A brilliant thread from @meetstef on why mastering fundamentals before frameworks is the key to long-term success in tech.
The Core Message
Stop chasing frameworks. Start building foundations.
The tech industry’s obsession with the latest tools is backwards. True expertise comes from understanding the principles beneath the tools.
The Framework Trap
What Most People Do
- Learn React without understanding JavaScript
- Use ORMs without knowing SQL
- Deploy to cloud without grasping networking
- Copy Stack Overflow without comprehending the code
Why This Fails
- Frameworks change - Angular to React to Vue to Svelte to…?
- Problems don’t - Data structures, algorithms, and system design remain constant
- Debugging requires depth - When abstractions leak, you need to understand what’s underneath
- Career ceiling - Framework experts become obsolete; fundamental experts become architects
The Fundamental Advantage
What Fundamentals Give You
- Transfer learning - Jump between technologies easily
- Problem-solving - See patterns, not just syntax
- Innovation - Create new solutions, not just apply existing ones
- Longevity - Skills that last decades, not months
The Compound Effect
- Year 1: Struggle more than framework learners
- Year 2: Match their productivity
- Year 3: Surpass them significantly
- Year 5: Operate at a different level entirely
The Learning Hierarchy
Level 1: Core Computer Science
- Data Structures - Arrays, trees, graphs, hash tables
- Algorithms - Sorting, searching, optimization
- Complexity - Big O, space-time tradeoffs
- Systems - Memory, CPU, I/O, networking
Level 2: Language Fundamentals
- Paradigms - OOP, functional, procedural
- Memory management - Stack vs heap, garbage collection
- Concurrency - Threads, async, parallelism
- Type systems - Static vs dynamic, strong vs weak
Level 3: Domain Principles
- Web - HTTP, REST, browsers, DOM
- Databases - ACID, CAP theorem, indexing
- Distributed systems - Consensus, replication, partitioning
- Security - Encryption, authentication, authorization
Level 4: Tools and Frameworks
Only now should you learn specific implementations.