Today, many professions are disappearing because of technological advances. But there is a skill increasing in demand over time: coding. Nowadays, companies are looking for programmers, software developers and website developers. You can easily get a good paying job if you know how to code and for those that want to learn how to code can easily do so at home. Online learning platforms like Codeacademy specialize in helping people to learn code at home so why not start your search by searching “Is Codecademy any good?“. Of course, not all learning platforms are the same and you may find one to be better suited to your style of learning than another.
If you don’t have a very good idea of programming, then perhaps we need to lay down the basics before you get into picking a course provider. Below are some tips to help you in your journey to learn coding.
Know the five basic terms
First understand these 5 basic concepts: variables, control structures, data structures, syntax, and tools. Once you understand these concepts, you will have a solid foundation on which to build your coding career.
Choose a language
Udemy and many other coding courses provide let you choose from a variety of programming languages. Each one has its own set of uses and isn’t always interchangeable. So you must choose the right language to learn. If you want to know how to find the right one, you have to question yourself on why you want to learn how to program. What would you like to do once you learn this skill? Do you want to create a website? Do you want to develop applications?
As a rule, you have to understand one language before moving on to the next. If you understand a language correctly, it will be easier for you to understand the next one.
That said, once you have found concrete answers to all these questions, and finalized a coding language, it is time to select a course provider. However, this is not an easy task. You would have to learn about the cost and also check out the reviews of the provider so that you do not end up getting fooled by online scammers. Needless to say, reputed course providers like Udemy need no checking. An Udemy course certificate, at the current time, seems to have great value. So, while opting for one, you would not need to consider reviewing their website or anything.
Practice it
How did you learn to strap shoes or ride a bike? Did anyone tell you how to do it? No, you did it yourself. Yes, you learn by coding, not by reading. You should practice writing the code yourself.
Know the basics
When learning a programming language, learning quickly and concentrating on complicated things can be tempting. However, do not rush while learning the basics. To master coding, you must first master the basics. If you do not understand the basics, you may not be able to understand the advanced techniques. For example, to understand ‘What is multitasking in Java‘, you must first understand its fundamentals of working like variables, objects, classes, methods, threads, etc. Without having a strong grasp of basics, you might get confused as you move up the ladder of learning.
Code by hand
Coding is undoubtedly done with technology and applications. However, experts suggest that you have to learn to code by hand. In fact, most experts believe in it.
If you code without an application, you cannot verify that the code is correct. Therefore, you are more careful and you know better what you are doing. In addition, when companies hire coding experts, they request manual coding. Then, if you want to be good at it, you should start the learning process by coding with your hands.
The takeaway
Coding is a valuable skill. Learning to code is not child’s play, but you can do it as long as you spend a lot of time and effort. Hope these guides will help you learn the basics of programming. If you want to learn how to do it right, you must first master the basics.
