[slimsag]

People have differences in how they learn. Some can learn effectively through reading, others learn effectively through doing.

By doing but not reading, you have the potential to gain a more fundamental ground-up knowledge base about why certain approaches work better.

By reading but not doing, you have the potential to gain direct insight into others pre-established knowledge which means you can jump ahead without having a more fundamental knowledge _first_.

I prefer learning by doing, but I think both have valid merits and one is not better than the other. They are just different approaches to the same ends.

[s_y_n_t_a_x]

Hacking is about solving a series of specific problems. Reading will give you direct insight into another's pre-established knowledge, but it's probably not relevant, and it may not be correct.

Code kata in my opinion is the superior way to learn. Code through practice and repetition, just like every other skill.

Ironically, you can read a book about it https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-journey-mastery-...