{"id":76,"date":"2023-11-26T11:26:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T11:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/Jim%20Fahad"},"modified":"2023-11-26T11:26:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T11:26:48","slug":"how-to-start-coding-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/how-to-start-coding-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Start Coding 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While anybody can learn how to start coding, many people don\u2019t take the plunge because they\u2019re worried they need a computer-science degree, they\u2019re too young, they\u2019re \u201cnot good at math\u201d or that there are already enough programmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Programming is about solving problems. Yes, it can take some time to get to grips with specific languages, but there are plenty of resources for every kind of learning style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the essentials on how to start coding on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Come up with a simple project<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t learn carpentry without making a few cupboards. Likewise, when you\u2019re learning to code, the best practice is making programs. Without that clear project, it\u2019s easy to lose focus and motivation. So come up with an idea, and work toward that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try and keep the project simple. For example, make your life easier with a budget calculator or try building an old classic like Hangman<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t stress how important this is. So before you dive into choosing a language or reading a book, come up with an idea. Got one? Great. Let\u2019s continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Get the software you\u2019ll need<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Computer<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need much to start writing code. It\u2019s making sure your computer knows how to run it that sometimes needs a little setup. So, if you\u2019re completely new to programming, there are a few things you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be as simple as a text editor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When writing code, all you need to do is save the file as the correct type. For example, if you\u2019re using Python, you\u2019d save your text file as a .py instead of a .txt. You can make your life easier by downloading Notepad++, which helps you spot where you\u2019ve made a mistake in your code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your computer needs to know how to read the code<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you run a file, your computer needs to know what to do with all that code. So make sure you search around for what you need to install before trying to run the file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get software that\u2019ll bring everything you need together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you know what language you want to learn, and start making more complex programs, you\u2019ll want to download an Integrated Development Environment (IDE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An IDE brings together a way to edit your code, see it run in real-time and create the final file you need. They\u2019re not essential, but they make life so much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get to grips with the console<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re probably used to using your computer with a well-designed interface. This is called a Graphical User Interface (GUI). But now that you\u2019re going to be a programmer, it helps to know how to use the black window of power: the console. (A Command-line Interface.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not hard, but it\u2019s probably unfamiliar to you. There\u2019s a great tutorial by The New Boston on how to use the Windows Command Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join communities about how to start coding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Coworkers<\/figure>\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, and give you a bit of direction when you feel lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are four good ways to get involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Reddit: \/r\/learnprogramming. An essential resource that brings together everything you might need to learn your language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Stack Overflow. Whenever you have a problem, it\u2019s extremely likely someone else has already solved it. Stack Overflow is one of the best forums for finding those solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Meetup. Don\u2019t underestimate how helpful it can be to know people in real life who code.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Hackathons. These events bring people together to quickly create programs, usually over a weekend. You can find plenty online, but try starting out with Major League Hacking.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\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

    Read a few books<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"Books<\/figure>\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 the programming theory. The main downside is that if you get stuck, it\u2019s hard to ask a book for help. They\u2019re great for the 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

    You can find a list of free books on GitHub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Beware books that claim to teach you in 24 hours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coding takes time. You won\u2019t learn a language in a day. Instead, look for books with a more realistic time-frame. One particularly good series is the Sams Teach Yourself books by Bradley L Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to start coding with YouTube<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"Browser<\/figure>\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

      \n
    1. Crash Course Computer Science. This series isn\u2019t about how to program, but you\u2019ll learn how your operating system and hardware works. Each episode is around 10 minutes, so you can fairly quickly understand how computers and code fit together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. The Coding Train. This entertaining show is focused on Python, but will show you a real programmer in action. It\u2019s especially worth checking out his challenges, where he tries to create a simple program in 10 minutes. You might want to visit this once you\u2019ve got a basic understanding of the jargon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Listen to a podcast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Podcasts are a great way of learning while you\u2019re travelling. 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

        \n
      1. CodeNewbie. If you\u2019re looking for inspiration, this podcast talks through stories of people who got into programming, what they did and how they did it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Learn to Code. Laurence Bradford interviews and goes on her own journey to learn to code. You can follow along and learn with her as she does.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Coding Blocks. A more advanced podcast where a group of programmers talk about the intricacies of how to code.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Run through a tutorial<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \"Man<\/figure>\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

        We\u2019d recommend starting off with Codecademy. It\u2019s free, and you can learn the basics of a variety of languages to see which one suits you best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Try some games on how to start coding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \"Woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Once you\u2019ve 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. 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

          \n
        1. Code Combat. These games walk you slowly through concepts, starting at computer science and getting steadily more complicated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. CodinGame. Once you have a bit more of an understanding, this game is about solving problems in specific languages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Code Wars. Jump straight into programming problems and practice debugging your software.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Take a Coding Bootcamp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \"Coding<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          When it comes to how to start coding, nothing can beat an actual teacher. In a coding bootcamp, you\u2019ll be put in an immersive learning environment that takes you from coding pupil to self-sufficient programmer in 14 weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Not designed for anyone who wants to dabble in programming, coding bootcamps 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 & software engineer ASAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Coding Dojo offers the most serious bootcamp in the industry. It\u2019s the only bootcamp whose curriculum is designed to teach you the three full stacks used by the world\u2019s top companies (most bootcamps only teach one). Full and part-time online coding courses are available. In addition to allowing you to apply to more positions with better salary ranges, a three-stack curriculum allows you to grow with your industry instead of having to return to school to learn more programming languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           If you\u2019re serious about making tech a core part of your professional life for the rest of your life, Coding Dojo is the only serious choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          While anybody can learn how to start coding, many people don\u2019t take the plunge because they\u2019re worried they need a computer-science degree, they\u2019re too young, they\u2019re \u201cnot good at math\u201d or that there are already enough programmers. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Programming is about solving problems. Yes, it can take some time […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":74,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitpapa.net\/softpro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}