Make Every Possible Mistake

March 28, 2025

To really learn anything, you must take the time to make every possible mistake.

Richard Feynman said that. He might have had in mind his speciality, quantum physics. Or maybe not; the mark of a great scientist is a heartfelt regard for the tendency to fail that makes us all human.

To paraphrase David Brooks in today's online edition of the New York Times, desire and opportunity to learn more about a thing are like air and fuel for staying interested.

It is certainly true for writing code.

This little web site has shown progress since it started a few days ago. Recent changes include adding css code for styling the visual appearance, along with a plan for organizing the articles.

What does not show is the hours spent making mistakes and correcting them. I knew what I wanted to do but did not (yet) know how to do it.

Testing small steps frequently helped to guard against frustration. Put a change in, then view the effect in a browser. Undo what looks bad while I still remember what I did. Keep the beneficial changes and go forward from there with a happy spring in my step.

It shows me very quickly what works, and what does not. The learning happens almost automatically, as a side effect of the writing process.

My father liked to say, Learning is what’s left over after you’ve passed the test, sold the book and forgot the formula.

I hear you, Dad.