach, inverting the traditional learning model. Instead of fixating on technology first, it prioritizes understanding the need for impact. Only after clarifying the desired impact is the surrounding technology constructed. This method ensures that all technical learning is purposeful and directly contributes to a meaningful outcome, making the development process highly effective and focused on real-world application rather than abstract technical mastery.

The curso.dev stands out for its unique curriculum and challenges designed to instill an impact-first mindset. It offers a learning environment that encourages participants to think beyond mere coding and to consider the broader implications and value of their work. This distinct approach sets it apart from many other online resources, which often emphasize technical skills in isolation without sufficiently connecting them to practical, impactful applications. The course aims to transform how developers perceive their role, moving them from code producers to impact generators.

A cornerstone of the curso.dev is a compelling challenge: delivering a single phrase via a personal internet address to impact just one person. This challenge, exemplified by sending a heartfelt message to a loved one, serves as a profound test of one's ability to create genuine impact. The principle is simple yet powerful: if one cannot create impact for a single individual, especially someone close, scaling that impact to a multitude of strangers becomes an insurmountable task. Programmers, possessing the unique ability to achieve scale through code, must first master the art of affecting a single human being before aiming for broader influence.

If you can't generate impact with a person close to you, how do you expect to cause impact in a crowd you don't even know?

The importance of this challenge is multi-faceted:

The effectiveness of the challenge was personally demonstrated by the speaker, who undertook the task of sending a phrase to his wife, Renata, and capturing her reaction. This real-world application served as a powerful testament to the challenge's core principle. The full results of this specific challenge and the collective outcomes of other students remain private within the course environment, fostering a unique and supportive community where personal breakthroughs are celebrated. This confidential setting ensures that participants feel secure in sharing their vulnerabilities and successes, making the learning process even more impactful.

The speaker documented his experience of sending the link to his wife and anticipating her response, highlighting the genuine apprehension involved in such a personal experiment. The effort to keep the challenge a secret from Renata, even while preparing the video's script and edits, underscored the authenticity of the demonstration. While the complete reaction footage is reserved for participants of the curso.dev, the anticipation and the unique nature of the experiment emphasize the program's commitment to delivering truly impactful and transformative learning experiences. Those who have participated and been positively affected are encouraged to share their feedback, further validating the distinct value proposition of the course.