Developer Reflects on Returning to Fundamentals After Relying Too Heavily on AI Tools

A developer on DEV Community has shared their personal experience of abandoning structured learning in favor of AI-assisted 'vibe coding' earlier last year, only to regret it. They found that while the approach initially felt faster, it ultimately prevented them from building genuine understanding of code. The writer is now refocusing on core skills, including debugging, reading errors, and understanding how tools work, with the goal of moving into a Go, software engineering, or cloud role. They draw a distinction between using AI to support learning versus using it as a substitute for learning. The post encourages beginners and returning learners to persist, build small projects, and embrace the slower but more rewarding process of genuine skill development.