Is it normal that I don't understand half the code in my own app?

Open · 1404 views · asked last month by santi_dev_wannabe · edited

6 weeks into building a planner app with Cursor and v0. It works, 20 people use it. But when something breaks I have no idea where to look, and I'm scared to change anything by hand.

Is this how everyone works now or am I doing it wrong? What should I learn first to not feel lost?

What I’ve tried

Started a JavaScript course but it's about loops and arrays and doesn't feel connected to my app at all.

Comment

20 users in 6 weeks is more than a lot of 'real' developers manage, for what it's worth. pawel_z last month · edited

Everybody feels this way at some point, also people with CS degrees on a new codebase. sanne_dev last month · edited

4 answers

katja_slast month · edited

Normal, and fixable, but learn from your app instead of a generic course:

Ask Cursor to write docs/how-it-works.md: every folder, what it does, how a request flows from a button click to the database. Read it, ask questions about what's unclear.
Next bug, before letting it fix: "Explain where this bug is and why, don't change anything." Then decide yourself.
Do one tiny change by hand per week (a text, a color, a validation). Fear goes away through small wins.

After a month you won't know everything, but you'll know where to look. That's what most developers actually know about a codebase.

Comment

The how-it-works doc is a great idea, it made a diagram even. Already understand the auth part better. santi_dev_wannabe last month · edited

Doing the how-it-works doc for my app too. Very helpful. pooja_s last month · edited

sergio_ruizlast month · edited

To add: the "explain, don't change" prompt is the single best learning habit. You get a tutor that knows your exact code.

Comment

kofi_mensahlast month · edited

Learn debugging before syntax. Console, network tab, reading an error message, adding a log. That's 80% of what you need to not feel lost, and it's the part courses skip.

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old_school_rajlast month · edited

Honestly, just learn to code. If you can't read your own app you shouldn't be shipping it to people. No shortcut here.

Comment

The point about responsibility is fair, the tone isn't. They're asking exactly how to learn. katja_s last month · edited

Fair, that came out harsher than meant. The learn-from-your-own-app advice below is better than mine. old_school_raj last month · edited

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Is it normal that I don't understand half the code in my own app?

What I’ve tried

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Is it normal that I don't understand half the code in my own app?

What I’ve tried

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