You may be asking yourself, “How do I learn to code?” There are many different ways you can take on this task. Whether you want it in a classroom setting or you are self-teaching, the Internet has brought so many opportunities for learning how to code that there is really no excuse not to try! In this blog post we will discuss several ways that you can learn how to code.
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Ask yourself: “Why do I want to learn how to code?”
Coding is a skill that has become one of the most important and in-demand skills in the workforce. It’s not just for computer scientists anymore! In fact, there are more than 500,000 jobs available in coding as we speak–more than any other profession.
What can you do with it? You can be a programmer, web developer, data analyst or app developer–to name just a few. If you’re looking to change careers or break into the job market for the first time, learning how to code could be your ticket to success.
The first question you should ask yourself when deciding if you should invest time into learning how coding is, “why do I want?” The following list contains many different explanations for why people may choose to take a class or teach themselves:
- To work in a computer related field–whether it’s research, customer service, product development, etc., and understand more about computers.
- To make their resume stand out as they’re competing against others for the same job.
- To use technology to make their own app or website, and have a sense of ownership over it.
- I want to learn how coding so I can be self sufficient in terms of what is going on behind all those computer screens. There are many different reasons why people decide that they would like to learn programming skills but I feel like this resonate with me the most personally.
Ways to Learn How to Code
- Get an introductory book on programming: any beginner’s guidebook will be perfect because it’ll give you guidance in what language is best suited for beginners (Python or Dart) as well as other resources available to learn coding from scratch. If there are no books around then try online tutorials such as those found at EdX, YouTube, or TED Talks. This way you’ll be able to work through the material wherever possible using different devices including laptops and smartphones too!
- Play around with websites like Codecademy and CodeSchool. Try out the free versions before paying for one! They have interactive lessons, quizzes, and projects that you can do at your own pace.
- Look for a coding camp or program near you. These camps offer time to explore new ideas, work on projects that are of interest to them and have the opportunity to meet other people with similar interests as theirs.
- Get inspired by attending (or hosting) code events: these could be in person (e.g., Code Fair), virtual (via IRC chatrooms, Slack channels, GitHub issue discussions) or online (such as Tech Talks). The idea here is that it’ll keep the learner motivated and engaged when they’re able to brainstorm solutions together with others who share their passion.
- Find out what your friends are up to! If they happen to know how programmers think then ask if there’s anything you can do to help.
- Find a project that interests you, and start with the basics: learn how to create something small by following simple instructions. Look for people who are interested in what you’re doing! Ask them if they want to be collaborators on your coding projects. Your friends or classmates might have the same interest as yours and no idea where to begin but would love some input from someone else who’s also new at this. You’ll both be getting valuable feedback from one another while working together towards achieving a goal (a win/win!).
- Ask questions when there is anything about code that confuses or frustrates you—keep asking until it makes sense again so you don’t feel stuck!
- Try to learn how other people are solving coding problems. You’ll notice that there a lot of different ways to approach the same problem, and someone else might have found an easier way for you!
- Find a programming language or framework that interests you—you can find tutorials on YouTube, my website’s Learn Programming section ,read online documentation from the creators themselves (this one is particularly helpful!), download programs designed for beginners, etc.
- Set up an account on coderbyte.com and work through their tutorials. It’s goal-oriented learning where you build things like PacMan or Tetris as you go along, which makes it both fun and really rewarding when you finish a level.
- Take free online courses at Coursera or Udemy (or other similar websites). There are tons of them available in programming languages that range from beginner to advanced levels with certificates upon completion if these seem like good options for your goals/needs.
