Shoutout to the dude who told me to stop memorizing syntax

I spent like 6 months trying to memorize every JavaScript method before I even built anything. Some guy on a forum back in 2021 told me to just start a project and Google everything. I ignored him at first but after getting stuck on a simple to-do list app for 3 weeks I gave it a shot. Now I can build a basic API in about 2 hours even though I still forget how Array.map works half the time. Has anyone else found that letting go of perfect recall actually made them learn faster?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wren1mo ago

Three years ago I spent an entire weekend trying to memorize all the React lifecycle methods for no reason at all. I wrote flashcards and everything, which is hilarious because I still can't tell you what componentDidMount actually does without looking it up first. My first real project was a weather app that just showed "your location is broken" because I forgot how to ask for geolocation permissions. But honestly forgetting stuff constantly made me faster in the long run, you just develop this weird muscle memory for googling the exact right thing. Array.map is my nemesis too though, every single time I stare at it for five seconds like it's a stranger.

the_derek27d ago

Flip it around and realize the real skill isn't knowing syntax or even googling well. It's recognizing when your confusion means your approach is wrong, not your memory. Most beginners waste time memorizing because it feels safe, but that safety keeps you from hitting the hard wall where real learning happens.

umar591mo ago

The "weird muscle memory for googling" thing is kind of funny to me because that's just normal now for everyone. Like you're not special for needing to look up Array.map, we all do it. I've been coding on and off for years and I still have to double check how to filter an array half the time. Eventually you just accept that your brain isn't a reference manual and move on. But honestly this whole "letting go changed my life" thing feels dramatic. You just learned how to use Google better, that's all.

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