Learning to Code While AI Runs Laps Around Me
20 JUL 2025
•
Artificial Intelligence
When I first dipped my toes into React, Express, and a dozen other JavaScript frameworks, I was ready for the movie-like scenes, I had in my brain running like anything
TOO LATE In 2025, I wasn't alone. Nobody was. Lurking in my browser tabs were ChatGPT, Gemini, Cursor, Langflow AI, Lovable, Copilot, Replit Ghostwriter, and a few others that seemed to have inhaled entire programming libraries while I was still figuring out how to center a <div>.
It's humbling, and honestly, hilarious to watch an AI write the React component I just spent an hour struggling with... in about three seconds. My npm install is still running, and the AI has already built, deployed, and documented the whole app.
At first, it stung. Was I really learning, or was I just feeding prompts? But here's the thing, the more I used these tools, the more I noticed a shift. They weren't replacing me; they were accelerating me with the repetitive tasks.
I stopped spending 45 minutes writing the same basic thing. I started spending those minutes understanding better core CS.
I've made peace with these. The most important thing is - They're the infinitely patient tutors. I'll keep learning my React hooks, my Express routes, my authentication flows - not because I'll beat AI at them anytime soon, but because I love understanding how this craft works.
After all, even in the age of AI overlords, it still takes a human to dream up what's worth building.
TOO LATE In 2025, I wasn't alone. Nobody was. Lurking in my browser tabs were ChatGPT, Gemini, Cursor, Langflow AI, Lovable, Copilot, Replit Ghostwriter, and a few others that seemed to have inhaled entire programming libraries while I was still figuring out how to center a <div>.
It's humbling, and honestly, hilarious to watch an AI write the React component I just spent an hour struggling with... in about three seconds. My npm install is still running, and the AI has already built, deployed, and documented the whole app.
At first, it stung. Was I really learning, or was I just feeding prompts? But here's the thing, the more I used these tools, the more I noticed a shift. They weren't replacing me; they were accelerating me with the repetitive tasks.
I stopped spending 45 minutes writing the same basic thing. I started spending those minutes understanding better core CS.
I've made peace with these. The most important thing is - They're the infinitely patient tutors. I'll keep learning my React hooks, my Express routes, my authentication flows - not because I'll beat AI at them anytime soon, but because I love understanding how this craft works.
After all, even in the age of AI overlords, it still takes a human to dream up what's worth building.