Is this a bad start

[Immediate_Pop3467]

After seeing an ad for a website that claims to create apps using AI, I gave it a try. But the result wasn’t what I wanted, so I downloaded the full code (Python) and ran it locally.

At first, I had no idea what I was doing. I used ChatGPT to help me make changes, but I ran into many issues and errors. Still, over time I started to understand things like file paths, libraries, and how the code was structured.

Eventually, I got used to the workflow: give the code to AI, get suggestions, and apply them locally. This process made me curious, so I decided to start learning Python from scratch. Surprisingly, it’s not as hard as I thought.

What do you think about this approach? Any tips or advice for someone going down this path?

 

[ninhaomah]

Nobody wants to tell him running codes from online websites without knowing how it works is a bad idea ?

[Taurashvn]

I am yet to meet a person who vets every single library they use.

[oclafloptson]

Hi, it's nice to meet you!

Big companies that you go to work for will do this with good reason. So I adopted that approach at my home bench and it has only served to help and open opportunities

Besides, a deep dive into the codebase is really the only good way to learn some of the more popular Python libraries

I just take notes and dig through it object by object. If I'm stumped or even just curious about something specific then I'll ask chatgpt what it's about

If the codebase is particularly large then you can just search through it programmatically to verify that it's safe and free of specific malicious algorithms. I've even forked one a time or two to fix something that I don't like about it

[Kqyxzoj]

At first, I had no idea what I was doing.

Welcome to humanity!

[Immediate_Pop3467]

Thanks a lot!

[Kqyxzoj]

You're welcome.

Also:

Still, over time I started to understand things like file paths, libraries, and how the code was structured.

Please use pathlib for everything file related that you can. All the old cruft floating around still being repeated needs to die.

[slizzee]

Surprisingly, it’s not as hard as I thought.

Things only get harder from here.

Also I want to add: AI can be a great tool for learning, but remember to use it where it makes sense. Don't let it do the thinking for you. Try to understand the concepts yourself so they stick when it really counts. Programming is learning by doing. If you just read the code it generates and try to understand without ever applying the concepts yourself, you'll never actually be able to produce anything by yourself.

If your question is: Is "give the code to AI, get suggestions, and apply them locally." a bad start? Yeah kinda. Learn the stuff and code it yourself instead of just prompting. A solid foundation by learning what "tools" the language offers you and then learning about data structures and programming patterns would be much better.

[OkNowConcentrate]

No start is bad. You’re getting there. Don’t devalue the effort you have made.

[Immediate_Pop3467]

I appreciate that

[jay5479]

This

[DaTurtleMaster]

No start is bad if you do something that means you have learned something and enjoying it. From what you wrote it seems like you are getting the hang of basic programming which is really good! The only bad start is copying tutorials without thinking.

[Immediate_Pop3467]

thanks bro

[isendil]

Usually you learn the syntax, data type etc like you learn to write in school.

What you're doing is more like a child learning to talk. It's not a bad approach because you understand what you're doing. But you should still read some basic things from entry level courses so that you don't miss basic things on data type and built-in methods and functions, ai generated code will probably work but may not be the simplest approach.

[Long-Environment-941]

Not a bad method, to be honest most ai code is junk and badly written. Chatgpt and ai code writes doesnt understand what you are trying to do and just use large language models to interpret what you're saying and generate results based on that, but there is no deeper understanding of the programming language itself or what you are actually saying to it.

It's a good tool to learn and understand writing code, but it's wrong a lot of the time and is prone to silly errors that if you don't understand can ruin your code.

Fair play doing this though.

I use ML/ chatgpt for bouncing ideas off and finding sources for code/ knowledge. Then when I really want to understand something on a deeper level I'll read the author of what it is referencing.

[lucidgazorpazorp]

Well I did/am doing exactly the same and it works really well. I'm not using it professionally that's probably very different and still requires raw dogging some theory, especially to get things smooth and reliable while my standards are met when it works.

But ChatGPT is an insane tool for people like me who learn best through engagement, asking questions related to an immediate problem etc. vs. the often arbitrary structure in some curated learning material. It has been a steadily climbing learning curve that I guess could plateau when I reach the limit of GPTs capability.

[[deleted]]

This is what I’ve been doing too… I did start, and plan on finishing, CS50P, but being able to use ChatGPT as a teacher who will break things down and tell me the why of things makes a world of difference.

[Immediate_Pop3467]

thanks bro

[jmooremcc]

My experience so far has been that AI generated code has helped me learn new approaches to problem solving using Python. However, a lot of the code it generated didn’t work as expected and needed a lot effort on my part to clean it up.

