Coding is one of the most in-demand skills today. If you’re interested in a career in programming and development, learning to code will get you on the right path. Coding is also a great skill to learn for your own personal use if you don’t want to pursue a career in computer science.
So, how do you learn to code? It can be overwhelming to consider all the different ways to learn to code. This article will provide some insight into how to choose the best learning path. Follow these steps to learn how to become a coder in 3 months.
Why do you want to code?
Before you start learning to code, think about why you want to learn this skill. For some people, they want to get into a career in computer programming or software development. Others may be aiming for a promotion at work that requires knowledge of how to code.
Coding doesn’t have to be all about a career though. Maybe you think it would be an interesting activity to pursue in your spare time. You may have an idea for an app you’d like to create.
Knowing your motivation for learning to code will help you determine the best path to take. Someone who wants to become a software developer will have a different learning path than a person who just wants to become a coder for a hobby.
What is your learning style?
Once you know your motivation for learning, you’ll need to figure out how you learn best. People who are visual learners may want to focus on reading materials and video lessons. Auditory learners can choose to listen to lectures or videos. Kinesthetic learners tend to do best when they can practice hands-on skills.
Also, consider if you learn best on your own or as part of a group. Online videos and tutorials are ideal for individual learners. People with a social learning style can opt for in-person classes and groups.
Month 1: Start with the Basics
When you start your journey to become a coder, you should focus on the basics in the beginning. Learning the fundamentals of programming and computer science will provide you with the context to understand where coding fits in.
There is an abundance of free resources available, so learning to code doesn’t need to cost you anything. Even platforms with paid courses often offer free trial periods to use their programs. Look at options on Udemy, Coursera, edX, and Udacity.
Here are some beginner courses that can get you started as you learn to code.
The Fundamentals of Programming course offered by Udemy provides an overview of nine programming languages and how they work. You’ll learn the basics needed for web and app development. With just over 3 hours of lectures, you can easily complete this course in under a month.
Coursera’s Computer Science course offers a broad introduction to the fundamentals of computer programming. It will teach you basic programming concepts and various programming languages. Expect to spend around 20 hours a week to finish this course in a month.
Programming Basics is another introductory course offered through edX. This course focuses on basic programming skills and how they can be applied to solve various problems. This course will require about 12 hours of study a week to complete in one month.
Month 2: Learn a Language
Now that you have spent some time learning the fundamentals of computer science, programming, and development, it’s time to choose a language to focus on.
While you will have exposure to several different programming languages over the course of learning to code, it’s a good idea to choose one to focus on in the beginning. Learn everything you can about using one language and then move on to others.
You might be wondering what language you should choose. If you’re looking for a career change, it’s a good idea to look at job postings and see what programming languages employers are looking for.
The 2021 Stack Overflow survey showed that the most popular programming languages among developers were JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and Python. These languages tend to have larger development communities that can provide support to beginners.
Let’s take a look at some courses that will teach you these programming languages in under a month!
Coursera’s course on Python Basics can be completed in around 36 hours. It’s highly rated by students who have enrolled in the course. Offered in partnership with the University of Michigan, this course is geared toward people with little to no experience with Python.
Udemy offers a popular HTML & CSS Tutorial and Projects Course. You will learn the basics of HTML and CSS including how to create real-world projects. This course is approximately 36 hours in length.
This JavaScript Introduction course is offered through edX and takes roughly 30-40 hours to complete. This course will teach you the basics of the programming language JavaScript and how to add interactive content to web pages.
Month 3: Personal Project
You’ve now got the basics of computer science under your belt and you’ve mastered a programming language. The next step is to take what you’ve learned and apply it by creating your own personal project.
Reflect back on what your initial motivation was to learn to code. Use that information to decide what type of project you will work on. Maybe you want to build your own website, create a video game, or develop an app. Choose something that will be useful to you or to others.
While you are working on your project, be sure to seek out help when you need it. A great resource for this is Stack Overflow which has a huge community of developers. You’ll be able to ask questions and get support from others.
Ready? Let’s Go!
While it’s great to research the opportunities that are out there for learning to code, the main thing is to get started. The sooner you start learning and practicing, the faster you’ll be on your way to becoming a coder.