Sometimes breaking your code and figuring out how to fix it is the best way to understand it

A developer shares their approach to understanding large codebases by intentionally breaking things and using bugs as learning tools. The strategy involves first mapping out the app's purpose and major components through diagrams and flowcharts, then validating that understanding with senior developers. Using bugs as a learning mechanism forces you to understand multiple parts of the system to restore correct state, making it an effective hands-on approach for developers transitioning from small projects to larger codebases.