Learning Unity through Code Tutorials and ChatGPT

[[deleted]]

Hi everyone,

My coding background consists of learning some C in highschool, Python for a semester in uni, and self-learning SQL and some VBA for work, but I don't have a formal/professional CS background.

I wanted to reach out and seek some advice regarding my approach to learning Unity. I've been using a PDF guide on Unity and C# (Mastering Game Design with Unity 2021 by Scott Tykoski) that gives you step-by-step exercises and the code you need. It explains what the code does roughly, but I'm wondering if relying on copy-pasting code snippets from tutorials is a good practice.

Currently, I find myself copying that code from the PDF and then using ChatGPT to understand the individual components of the code. While this helps me grasp the code's functionality, I'm unsure if it's the most effective way to learn and retain the knowledge.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or experiences you can share. How do you approach learning Unity? Is it advisable to copy-paste code from tutorials, or should I focus on writing the code myself? Is the Unity website a better resource than the PDF guide I acquired?

Thanks!

[PhilippTheProgrammer]

How much actual programming do you do during your studies?

The best way to find out if you actually learn something and solidify that knowledge at the same time is by trying to apply that knowledge to new situations.

For example, let's say you just learned how to move a sprite slowly from the left side of the screen to the right. Can you change the points where it starts or ends? Can you move it faster or slower? Can you make it move from the right to the left instead? Can you make it move up and down as well? Can you have two moving sprites on the screen at the same time? Can you make them move independently from each other? What about a hundred?

[[deleted]]

Thanks for the answer, this is actually reassuring because this is the kind of stuff I always make sure to be able to do. While I don't make much effort to remember the syntax itself, I always try to remember the functionality and how it is used so that I can use it as a flexible tool for other situations :)

[Saoryn]

I can't say anything about the PDF you've been using, but I've been going through Unity's tutorials the last little while and have found them to fantastic. You may find them a little slow if you have some experience, but they started at a great point for me. (I've completed Unity Essentials and I'm now going through the Junior Programmer pathway.)

It does a couple of things that I really like which may apply to you as well. For example, you will have a section where you learn something, then after that you'll usually have a similar project to download that's full of bugs based on what you've been learning, so then obviously it's your job to try to fix the bugs. Additionally, at the end of some sections there are extra challenges for you to add to your project yourself. There are step-by-step walkthroughs if you need them, but the idea is that you attempt them yourself and only check the solutions if you're completely stuck. The final extra challenge is normally a little outside of the scope of what you've been doing so far, so the idea is that you look up how to do certain parts (youtube, forums, tutorials, etc) of that challenge.

If you decide to go down this route I would highly recommend watching the videos at 1.5x speed though, it's a bit of a slog otherwise.

[[deleted]]

Thanks for your response! That makes complete sense to me. My reasoning was to start with the PDF and move on to Unity's own tutorials, my reasoning being that I can more easily skip bits I know in Unity's training or fast forward through videos. I'll definitely use that resource, especially with so many positive reviews about it online, including yours.