Ask HN: Why are there so few intermediate learning resources?

7 pointsgrantism13y ago4 comments

When I first started out as a web developer (about 8 years ago now), there were literally millions of sites and books to teach me 'beginners X' or 'Y for dummies'.

Then I got beyond the beginner stage and struggled to find any useful resources that didn't assume I was an expert and already.

Even for things that are meant to be step by step guides I sometimes find that they assume that I already know how to perform some non trivial step and breeze over it. Obviously I then go searching to find out what I'm meant to do but there's often little to no meaningful explanations to be found.

So I ask this: Why are there so few resources targeted at bridging the gap between beginner and advanced level skill sets?

am I just not very good at using the internet?

4 comments

lumberjack13y ago

The intermediate stage of developing is learned through experience and personal research. The newbie-friendly stuff is just a quick get go of some very universal concepts that you don't really need to learn on your own. The hardcore stuff is difficult and complex and very specific or just an aggregation of the experience of some senior developer.

orangethirty13y ago

The difference between a beginner and an intermediate is the fact that intermediates understand that they have to get their hands dirty to improve. Whereas beginners want everything spelled out for them.

Evbn13y ago

Because such a book would have to be written for each individual, for each topic. Hire a tutor, or a consultant, or get a liberal arts education that teaches you how to learn independently.

tangue13y ago

True. Or if he insist on staying online try spending some time on Coursera |EdX | Udacity

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