Chapter 1: Understanding Tutorial Hell

One does not simply escape from tutorial hell…

Hello, I'm Mariusz, and I find myself deeply entrenched in this frustrating cycle. I didn’t realize I was caught until someone pointed it out to me. I’ve gone through numerous tutorials: official ones (twice), Zenva Academy (until I stumbled upon a broken code snippet), and Brackeys (which I recently began).

In fact, I even set up a curated newsletter to share valuable resources for aspiring Godot game developers! While that’s a great initiative, it’s not quite relevant to my current predicament…

Tutorial hell is a term that describes the situation where beginners become trapped in a loop of endlessly consuming tutorials without applying their knowledge to personal projects. It’s akin to creating a newsletter to document your game development journey, only to find yourself two years later still at square one (a.k.a. the learning phase).

This cycle breeds insecurity and a feeling of wasted time. Many individuals find themselves needing detailed instructions instead of just diving into their projects. Ironically, when seeking guidance online, the advice often suggests starting a small project, experimenting with code from tutorials, or even building something unique. This is similar to telling someone feeling down not to be sad.

Those stuck in tutorial hell genuinely want to take these steps; the issue isn’t a lack of desire. The root problems often stem from a lack of a structured learning path (they are unaware of their gaps in knowledge, leading them to grasp at every available tutorial), disorganized knowledge (they depend on memory, where chaos reigns and essential details are forgotten), and dreaming about their final game instead of breaking it down into manageable components.

The challenges of remaining in tutorial hell mirror those faced when learning any new skill. It’s insufficient to merely read (or watch) a tutorial once. We know that true learning involves repetition, and I would argue that all knowledge requires some form of organization. Here’s how I’m tackling my own tutorial hell!

Initially, I take handwritten notes, which I later transfer to Notion. I treat it like a student would, making comprehensive notes to revisit later. I am confident that with repeated practice, I’ll be fluent in GDScript as I am in English. But to rise above tutorial hell, I need those notes now.

As David Allen famously said,

"Your mind is for having ideas, not for holding them."

I believe the same applies to knowledge that isn't yet ingrained in muscle memory.

In Notion, I created a table to catalog information about Godot Nodes. You might argue that this seems redundant, as it duplicates existing documentation. While you’re correct, I won’t be staring at that information; rather, I know I will refer to these nodes throughout my journey.

Next, I devised another table for steps.

"Every step you take, every code you break, I’ll be noting here!"

Each step should be as concise as possible. A step is an action that I can repeat and refer back to. It may be linked to nodes used and corresponding steps that occurred simultaneously in the tutorials I’ve followed. Each step will be categorized by the phase in which it appeared.

Ultimately, I will implement all possible categorization methods to facilitate easy retrieval when necessary.

I’ve found that the most effective tutorials for beginners are those lengthy sessions focused on cloning existing games. These tutorials not only provide a roadmap for creating games across various genres but also illustrate the steps worth noting.

Surprisingly, I’ve concluded that to escape from tutorial hell, it may be necessary to stay within it for a while! While making notes, I observed that many of these steps tend to repeat. I know that tackling something for the second time in a different context boosts my confidence.

So there you have it—my approach to overcoming tutorial hell (though not necessarily addressing issues of time management or focus).

How do you manage your own tutorial hell?

Chapter 2: Essential Resources for Overcoming Tutorial Hell

How To Get Out of Tutorial Hell (Step by Step Guide)

In this video, you will discover practical strategies to break free from tutorial hell and start implementing what you’ve learned into your projects.

Are You Stuck In Tutorial Hell?

This video explores the common pitfalls that keep learners trapped in tutorial hell and offers insightful tips to regain your confidence and creativity.