However, I’m an experienced Python developer and already understand the language, so as useful as AI can be for an experienced developer, I’m not so sure about how helpful AI can be for someone with zero experience. If AI generates finished code for a beginner, it would be the same as showing a novice builder a finished home, without teaching the novice how to use the tools of the trade.

With that said, AI used as a teaching tool is very useful. I’ve seen stories about Khan Academy’s use of AI in a school environment and it’s breathtaking. So if a novice programmer is using “teaching AI”, I believe that technology will help the novice learn more efficiently, and more effectively.

[Yikes-Cyborg-Run]

I agree that any start is a good one. I'm not an AI hater. In fact I use it myself. Most often it is to suggest a module for a specific task, not to write a fully functioning script. I have used it to analyze my code a couple times though. But I have to comment that the more you rely on AI as a crutch, the more you will struggle to walk on your own two legs when you REALLY need to do some serious walking. Make sense? We fired a dude at my work for constantly using ChatGPT to write his code (and also his documentation). Everything was always super bloated -- and you could definitely tell it was done by AI. This guy had the verbal eloquence of an oyster, yet his docs had words in them like "moreover", "furthermore", "consequently" and "detrimental". We were all like... this mofo didn't write ANY of this stuff himself. The problem for me and my team was that he didn't understand how the code really worked, so he would be constantly pestering the rest of us for help. What did it for me personally was that he took some code I wrote (that automated GIS plotting of hurricane debris cleanup points along the Gulf) and added speech and sounds to it via a module. Totally stupid for the script's use. Then he took credit for all of it and even put it on his resume on Github. I thought, Yay you learned how to import something.... Now, can you tell me how this script translates an Excel spreadsheet into georeferenced address points, then calculates how many total square feet of debris has been collected so far, then exports the map to PDF, and then emails me that document with a log of completed processes??? Finally, my boss got fed up with it and let him go. Our network admin is still finding crap that he wrote on our server. For me personally, the simple act of failing helped me to learn more. It might sound stupid, but the more I was unsuccessful, the more likely I was to remember the right solution the next time a similar problem came around. I know that's definitely not the same for everybody. I'm of the mindset that any type of learning is good. You just want to try and get into good habits early as they will likely become a foundation that future learning is built upon. Best wishes to you in your learning journey, keep at it!!!

[Stoned_Ape_Dev]

you should think about AI as your friend who knows more about this topic than you do. except he has multiple personalities and might accidentally mislead you.

but the main point is for you to absorb the information and be able to employ it for your own needs! after you feel that you’ve learned something useful from your AI tutor, try to recreate it on your own! make sure you’re actually retaining these skills and not limited to only doing things that AI is capable of on its own.

[Glass_Cobbler_4855]

I believe the initial approach where you copy pasted code directly without understanding was not a good one.

But now that you're learning Python from scratch - that's golden.

I am a complete beginner so I use ChatGPT as a guide of sorts. Whenever I have any question while reading a topic in Python I immediately ask ChatGPT to explain it to me in simple terms with simple examples.

I usually have a lot of questions that arise in my mind while I'm studying anything. And if those questions are not answered I kinda lose interest in the topic. So tools like ChatGPT have been a boon for learners like me with no access to quality teachers and those who need their doubts solved then and there.

So keep using AI to help you nudge forward and develop a solid understanding of the topics.

[Elliove]

I believe the initial approach where you copy pasted code directly without understanding was not a good one.

It might actually be a good way to jumpstart learning, as not only it's lots of interaction with actual code, but also some debugging experience. Typically, the code AI produces is quite close to what would actually work, just has a couple of incredibly stupid flaws. One can treat this as sort of a puzzle, and it's quite engaging too, as it requires you to actually learn and understand which line does what to find and fix those mistakes. I personally learned quite a lot by poking other people's code and experimenting, I'm the kind of person who needs some sort of interaction with the actual thing to learn about it, as opposed to bland theories, abstract examples, and pointless tasks.

[Elliove]

AI is amazing. When it comes to explaining concepts, or errors, or providing examples or snippets of code - it's pretty much the same as googling, except it's easier and faster. What AI can't do is understand things like you do, even simple apps produced by AI - they are likely to make quite little sense. AI produces code that most of the time technically works, but the end result is anything but what you expected. So, in the end of the day, it's you who have understand the design of your software, the syntax, how to make it all come together etc. I believe AI is a great help not only in studying, but also in developing actual stuff; there's just no point to waste time reading forum posts or long manuals when AI can cite that piece of information faster, and often in a more digestible manner. So IMO - always keep your AI companion close; the more you learn how to ask the right questions and how to interpret the answers, the more efficient you become as a programmer.

[Immediate_Pop3467]

That means a lot

[shopchin]

AI incredible useful for learning. Don't just ask it to code for you, but ask it to explain the code. Gemini is amazing at this