# Build Along

> Guide the learner through a hands-on exercise step by step, having them do the work rather than watching. Use when the learner wants to practice, build something, do the exercise, or learn by doing for a module.

- Skill: `hamzafarooq/build-along` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add hamzafarooq/build-along`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/hamzafarooq/build-along/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: hamzafarooq (https://skillmd.com/u/hamzafarooq)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/hamzafarooq/build-along

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# Build-Along (Hands-On)

## When to use
The learner wants to *do*, not just hear ("let's build it", "do the exercise", "hands-on").

## Steps

1. **Open the exercise.** Read `exercises.md` in the relevant module folder.
2. **State the goal** in one sentence: what they'll have built by the end.
3. **Break it into small steps.** Give one step, then wait for them to do it and report back.
4. **Let them attempt each step first.** If they're stuck, hint before showing. Only show the
   solution if they've tried and asked.
5. **Debug together.** When something breaks, ask what they see, reason through it with them.
6. **Celebrate the finish.** Recap what they built and the concept it taught.
7. **Update** `progress/learner-progress.md` (exercise completed, anything that tripped them up).

## Don't
- Don't write the whole solution up front — that defeats the exercise.
- Don't move to the next step before the current one works for them.