From Tutorial Hell to Building My Own Projects: My Real Journey (With AI As My Guide)

Like many aspiring developers, I started my web development journey with the most common technologies: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Honestly, when I wrote my first <div> or styled my first button, I felt like I was actually creating something real. It was exciting.

My first project was nothing fancy—a basic static website. But it was special to me because every single line of code was mine. Every section I designed, every style I added, felt like my own achievement.

But now that I look back, that project was also full of typical beginner mistakes:

I wrote my entire CSS in one giant file.

I used absolute file paths instead of relative ones.

My project had no organized structure—just files dumped in one folder.

I didn’t know about Git or GitHub, except hearing the words from a few friends.

And honestly, that project doesn’t even exist anymore—I never saved it on GitHub or backed it up because I didn’t realize how important that was. At the time, I just thought building things was enough.

But in all its imperfections, that project taught me one thing: building something, no matter how basic, is always better than waiting to be perfect.

The Fear Stage: When React Took Over My Mind

After spending months doing static projects, I started wondering—“What’s next?”

Everyone around me, whether it was friends or people online, kept mentioning this thing called React. I heard things like:

“React is necessary if you want to be a frontend developer.”

“You can’t build modern websites without React.”

So naturally, I felt the pressure to learn it.

I did what most beginners do—I jumped straight into YouTube playlists and courses, thinking, “Let me learn everything about React first, then I’ll start building projects.”

But I didn’t realize I was stepping into what people call tutorial hell.

I kept watching videos without building anything myself.

I felt I wasn’t “ready” yet to build.

I wanted to know everything perfectly before writing my first React project.

Tutorials felt like a safety net—I was afraid to step out and struggle.

I thought watching just one more tutorial would finally prepare me. But that “one more tutorial” turned into dozens.

The Turning Point: How AI Became My Silent Mentor

What really changed my journey wasn’t another tutorial—it was AI.

At some point, while feeling stuck and confused, I turned to tools like ChatGPT and other AI assistants. They helped me in a way that tutorials never could:

I could ask questions whenever I wanted, without judgment.

AI helped me solve bugs, understand concepts, and explain code in simple terms.

When stuck, instead of rewatching a tutorial, I asked AI what was wrong and how to fix it.

Using AI felt like having a personal mentor who was always available.

But one thing I learned quickly: AI can help guide you, but it won’t build for you.

I had to do the work.

How I Finally Escaped Tutorial Hell

Once I started using AI for help and Google for errors, I began to think differently. I stopped waiting to feel ready.

Here’s how I slowly broke out:

I built small projects first—a simple navbar, a login form, a to-do list.

I accepted that my code would be messy, and that’s okay.

I used AI as an assistant, not a crutch—asking questions, getting code explanations, and understanding why something worked, not just how.

My first React project wasn’t anything impressive—but it was real. I coded it. I struggled through it. I googled countless errors and asked AI hundreds of questions. But when it worked, the feeling was unmatched.

That’s when I realized:

Struggling is a part of learning—not a sign of failure.

My Biggest Lessons (For Every Beginner Stuck Like I Was)

Stop chasing perfection. You’ll never feel 100% ready.

Start with something small, and own it. Even a static site counts.

Let yourself struggle. Googling, debugging, and feeling stuck is normal.

Use AI smartly: Don’t just copy-paste solutions—ask “why” things work.

Save your projects (unlike me!)—use GitHub from day one.

Today: Building Real Projects with Confidence

I’m not an expert yet. I’m still learning every day. But now:

I build projects without waiting for another tutorial.

I use AI and Google like real tools, not replacements for thinking.

I’ve started understanding concepts, not just copying code.

From building a single static website to developing projects like crackit.dev , Ashiayana, my journey has transformed.

And every messy project I built played a role in that growth

Final Thought

If you’re stuck in tutorial hell right now, trust me—you’re not alone. Every developer has been there. But no tutorial will give you the confidence that building your own project will.

Tutorials teach you to follow.

Projects teach you to build.

Struggles teach you to think.