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Prayush.

Notes & essays

Thoughts on AI, software engineering, and building in public.
Essays
16
Topics
28
Min of reading
122
Which Programming Language Should You Learn First? (Stop Overthinking It)
Latest

8 min read

Which Programming Language Should You Learn First? (Stop Overthinking It)

Python, JavaScript, Java, C++? A no-BS guide to picking your first programming language based on what you want to build, plus a simple 90-day plan to actually get started.

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The archive

15 entries
Your First Internship: How to Not Feel Completely Lost in Week One

8 min read

Your First Internship: How to Not Feel Completely Lost in Week One

Landed your first internship and terrified of week one? Here's how to read the unwritten rules, ask good questions, and actually make an impression without pretending to know everything.

  • internship
  • beginners
  • career
I Spent a Weekend Binge-Watching LLM Content So You Don't Have To (Okay, You Still Should, But Here's the Map)

12 min read

I Spent a Weekend Binge-Watching LLM Content So You Don't Have To (Okay, You Still Should, But Here's the Map)

Real talk: everyone and their uncle is "using AI" right now, but ask most people what a token...

  • llm
  • machinelearning
  • tutorial
Tutorial Hell Is Real: I Watched 40 Hours of Videos and Built Nothing (Here's How I Escaped)

8 min read

Tutorial Hell Is Real: I Watched 40 Hours of Videos and Built Nothing (Here's How I Escaped)

Stuck watching tutorials but can't build anything on your own? Here's the no-BS guide to escaping tutorial hell, with a simple 30-day plan for beginners.

  • beginners
  • programming
  • productivity
Should You Still Learn to Code in 2026? An Honest Take From a Student Who's Still Grinding

8 min read

Should You Still Learn to Code in 2026? An Honest Take From a Student Who's Still Grinding

Everyone says coding is dead. Here's the no-BS take on what beginners should actually learn in the AI era, and how to use AI without rotting your brain.

  • beginners
  • ai
  • career
Top 10 AI Coding Tools You Need in 2026 (Or You're Basically Coding With One Hand Tied Behind Your Back)

4 min read

Top 10 AI Coding Tools You Need in 2026 (Or You're Basically Coding With One Hand Tied Behind Your Back)

So here's the thing nobody warned us about: the "AI will help you code" era quietly turned into the...

  • ai
  • coding
  • programming
Security Pitfalls in React Apps I Learned the Hard Way

6 min read

Security Pitfalls in React Apps I Learned the Hard Way

A few months back I was doing a code review for a friend's project and noticed they were storing JWTs...

  • webdev
  • react
  • security
I Built a Free Public Random Quotes API — No Key, No Auth, Just Use It

8 min read

I Built a Free Public Random Quotes API — No Key, No Auth, Just Use It

Hey there! So you've been Googling for a free quotes API that doesn't require signing up, doesn't...

  • api
  • webdev
  • javascript
MongoDB: Zero to Advanced (The Real Guide Nobody Else Will Write)

17 min read

MongoDB: Zero to Advanced (The Real Guide Nobody Else Will Write)

Hey there! So you've heard about MongoDB and now you're wondering what the heck it actually is and...

  • tutorial
  • mongodb
  • database
Database Indexing Explained Like You're 5 (Then Like You're a Senior Dev)

10 min read

Database Indexing Explained Like You're 5 (Then Like You're a Senior Dev)

Hey there! So you want to understand database indexing? Cool. Let me break this down in a way that...

  • systemdesign
  • beginners
  • database
Setting Up Your Command Line Assistant with Google Services (The Complete Guide)

8 min read

Setting Up Your Command Line Assistant with Google Services (The Complete Guide)

Hey there! Welcome back. It's been a minute since my last blog on 7 Productivity Hacks That Changed...

  • automation
  • tutorial
  • productivity
7 Productivity Hacks That Changed My Life (And Will Change Yours Too)

7 min read

7 Productivity Hacks That Changed My Life (And Will Change Yours Too)

Hey there! I am glad you ended up here. Look, I've tried every productivity hack under the sun, and...

  • productivity
  • linux
  • beginners
Stop Paying for Obsidian Sync: Here's How I Actually Did It

6 min read

Stop Paying for Obsidian Sync: Here's How I Actually Did It

So you've fallen into the Obsidian rabbit hole. Good. Now you're realizing that having your notes on...

  • productivity
  • obsidian
  • automation
Top 10 Visual Studio Code Extensions for Enhanced Productivity

4 min read

Top 10 Visual Studio Code Extensions for Enhanced Productivity

Top 10 VS Code Extensions You Absolutely Need (or Else!) So, you’ve hopped on the Visual...

  • productivity
  • coding
  • vscode
Create your API using C++

2 min read

Create your API using C++

Creating a C++ API with Drogon Framework Introduction In today's connected...

  • cpp
  • drogon
  • api
The Ultimate Roadmap to a Full-Stack Developer

6 min read

The Ultimate Roadmap to a Full-Stack Developer

We all wonder about the best way to start learning web development and how to become a successful...

  • webdev
  • beginners
  • tutorial
    Blogs | Prayush Adhikari - FullStack Developer