Copy, Customize, Create

The three C's, Copy, Customize, and Create, are three stages of learning we cycle through on our way to mastering a skill. They are at the core of our teaching method.

Here's how it works:

1. Copy: Using a reference and replicating it is a great way to start learning new techniques and concepts. We can draw from specific examples and use them as a stepping stone to understand the underlying theory.
2. Customize: By tinkering with existing code and making small changes, we develop an intuitive understanding of how each part really works and make it ours.
3. Create: Once we are familiar with all the pieces and techniques involved in a game mechanic or component, we can finally make it ourselves. First with relatively small pieces and gradually with more and more complex systems.

It's a cycle where you go back and forth between the three C's as you progress in your learning journey.

This approach isn't unique to code. Artists also learn by first copying references or photos, gradually putting their spin on their drawings, and once they internalize the anatomy and structure of the references, they create unique artwork from scratch.