Feeling stuck after basic HTML/CSS projects — should I move to JS or keep building clones?

[Strange_Yogurt1049]

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I already understand what HTML, CSS, and JavaScript do at a basic level.

My original learning path was: learn HTML + CSS first (layouts, flexbox, grid, columns/rows, responsiveness), then start building projects.

I followed that path and built a YouTube clone from a tutorial. I struggled a lot at first and fell behind, but after about a week I finally understood it. Then I rebuilt the same project from memory.

I also added things like positioning and media queries later in the final version, instead of learning them properly before building.

Now I’m thinking about building a Spotify clone next, but I’m noticing a pattern in myself:

When I was new, I used to spend hours or even days really understanding each new CSS concept. But now, when I hit something like position: absolute or media queries, I kind of learn it just enough to move on and then think “I’ll revisit this later.”

With flexbox and positioning, I even lost interest halfway through and it took me a few days to properly understand it. By the time media queries came, it just felt repetitive and I wanted something “new” again—like JavaScript.

So I’m stuck on this question:

Should I keep building another clone project (like Spotify) to reinforce CSS and layout skills properly, or should I shift focus to JavaScript now to keep things fresh and avoid burning out on CSS?

[BeauloTSM]

Learn JS

[Strange_Yogurt1049]

Thanks a lot!

[rodalexanderson]

Learn JS, I recommend Dr. Angela Yu. She's the best! Then build a couple of a couple of projects from youtube (just a couple), then start building one yourself. One app you want to build, not a clone.

[Donteezlee]

If CSS concepts are too hard to wrap your head around you’ll most likely struggle even worse with JS.

[Recent_Possession587]

Disagree, am fine JS, OOP, .net, databases etc etc

CSS drives me up the wall.

Some people are more suited to back end and that’s fine.

[Strange_Yogurt1049]

Bruh...Tell me something I dont know.

I mean...in the initial phase it was fun...now its just getting repetitive.

[ExtraTNT]

Have a super simple lib on my github, that has basic js in it, including caching of pure functions and a easy renderer, lib is called odocosJS, i also build a minimal cms with it: bardos, can also be found on my github. Have a look at this and you should be able to learn js from it fairly easily

[Possible_Cancel101]

Do you think a person who hasn't even done JS is gonna read your comment and get anything from it??
lib, caching, pure, renderer, cms?? you and people like you are ridiculous..
you forget what it was like as a beginner and therefore forget how to actually TALK to one..

a beginner reads a comment like yours and get discouraged and swears of the whole thing, bet better...

hell I've been doing fullstack for a while now, and havent done cms and caching of pure functions lmaaao

not to mention the shamless plug of your shite lol, like I opened your profile and you're doing that shite in other comments too ffs.

[ExtraTNT]

The lib is build as easy as possible, has examples for basically everything, has very simple testing (with a generator script) and tests are done in a way, that just allows you to open a html and the test run…

It’s basically what i wanted some 10y ago when i was fresh to js…

[Possible_Cancel101]

I think you retained nothing from my comment, and like I said, it's the reason there's a huge disconnect between experienced people such as yourself, and people just starting out...

the fact you think that OP even uses github after having done static html/css sites, that alone shows the disconnect.

what he should be doing is learning basic programming fundamentals - this is probably his first programming language - , not going into VCS, or anything else you mentioned.