C3 Learning Programming with AI

💡 One-sentence summary: Use AI as your private tutor to learn programming from scratch, practice while learning.

📝 Course Notes

Key knowledge points from this lesson:

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What You Can Do After This Lesson

• Learn new programming languages with AI
• Have AI explain code principles
• Complete practice projects
• Build correct methods for learning programming

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Your Current Challenges

• Want to learn programming but don't know where to start
• Watching tutorials is easy, but getting stuck when writing code
• Don't know who to ask when encountering problems

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When to Use This Approach

• When you need: To learn programming from scratch with a patient tutor
• And you don't want: To fall asleep watching tutorials by yourself

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🎒 Preparations Before Starting

Make sure you have completed the following:

• [ ] Completed 2.1 Interface and Basic Operations
• [ ] Prepared a learning mindset

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Core Concepts

Advantages of Learning Programming with AI

Traditional Learning	AI-Assisted Learning
Watch tutorials, take notes	Learn by asking, instant Q&A
Get stuck, then search	Ask AI directly for explanations
No feedback on exercises	AI grading and suggestions
Fixed pace	Learn at your own pace

Learning Method

Concept Learning → Hands-on Practice → Problem Solving → Project Practice

Available Tools/Commands (OpenCode)

Tool/Command	Purpose	Key Notes (Verifiable)
@explore subagent	Quickly explore codebase, find files, check implementations	Explore is a built-in subagent, can be invoked via @ manually (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:35~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:40; opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:91~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:97)
skill tool	Load reusable learning templates (SKILL.md)	Supports .opencode/skill/*/SKILL.md and .claude/skills/*/SKILL.md paths (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/skills.mdx:16~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/skills.mdx:20; Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/skill/skill.ts:69~opencode/packages/opencode/src/skill/skill.ts:113)
/editor	Write long content/code with external editor	Uses EDITOR environment variable (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:74~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:115)
/details	Toggle tool execution details display	Built-in TUI command (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:94~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:103)
codesearch	Search for "usage context" of APIs/libraries	Configurable tokens (1000-2000+, default 2000+) (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/codesearch.ts:43~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/codesearch.ts:50); Availability depends on provider/environment variables (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:122~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:127)
lsp	LSP-based definition/reference/hover etc.	Tool only registered when OPENCODE_EXPERIMENTAL_LSP_TOOL is enabled (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:107~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:109), operation list has fixed 9 items (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/lsp.ts:9~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/lsp.ts:19)

Tips

• Reference files in TUI: @path/to/file (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:30~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:43).
• Boolean environment variables like OPENCODE_ENABLE_EXA are recognized as true when set to "true" or "1" in the source code (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/flag/flag.ts:35~opencode/packages/opencode/src/flag/flag.ts:38).

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Follow Along

Step 1: Choose a Language to Learn

Why Let AI help you evaluate where to start.

Use @explore to Quickly Assess a Project

@explore Use "quick" intensity to analyze this project:
1. Main language/framework
2. Directory structure (entry/core modules)
3. Top 3 files worth reading first for beginners

Note: Explore is a subagent specifically designed to "quickly find things/view structure" (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:79~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:84).

Ask AI for Recommendations (Zero Background)

I have zero programming background and want to learn programming to improve my work efficiency. Please help me analyze:
1. Which is suitable for me to start: Python, JavaScript, or Go
2. Characteristics and application scenarios of each language
3. Recommended learning path

Step 2: Learn the First Concept

Why
Start from the basics, progress step by step.

Assuming you choose Python:

I'm starting to learn Python, please teach me from the basics:
1. What is a variable
2. Give me a simple example
3. Let me do a small exercise

Step 3: Write Code Hands-on

Why Programming requires hands-on practice.

Use /editor Command to Write Long Code

/editor

/editor will open the editor specified in your EDITOR environment variable (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:104~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tui.mdx:115).

Switch to Build Mode, Let AI Help Create Practice Files

Help me create a practice file learn/01_hello.py:
- Print "Hello, World!"
- Create a variable to store my name
- Print a welcome message

After creating, teach me how to run it

Use /details to Manage "Tool Output Noise"

/details

Step 4: Solve Problems Encountered

Why
Ask AI when stuck.

I got an error running the code:
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

What does this mean? How to fix it?

Step 5: Complete Practice Projects

Why
You truly learn by doing projects.

