If you\u2019re searching for \u201chow to start coding,\u201d it might be because you want to advance your career or develop other skills in the computer programming world. Or maybe you just have a passion for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whichever it is, coding is one of the most valuable skills you can build. And the good news is, with time, dedication, and internet access, anyone can learn to code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, just because anyone can learn to code, that doesn’t mean everyone learns the right way. One way many people start learning to code is by picking a popular programming language and jumping in head first with no direction. This could take the form of an online coding course, a tutorial project, or a random book purchase on a specific topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rarely do prospective developers start with a roadmap \u2013 a bird’s eye view of the coding world that outlines a set of relevant programming concepts, languages, and tools that almost 100% of developers use every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coding is the process of using programming languages to give instructions to a computer. These instructions power the websites, software, and applications people use every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Computer programming languages, developed through a series of numerical or alphabetic codes, instruct machines to complete specific actions. Coding functions much like a manual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A programmer or developer writes instructions describing the information and tasks needed to create a visual or to perform a task. Computers scan extensive coded manuals very quickly, executing the tasks that create and run a successful website or application. Displaying an image or section of text, changing font styles, and opening emails all require instructions included in the coded manual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users interact with websites and apps with the help of these coded instructions. The code itself does not show up on the screen. Instead, people see the words and images a developer or programmer asks the computer to display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coding tells a machine which actions to perform and how to complete tasks. Programming languages provide the rules for building websites, apps, and other computer-based technologies. Each programming language helps humans accurately communicate with machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Binary code comprises a series of zeros and ones, used to communicate instructions. This code is a low-level programming language. Each digit in a coded sequence connects to a switch in your computer. Each switch connects to an action, and together thousands of switches operate a device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
High-level code, a computer communication process that works much like human language, allows programmers to operate entire systems simultaneously. High-level programming languages convert human language from programmers into binary code that computers understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coding can be a rewarding venture for everyone \u2014 from hobbyists to aspiring computer programmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developers use a variety of programming languages to build websites and applications. Front-end developers typically use HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code to create website layouts and design functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Websites with user accounts, like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, require back-end developers to write computer code that connects websites to databases. Back-end developers often write code using languages such as SQL, Java, and Python.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developers use other languages like Python, Objective-C, C#, Swift, or Ruby on Rails to create apps for cell phones and computer software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is tempting to jump right in when you start coding. But if you don\u2019t have an end goal, you may become frustrated and stop learning before you get to the fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, before you start studying, think about why you want to know how to code. Think about the projects you want to complete, why this skill excites you, and what resources you have available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, say you want to become a developer to earn more income for your family. Do you know where you want to work and what projects they need developers for? Are you ready to put in the time to learn to code, learn the right programming languages, and build projects that show you have what it takes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Setting a broad goal like that is important but can be overwhelming. Instead, start with smaller, more specific goals. For example, say you want to build a mobile app for your friend who is training for a half-marathon one year from now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This goal will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the wonderful things about modern programming languages is that they enable us to create fancy applications without worrying about the nitty-gritty details of the hardware behind the scenes (for the most part).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is called abstraction<\/strong> \u2013 the ability to work with higher-level tools (in this case programming languages) that simplify and narrow down the required scope of our understanding and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, that doesn’t mean it is useless to know the basics of the metal that your code is executing on. At the very least, being aware of a few tidbits will help you navigate workplace conversations about high CPU and memory usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re trying to figure out which programming language to start with, think about your long-term goals. Are you coding for fun or to advance at work? Do you have a flexible timeline, or do you need to finish a project in a hurry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a beginner, you may want to start with a language that doesn\u2019t use data structures or algorithms. If that is the case, HTML or CSS are great places to start. But languages like Java and Python are also great for beginners, and they have a wide range of applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can sometimes take months to learn a programming language, so take some time to make this decision to make sure that your time is well spent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning to code no longer requires a classroom setting. Today, there are thousands of online programming courses that cover everything from basic HTML to data structures to complex algorithms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your first course should introduce the basics of a language and contain interactive modules and assignments to guide your learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Courses create a structure for learning, which is essential as concepts in computer science build on each other. An organized course keeps everything digestible and ensures you\u2019re learning things in the correct order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Popular free course providers include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These options are great for determining early on whether you\u2019re ready to invest the time to learn a particular language. Plenty of paid courses are available for a fraction of what in-person classes will cost you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These choices cover a wide range of beginner, intermediate, and advanced CS topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some paid services offer free courses or trials if you want to get a feel for their teaching before you commit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are loads of books out there on how to start coding. Reading a book can really help you get to grips with programming theory. However, beware of books that claim to teach you in 24 hours. Coding takes time. You won\u2019t learn a language in a day. Instead, look for books with a more realistic time frame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One particularly good series is the Sams Teach Yourself books by Bradley L. Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main downside, though, is that if you get stuck, it\u2019s hard to ask a book for help. They\u2019re great for broad ideas and concepts, or learning while you\u2019re away from the computer. But without constant practice, you might become disheartened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to how to start coding on your own, there are quite a few tutorials on YouTube. These can often be more entertaining than reading a book, but are usually a bit more top-level. Here are a couple of good places to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both cover broader topics in computing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While online courses are your best bet for hands-on experience, online videos can supplement your learning and occupy your curiosity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Podcasts are a great way to learn while you\u2019re traveling or away from the computer. Though you won\u2019t learn specific syntax, they\u2019ll help you wrap your head around the theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few to get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are quite a few apps and websites to guide you through how to program. These are really useful if you\u2019re still wondering which language to choose. You\u2019ll learn the difference between a variable and a function, and start putting together really simple programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do be wary, they can tend to fall a little short once you start wanting to create your own program, or anything particularly unique. You won\u2019t have anybody to talk to, and they can feel quite limited in scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Codecademy<\/a> is a great place to start. It is free, and you can learn the basics of a variety of languages to see which one suits you best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to how to start coding, nothing can beat an actual teacher. In a coding boot camp, you\u2019ll be put in an immersive learning environment that takes you from a coding pupil to a self-sufficient programmer in 14 weeks (or more depending on your schedule). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coding boot camps are built for people who have decided that they want to make tech a career and want to gain the essential hard skills to be hired for jobs like full-stack developer and software engineer ASAP. They are not designed for anyone who wants to dabble in programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now you know the basics, it\u2019s time to get into the details. There are plenty of places online to ask questions, get help with sticky problems and learn best practices. Joining a community can really help encourage you to continue coding and give you a bit of direction when you feel lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Naturally, computer programmers have carved out plenty of spaces on the internet that provide help to coders of all experience levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are four good ways to get involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While joining a community won\u2019t teach you a language, it will help you see where you\u2019ve gone wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s great to know that you don\u2019t need any special tools to write code, there are tools that can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Text editors include features to make coding easier like color coding, auto-complete, find-and-replace, and dark mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most professionals use a code editor. This tool can help you write clean code faster. Code editors are like text editors, but they have extra features that help you manage and edit your code like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notepad++<\/a>, Sublime Text<\/a>, and Emacs<\/a> are popular editors for beginners. VS Code<\/a> is also a great option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also want to get to know your computer a little better. When you start coding you should learn how to navigate the console (also called a terminal). This is the text-based interface for your operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The console lets you find files and execute commands on them more quickly than the standard graphical user interface (GUI). Familiarize yourself with how to use it, including the <\/a>basic UNIX commands<\/a>, since you\u2019ll be doing things that aren\u2019t possible in the GUI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many projects start simple but get more complicated as the project goes on. Using a project management tool, you can share files, update timelines, and break out separate parts of coding projects. This makes it easier to keep track of side projects and extra files while sticking to your timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you work on your coding projects, you may run into bugs, roadblocks, and other challenges. This can be super frustrating. <\/a>Rubber Duck Debugging<\/a> may sound silly, but it can help you simplify your problem and find useful solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You learn programming by doing \u2014 there\u2019s no way around it. You can read up on all the concepts and syntax necessary to write functional code, but the ideas won\u2019t fully materialize in your mind unless you put what you learn into practice. That\u2019s where projects come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A project is any program (or website) built with your language of choice. When starting, keep projects short-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re taking a course, you may be assigned projects designed to solidify a concept. There are also loads of beginner programming projects you can try independently. Some classic projects include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A quick Google search will reveal even more mini-challenges that require applying your skills to real-world problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing beats practice. Once you have started wrapping your head around how to code and you have a few programs under your belt, it comes down to practice. This is where you can start looking for coding games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These act as puzzles, which will challenge how you approach programming problems. They\u2019re not for the complete beginner, but great for the intermediate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try out one of these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of practicing concepts, coding projects offer other benefits to your learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, they\u2019ll keep you motivated. Projects help solidify the \u201cwhy\u201d behind your coding and set clear, tangible benchmarks for your progress. Each completed project means one more skill under your belt. As I was learning, this was very encouraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, coding projects, especially long-term ones, give you something to show for your work. It\u2019s one thing to put \u201cPython\u201d on your resume \u2014 it\u2019s another to show you built an entire website or application from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Projects are a must for entry-level programming jobs, as they prove competency in a given language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone can learn to code armed only with their ambition and curiosity. Coding is an open-source educational environment that offers free online classes and tutorials, educational videos, and even apps devoted to coding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, how-to coding manuals have been available for decades and still provide a valuable learning platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though many people can learn the basics of a particular language within a few months, they\u2019ll always be learning. Give yourself several months to become familiar with a language, especially if you\u2019re starting from scratch. In a coding boot camp, 12 weeks of immersive full-time study will have you writing programs in HTML\/CSS and JavaScript.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online coding resources are abundant and can include everything from tutorials to educational videos to sites with free coding courses. Finding these resources can require a bit of research, and sources should be scrutinized to ensure the information is current and relevant, but they make a fine starting point for coding beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChoose a coding language<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take online courses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Read books on how to start coding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Watch video tutorials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Listen to coding podcasts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Run through a coding tutorial<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take a coding boot camp<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Join communities focused on how to start coding<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Try coding games <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Use tools that make learning to code easier<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Code Editor<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Console<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Project Management<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Troubleshooting<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Complete coding projects.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Coding games<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Why you should learn how to start coding<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can I learn coding by myself?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How long does it take to learn to code?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How can I learn to code for free?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recommended Articles <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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References<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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