Source: Flickr by Matylda @ HackNY.org
Coding is a versatile skill, applicable to almost any area in IT. It is a high-in-demand skill, and well-sought-after by employers. In today’s era, competent coders are required to make internet systems, apps, and software work. Here are some of the ways, I am planning to learn how to code in many of the different coding languages:
The languages
First, let’s start with the different coding languages out there. You’ll want to start with the basics, which is web designing with HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Below is a list of the main coding languages:
- HTML ( Hypertext Markup Language) – “a standardized system for tagging text files to achieve font, colour, graphic, and hyperlink effects on World Wide Web pages”
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) – “(CSS) is a stylesheet language used to describe the presentation of a document written in HTML or XML (including XML dialects such as SVG, MathML, or XHTML). CSS describes how elements should be rendered on screen, on paper, in speech, or on other media.” CSS: Cascading Style Sheets | MDN (mozilla.org)
- Javascript – “an object-oriented computer programming language, commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers.”
- Java – “a general-purpose computer programming language, designed to produce programs that will run on any computer system.”
- C++ – “a general-purpose computer programming language designed to produce programs that will run on any computer system.” What is C++ Programming Language? – Definition from Techopedia
- C# – “C#, pronounced “C-sharp,” is an object-oriented programming language, from Microsoft, that enables developers to build applications that run on the .NET platform.”
- Python – “Python is a dynamic, high-level, free open source, and interpreted programming language. It supports object-oriented programming, as well as procedural-oriented programming. In Python, we don’t need to declare the type of variable, because it is a dynamically typed language. ” Python Features – GeeksforGeeks
- R – “R is a programming language and free software, developed by Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman in 1993. R possesses an extensive catalog of statistical and graphical methods. It includes machine learning algorithms, linear regression, time series, and statistical inference, to name a few.” What is R Programming Language? Introduction & Basics of R (guru99.com)
- Go – “Go (Golang) is a programming language, used for a variety of purposes; including servers, web development, cloud infrastructure, and command-line interfaces. It’s also beginner-friendly and easy to remember.” What Is Go? An Introduction to the Golang Programming Language (codecademy.com)
- Kotlin – “Kotlin is a general purpose, free, open source, statically typed “pragmatic” programming language, initially designed for the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and Android; it combines object-oriented and functional programming features. It is focused on interoperability, safety, clarity, and tooling support.” What is Kotlin? The Java alternative explained | InfoWorld
- C – “C has been around for several decades and has won widespread acceptance; because it gives programmers maximum control and efficiency. C is an easy language to learn. It is a bit more cryptic in its style than some other languages, but you get beyond that fairly quickly.” What is C? – The Basics of C Programming | HowStuffWorks
- PHP – “PHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open source general-purpose scripting language, that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML.” What is PHP? – Manual
- Ruby – “Ruby is an open-source object-oriented scripting language invented in the mid-90s by Yukihiro Matsumoto.” What is the Ruby programming language? | A Cloud Guru
- Swift – “Swift is a powerful and intuitive programming language for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Writing Swift code is interactive and fun, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and Swift includes modern features developers love. Swift code is safe by design, and it produces software that runs lightning fast.” Swift – Apple Developer
How to Learn
- Get into a learning habit by purchasing the GoGirl Planner which I use to keep an organised and productive schedule. Dedicate some time every day to learning to code; be that a small fragment of a language, or multiple coding topics. Consistency is key.
- Gather your resources. The resources I have been using are as follows: Sololearn, Free Code Camp, Coursera, and numerous books such as “A Programmer’s Guide to Computer Science.” I’m also looking into Codecademy. You may decide to use, more basic software if you’re completely new to the coding world. Such software could include Scratch, or if you’re more advanced and want to develop your skills further, use GitHub (an advanced open-source platform for developers).
- Take your time, because it takes time to master a skill like coding. It’s important to pace yourself and not become flustered. Read through coding books. Go through the courses step-by-step. Practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better you will get.
- Set yourself deadlines. Set timeframes for you to complete your learning goals for coding. Determine a deadline for you to learn a particular coding language. Then focus on particular learning paths. After this, focus on finding and completing software projects, and then look for client work. Within a few months, you’ll find yourself to be job-ready for any interview, and in a position to secure a job.