What you describe is basically how coders coming up in the last 10 years have been learning -- specific context from StackOverflow or wherever. Contrast this to

What you describe is basically how coders coming up in the last 10 years have been learning -- specific context from StackOverflow or wherever. Contrast this to the hierarchical textbook learning which came before it the intention of which (I think) typically was to impart knowledge which generalises well. I think what we have now is more productive but results in worse programmers. I.e. you fix the thing in context, but learn little out of context and have to go back to the source of answers when the next thing comes up. The rate at which answers are sought increases, doesn't decrease. Etc.