What is coding?
Coding is the process of using programming languages to give instructions to a computer. These instructions power the websites, software, and applications people use every day.
Why learn to code?
Coding helps build professional skills.
Coding can help you earn more.
Coding lets you create things.
Coding can help you better understand the world around you.
Coding is fun.
How to Start Coding
- Figure out why you want to learn to code.
- Choose which coding language you want to learn first.
- Take online courses.
- Watch video tutorials.
- Read books and ebooks.
- Use tools that make learning to code easier.
- Check out how other people code.
- Complete coding projects.
- Find a mentor and a community.
- Consider enrolling in a coding boot camp.
Coding vs. Programming
The terms coding and programming are often used interchangeably, but they don’t always mean the same thing. Both coding and programming mean writing instructions for a computer. But programming might also include algorithms and data structures. Generally, the term programming describes more advanced projects.
Programming Languages
Coding requires knowledge of at least one coding language, a set of syntax and rules that computers can understand. There are hundreds of coding languages, each one unique in its purpose and what it can do.
When I first stepped into the world of coding, the array of programming languages seemed overwhelming. I began with HTML and CSS, and it was a transformative experience. Diving into HTML opened my eyes to the fundamental structure of web pages, while CSS unlocked the secrets of styling and design. These languages were the perfect starting point for a newbie like me, offering a hands-on introduction to the world of web development.
Programming languages give you a structure for the instructions you’re writing. This language looks like English, but not exactly. Programmers call the terms and grammar in a programming language syntax.
Tips for Coding for Beginners
As someone who ventured into the coding world not too long ago, I understand the mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension that come with learning to code. There are many ways to approach the practice of coding, and some methods and languages will work better for you than others.
No matter what or how you learn, however, remember these beginner tips:
- Be patient.
At the top of this post, I said anyone can learn to code. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Coding requires you to approach problems in ways you haven’t before. Certain topics may seem nonsensical to you, yet central to the language you’re learning. Problems that might seem easy at first will become far more complex to implement than you expected. You might spend hours hacking away at an assignment without seeing results.
And we can’t forget debugging. You’ll quickly learn that computers are nit-picky and will only do exactly what you tell them. Tiny typos like a missing semicolon or incorrect operator will break your entire program, and you must track down the culprit.
Even coding for beginners isn’t easy.
All of this can be uncomfortable and discouraging, and that’s okay. Do yourself a favor and progress slowly and steadily, giving yourself time to let everything soak in.
The best programmers were once where you are, and everyone has to learn the same things to start. Go easy on yourself, stick to the goals you’ve set, take breaks, and you’ll be fine.
- Get comfortable with the fundamentals.
The early days of learning a programming language are all about the essentials. You might start by learning binary, data types, and how to print to the console. From there, you’ll explore topics like:
Variables.
Functions.
Conditional logic.
Arrays.
Objects.
It’s essential that you fully grasp each of these concepts before advancing. This is because everything you learn in computer science builds on topics that come before.
If something doesn’t make sense, keep reviewing it until it does. And don’t assume it will make sense later in the context of future lessons. If you’re learning from a tutorial, be sure you understand what each activity is meant to teach you.
Complete all exercises to experience first-hand how each topic applies to coding. And stay patient — you can’t embark on an ambitious project until you grasp the fundamentals.
- Write clean code from the start.
Here’s something an online course may not teach you: On top of learning how to write your code, you should also practice writing it well.
What does this mean? For any given computation, there will be more than one way to program it. You should always strive to write it in the most concise and humanly readable way that you can.
Developers usually work in teams, so others will be reading your code often. If it’s hard to decipher, fellow developers won’t look forward to working with you.
Even if you decide to freelance, writing clean code ensures you’ll understand your own code. It’s better to build the habit of clean coding now, as it will save you hours trying to decipher your work after you haven’t looked at it in months.
Why is clean code important?
You might be wondering why you need to learn clean code at this point. You’re a beginner, so shouldn’t writing functional programs be the main goal?
Well, yes. This is about establishing good habits early. If you put in the extra work now, you’ll save yourself (and others) some sanity down the road.
A good way to achieve this is by keeping your lines and your functions short. I recommend limiting each line of code to 80 characters max and each function to no more than 15 lines.
While limiting at first, these rules will train you to favor efficient code over the first idea that occurs to you.
Also, make a habit of commenting. Comments are segments of code that aren’t processed by the computer, so you can write whatever you want inside them.
Programmers use comments to clarify the purpose of their code. Learn how comments work in your language and, at the very least, leave comments at the top of your functions explaining the job of each one.
- Search is your friend.
There’s no shame in using Google to find the solutions to your coding problems. In fact, professional developers do it all the time.
If you’re struggling, someone’s probably been in the same situation and dropped a question to a forum. You’d be surprised at how many solutions you’ll find with super-specific queries.
Plus, it’s quite satisfying to close 20 tabs of Stack Exchange after finally fixing a stubborn bug.
Our Favorite Coding Resources
More details : https://blog.hubspot.com/website/how-to-start-coding