I've learned variables, conditions, and loops. Please give me a suitable practice project:
- Moderate difficulty
- Uses knowledge I've learned
- Has practical use

Then guide me step by step to complete it

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Learning Tips

Asking Questions Effectively

# ❌ Bad way to ask
Why doesn't this code work

# ✅ Good way to ask
This code gives an IndexError, I expected it to print the first element of the list,
but it errored. Here's the code:
print(my_list[1])

Let AI Check Your Code (Use @ to Reference Files)

@learn/my_code.py Please check this code:
1. Are there any bugs
2. Are there any optimizations
3. Does it follow Python best practices

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Checkpoint ✅

All must pass before continuing

• [ ] Used AI to understand which language to learn
• [ ] Learned at least one basic concept
• [ ] Wrote and ran code yourself
• [ ] Completed a small exercise

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Common Pitfalls

Issue	Cause	Solution
Can't understand concepts	Explanations too technical	Explicitly request "explain in beginner-friendly terms + give examples + give exercises"
Exercises too hard	Skipped steps	Start from the simplest, progress gradually
codesearch not found/unavailable	Provider/environment variables don't meet activation conditions	See "codesearch Activation Conditions" below

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Advanced: Explore More Features

1) codesearch: Check API/Library Usage Context

Use codesearch to search: React useState hook examples

Tips

• codesearch.tokensNum range 1000-2000+, default 2000+ (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/codesearch.ts:43~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/codesearch.ts:50).
• Activation condition: When providerID is opencode, or environment variable OPENCODE_ENABLE_EXA is true, codesearch/websearch will appear in the tool list (Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:122~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:127; opencode/packages/opencode/src/flag/flag.ts:26~opencode/packages/opencode/src/flag/flag.ts:28).
• Official documentation writes OpenCode Zen models in opencode/... format (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:334~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:335).

2) LSP Tool (Experimental)

Note: The lsp tool is only available when OPENCODE_EXPERIMENTAL_LSP_TOOL=true (or OPENCODE_EXPERIMENTAL=true) is enabled (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tools.mdx:216~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/tools.mdx:235; Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:107~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:109).

You can ask AI to perform these operations (choose 1 of 9):

• goToDefinition
• findReferences
• hover
• documentSymbol
• workspaceSymbol
• goToImplementation
• prepareCallHierarchy
• incomingCalls
• outgoingCalls

(Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/lsp.ts:9~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/lsp.ts:19)

For detailed LSP server configuration, see: 5.19 LSP Server.

3) skill: Make "Learning Process" Reusable Templates

Create a skill file (example):

Create .opencode/skill/python-basics/SKILL.md:

---
name: python-basics
description: Python basics teaching
---

## What I do

- Explain Python basic concepts
- Provide exercises and example code
- Help debug common errors

## When to use me

Use when learning Python basic syntax, data types, control flow.

Discoverable paths for skills include:

• .opencode/skill/<name>/SKILL.md
• ~/.config/opencode/skill/<name>/SKILL.md
• .claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md
• ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md

(Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/skills.mdx:16~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/skills.mdx:20)

4) Configuration Variable Substitution (env/file)

OpenCode supports {env:VAR} and {file:path} variable substitution (Official: opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/config.mdx:75~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/config.mdx:95; Source: opencode/packages/opencode/src/config/config.ts:1023~opencode/packages/opencode/src/config/config.ts:1026).

Example (using provider.openai.options.apiKey, note apiKey is under options):

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "provider": {
    "openai": {
      "options": {
        "apiKey": "{env:OPENAI_API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Evidence Index (OpenCode Behaviors Covered in This Lesson)

Topic	Conclusion	Evidence
Built-in subagent	Explore can be invoked via @	opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:35~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/agents.mdx:40
codesearch tokens range	1000-2000+, default 2000+	opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/codesearch.ts:43~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/codesearch.ts:50
codesearch activation condition	providerID=opencode or OPENCODE_ENABLE_EXA	opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:122~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/registry.ts:127
OPENCODE_ENABLE_EXA truth value	Recognizes true/1	opencode/packages/opencode/src/flag/flag.ts:35~opencode/packages/opencode/src/flag/flag.ts:38
lsp tool operations	Fixed 9 operations	opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/lsp.ts:9~opencode/packages/opencode/src/tool/lsp.ts:19
Skills paths	.opencode and .claude compatible directories	opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/skills.mdx:16~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/skills.mdx:20
{env:...} substitution	Replaced with empty string when not set	opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/config.mdx:94~opencode/packages/web/src/content/docs/config.mdx:95

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Lesson Summary

You have learned:

1. Use AI to plan your programming learning path
2. Learn while asking, progress step by step
3. Let AI help you check and explain code
4. Consolidate knowledge through projects

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Next Lesson Preview

In the next lesson, we will learn about automation scripts, using AI to help you write scripts to free yourself from repetitive tasks.