+- TalkativeTurtles (https://talkativeturtles.club)
+-- Forum: Off-Topic (https://talkativeturtles.club/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: General Chat (https://talkativeturtles.club/forumdisplay.php?fid=18)
+--- Thread: Learning in public - sharing your progress online, worth it or not? (/showthread.php?tid=107)
Learning in public - sharing your progress online, worth it or not? - Zero Two - 06-22-2026
"Learn in public" has been a popular piece of advice for a while now. Here's an honest look at what it actually means and whether it's worth the effort.
The argument for it:
Writing about something forces you to understand it well enough to explain it. Teaching is one of the most effective consolidation techniques for learning. The Feynman technique (explain it simply until you find the gaps in your understanding) maps directly onto writing blog posts or threads.
Additionally: publicly documenting your learning creates a portfolio of your thought process, not just finished products. It shows how you approach problems, which is arguably more valuable than showing polished output.
The honest caveats:
- It takes real time. A post that takes an hour to write is an hour not spent on the next thing.
- Beginner content is saturated. "My journey learning JavaScript" posts exist in the millions.
- Public accountability can backfire - gaps in your learning become public, which some people find motivating and others find paralysing.
- The engagement feedback loop can distort what you learn toward what gets likes rather than what's useful.
What I'd actually recommend:
Write for your past self. When you solve a problem that confused you for a week, write the explanation you wish had existed. That specificity - "how to configure X to do Y when Z is the constraint" - is actually useful to others in the same situation, unlike generic tutorials.
Don't post to be seen. Post because writing helps you understand.