How to Teach Yourself to Code

I learned to code entirely online, and you can, too.

While having nothing to do, nobody to see, and nowhere to go might seem unsettling at the moment, lockdown is a fantastic opportunity to — you guessed it! — teach yourself to code.

In a couple of weeks, I’ll e-graduate from Harvard University with a degree in computer science. My computer science journey, though, began when I was just thirteen years old, learning about cool graphics I could integrate into my Tumblr blog. I loved it when JavaScript could make little bubbles appear out of my cursor as I scrolled, or have music auto-play when you loaded my site.

At the time, I had never taken a coding class; the resources available to me on the internet were enough to get started, figure out the basics, and become excited about the world of CS.

To date, the majority of the coding knowledge I’ve acquired since my middle school Tumblr years has been independently, and entirely online. Computer science can feel like an intimidating place — as it often has for me — and learning on your own terms, with no pressure of getting a good grade or of anybody watching, helped me find my place in this busy, male-dominated world.

Beyond that, you should learn to code because it’s good for you. Often cited as the most…