I feel like this learning method has benefited me, but it doesn't seem to be widely supported: I'll work on a project for a while, then realize what knowledge I'm lacking, to the point where I can't even think meaningfully while working on it. Then I'll take courses for a while, which helps me build a "knowledge map." I'll think, "Oh, so that's how it works." Then I'll go back to working on projects.

As for documentation, I see many people recommend reading it directly to learn, but I find it hard to get through, and just reading documentation also makes it difficult for the knowledge to organize itself in my mind (it's like getting lost in a well-made game without map hints) If I watch tutorial videos first, then writing projects or reading documentation becomes more comfortable. I think these things might be mutually reinforcing.

I would binge-watch courses on Coursera for many days straight. I think the problem mentioned in this article seems to be that he didn't actually watch the videos he saved, so even if he were to learn through documentation, the result would be the same. Learning and practice are mutually reinforcing, while learning styles may vary for each individual.