AI Ate the Homework: What Communities Are Actually For Now

When I was learning to code, one of the things that motivated me most was the sense of community. I found a ton of value in the Twitter community, where people answered questions, shared resources, and celebrated each other's wins. I also found incredible support in online coding communities. A huge part of this was the ability to ask questions and get help from others who had been where I was. They brought empathy and experience in a way that documentation and tutorials couldn't, and made me feel like I could do it even when I didn't believe that. A huge part of Virtual Coffee's early growth was people finding each other to ask questions, get help, and learn together. It was a safe space to say "I don't know how to do this" or "Is this interview experience 'normal'?" and have someone patiently walk you through it. Not only did having your question answered give you the information you needed, it gave you validation. You weren't alone. You were struggling with something that other peop