this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2026
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Programming

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Hello everyone! For many years, I have been coding every once in a while and actually learned a lot. I especially liked C and C-Like languages and building useless stuff just for fun and for the sake of the intellectual challenge that came with it, but since when AI became decent enough, it just kinda ruined the passion for programming and computers as a whole. Thing is, I am in university now and need to go back to using C and program regularly, but now that AI does everything 20000 times better than I ever will I always either cede to temptation to use it (thus nullifying learning) or just get bored so quickly I just turn off the computer to do something different.

is there a way to revive the interest for programming and building projects? I am doing my best to stop using AI but heck I really am self-indulging. please help!

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[โ€“] matcha_addict@lemy.lol 5 points 2 days ago

I always either cede to temptation to use it (thus nullifying learning) or just get bored so quickly I just turn off the computer

This just sounds like a question of discipline, and AI is likely not the issue.

I can relate. Whenever I wanted to learn programming, it felt like a chore to sit down and do it. This happens when you're kinda compelled to learn it โ€” such is the case in university.

There is no magic trick. The answer is discipline and fighting your urges. Just tell yourself you're gonna sit down for 90 minutes or however long, and you will work on X task without using AI (or whatever other guardrails you decide on). When you explicitly tell yourself that, and set up explicit boundaries and guard rails, you will do it. You just keep at it until it works.

As I said earlier, this is how I felt even before AI. After a few months of persistence, it suddenly clicked, seemingly overnight. I became addicted. It became more difficult to stop doing programming. You just need to get in the flow long enough for programming to become natural and enjoyable to your brain.