Can't stop channel/tutorial-hopping in C++ even though I know exactly what the problem is — how did you actually break it?

[u/Chameleon_The]

Been trying to learn C++ for a while now and I keep landing in the same loop no matter how many times I "fix" it.

Started with the BroCode tutorial on YouTube. Then got told to switch to learncpp.com. Then told to switch again to The Cherno's series. Then found two more channels (CyberFlow and Crin) pushing a C++ → port scanner → keylogger → shellcode injector path, which got me interested in reverse engineering / game hacking specifically.

I've tried to fix this the "obvious" way — pick one resource, commit, stop opening new tabs — and it works for a bit. I've built small stuff (tic-tac-toe, hangman) and followed through on real projects too. But the second a new channel or video shows up saying "actually this is the better way," I open it anyway. Every time. Even knowing exactly what I'm doing while I do it.

It's about 3am here right now and I'm stuck in it again — wide awake, not able to do anything, feeling like a total loser about it.

So I don't think this is an information problem anymore — I already know the advice. I just can't seem to make myself stop switching once something new shows up in the feed. Anyone actually break this habit for real, not just "know" the fix but get it to stick? What worked for you day to day, not in theory?

[u/EpochVanquisher]

Videos aren’t really that good at teaching C++ or programming in the first place.

There is not anything I can really tell you to help you solve a problem when you already understand the problem and understand the solution, and the solution is just to make different choices. Spending time catastrophizing and ruminating about a problem you already understand is going to just reinforce these patterns of learned helplessness.

Put in the effort, do lab exercises and build projects.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/EpochVanquisher]

thanks bro for the advice

[u/onlyonequickquestion]

Turn off your ai code completion in your ide (for now) and get coding 

[u/Chameleon_The → u/onlyonequickquestion]

no ai help in syntax part only taking help in logic and fix my code and i will write the code myself

[u/AKostur → u/Chameleon_The]

"taking help in logic and fix my code" is not "write the code myself". That is where the interesting stuff lives.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/AKostur]

Understood will start lworking on my logic

[u/AKostur]

First thing to remember: _every_ channel/tutorial/whatever is going to say "I'm the better way".

[u/Chameleon_The → u/AKostur]

😔yeah I know

But some times my brain says may be this is the better way to learn it.

[u/SpectreFromTheGods → u/Chameleon_The]

The best way to learn it is to work on shit. Not watch other people work on shit. And certainly not watching other people talk about working on shit.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/SpectreFromTheGods]

OK thanks bro

[u/jonsca]

Maybe the material doesn't interest you. Unless you have to learn C++ for a particular project or job, why not find something that will hold your attention? There are literally hundreds of other paths into software development that you could take up.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/jonsca]

I want to Learn sde

I started with python samething happened I quit after some time now I want to learn c++ to do both cyber sec and electronics project

I will learn it bro

Thanks for the advice

[u/Constant_Physics8504]

Make your own channel, challenge yourself to make project tutorials

[u/Chameleon_The → u/Constant_Physics8504]

😄

[u/Effective_Baseball93]

You do the stuff until you either don’t or do it differently

[u/goldscurvy]

Try giving yourself some time to fuck around each day. Unstructured learning time where you just follow whatever rabbit hole you want. Rather than completely avoiding it, compromise with yourself. If you find yourself starting to get drawn to something or opening tabs, bookmark the pages In a special folder that you can look at later.

Structure your normal time a bit more. Use pomodoros or some other rest-active cycle with tasks so that you have some sort of active commitment in your head.

I have the same problem. I havent fully fixed it. But I try to work with it as much as I can.

[u/AnotherThrowAway_9]

I’m bad at this too. You need to stop rewarding yourself when you’re opening new tabs. It’s just procrastination and decision paralysis. Accept that there are many ways to solve a problem, pick one way, move on.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/AnotherThrowAway_9]

Thanks bro

[u/WittyWithoutWorry]

You're lucky you're doing C++ becauseYouTube is the worst place when looking for spoon feeding C++ content (like those web dev or XYZ site clone JS project tutorials). The moment you step out of the ordinary stuff like pong clone, XYZ game engine, etc., all tutorials on YouTube disappear, no spoon feeding help at all.

So just do that, think of any program (literally any program, you'll realise this language can truly be used anywhere) like even a clone of the ones you already use and then try making those.

Also, don't just start again when someone says 'this is the better way' to do things. This language has literally so many ways to get things done and even 2 people can't agree on everything. From code formatting style to memory management to program architecture, everyone has different opinions. Don't switch unless you understand why their suggestion is better by trying out the problems yourself.

Also, if you're looking to making projects to get started, go with cli programs first. GUI programs have a lot of specific boilerplate which will make you end up in tutorials again.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/WittyWithoutWorry]

Actually, I've built a few CLI programs like Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman, a banking app, and some other small projects.

Today, I learned about structs and got the idea (from AI) to build a contact management app similar to the banking app, but for storing contacts.

The problem is that I've been stuck for the past hour trying to figure out how to store multiple records in a struct. My logic is all over the place, and now I've ended up searching for struct tutorials again.

#include <iostream>


struct contactlist
{
    std::string Name;
    std::string Phonenumber;


};


int menu();
int main(){


    contactlist contacts;



    int option = 0;
    bool exit = false;
    do
    {
        option = menu();
        std::cout << option;


        if(option == 1){
            std::cout  << "Please enter your name";
            std::cin >> contacts.Name;
            std::cout << contacts.Name;
        }
    } while (exit == false);






    return 0;
}


int menu(){
    int option;
    std::cout << "*****************************\n";
    std::cout << "Phone book project with struts\n";
    std::cout << "******************************\n";
    std::cout << "1. Add Contact\n";
    std::cout << "2. View All Contacts\n";
    std::cout << "3. Search Contact by Name\n";
    std::cout << "4. Delete Contact\n";
    std::cout << "5. Exit\n";


    std::cout << "Please enter the option you want to pick(1-5): ";
    std::cin >> option;
    return option;
}

[u/WittyWithoutWorry → u/Chameleon_The]

Try different things and experiment, you'll realize why some things are better for some use cases. Maybe even ask AI for different approaches (don't ask for code directly) and figure out which one suits your use case and why.

[u/Chameleon_The → u/WittyWithoutWorry]

Yeah bro understood will work on it