Start Coding For FREE
Many people are interested in programming but are not sure where to start. Starting in programming depends on what you intend on getting out of it. There are coding boot camps, online courses, and college degrees that prepare you for a competitive workplace. These are all fantastic options but are pretty expensive. What if you wanted to take coding as a hobby, or are just simply interested in seeing how it all works? Luckily, there are lots of options for free programming education. Below I will outline a few resources that I enjoy using for my learning.
Free code camp
It is hard to search for free programing education without seeing Freecodecamp as a top search. The site covers many different languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, Python, and SQL. There are over 10 modules to go through, with several hundred hours of content in each module. I am learning basic web development right now in the Responsive Web Design module. Considering that is a completely free learning resource, the material goes into great detail to teach you the foundations of these widely used coding languages.
Code Academy
While researching app development, I came across Code Academy. I have been interested in learning a language called Swift, for Apple iOS or Mac application design. Through this site, you can learn many languages completely free. Their catalog is quite extensive, they have courses in many different languages, as well as tech career courses, such as IT, cybersecurity, and various programming positions. The User interface is eye-catching and interesting, and the content is straightforward.
Youtube
Youtube should not be surprising to be on this list. Many technical problems can be solved by watching videos of someone who learned the answer before you. Youtube can be great to get your foot in the coding door, as well as, help you solve problems later on when you are working on projects. There are thousands of hours of great learning material on youtube, as long as you can dodge clickbait well.
Grasshopper
Staying with Google programs we have Grasshopper which is a smaller, more focused resource for learning programming. This program mostly covers javascript and has you work through fun bite-sized projects to help you just get an idea of what is possible with programming.
Programming can be a fun hobby, and it is not necessary to pursue a four-year computer science degree and spend tons of money just to learn how everything works. There is so much you can do with some coding knowledge, like make applications, write automation scripts, make your website templates, and more. Once you are hooked on coding, make sure you stay consistent and productive, and you will see results quickly.
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