How does one learn new things if not first by understanding them, and then looking to evolve them?
Sure, we can shell out to libraries and to other people's work, but at some point, you will have to understand the thing that you've abstracted away if you want to evolve it.
Not really. The original usage of it was completely positive and it has evolved into something more ironic but not necessarily negative. I think the person you were replying to used it absolutely the way most people use the phrase.
It can be more or less translated to "I want to see the outcome of what they're doing" usually used after the person who is "cooking" is criticized for their methods.
Sure, we can shell out to libraries and to other people's work, but at some point, you will have to understand the thing that you've abstracted away if you want to evolve it.
Or as the kids say, let him cook: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/let-him-cook-let-that-boy-coo...