Last Updated on January 20, 2023
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Critical Tips To Learn Programming Faster
Whether you’re currently pursuing a degree in computer science, a veteran using the GI Bill to choose their next mission, an aspiring self-taught developer, or a coding boot camp student, mastering the craft of programming is a perpetual struggle. To assist in your learning – courtesy of the Coding Dojo instructors.
Whether you’re currently pursuing a degree in computer science, or you have taken a call to grow your career in the information technology sector, knowledge of coding is essential. then this is for you, listed below are easy tips that will help you learn programming skills.
Start With the Basics and Spend More Time There
A mistake many students commit in any learning process is to try and skip the basics or spend less time with the fundamentals of a subject, and instead jump to chapter 3 or 4 right away—ignoring or skimming over the first few chapters.
While this may work in some areas of knowledge, while learning computer programming, you must make it a point to spend more time fully grasping the fundamentals of coding. If you are learning through a tutor and you find that they are going too quickly for you to follow, you must tell them to go slowly and explain all points so that your understanding is firm and clear.
More often than not, people get stuck when they reach higher levels and may find themselves getting lost easily and having to go back to learn basic material. Learning the basics well means your overall time required to finish learning programming can be cut down.
Coding education sites such as freeCodeCamp and Codecademy offer several 101-style courses you can start with.
Code by hand. It sharpens proficiency and you’ll need it to get a job
Computer monitors become thinner, hard drives lighter, and programming languages more powerful, but coding-by-hand still remains one of the most effective methods to learn how to program. Be it on a whiteboard or notebook, coding-by-hand requires further caution, precision, and intent behind every line of code. Because unlike on a computer, you can’t run hand-written code midway through the sheet to check if the work is correct. Although more time consuming, this restriction will mold you into a more fundamentally sound developer, both in the classroom and the job market. For college exams and technical interviews – a critical component of the job interview process – you will have to code-by-hand, because not only is this good for learning, but it’s universally known to be the ultimate test for a programmer’s proficiency. So start early and get used to this old-school practice.
Fiddle Around With the Codes
This basically means you need not be stuck in a straight jacket of coding exactly as per the inputs are given. You must try your hand at making changes in it just for the heck of it. That way, you may learn how the end results get altered when you make changes to the coding.
This does not mean you go about changing the whole program; far from it. When you reach the stage of being capable of changing whole code programs in the learning process, you may be given an assignment to write the codes for a certain program. You will know the final output that is expected from your code. After doing it right, go back and tinker with it a bit here and there, and see how the output changes.
This will give you enormous confidence in your skills and you will know how you can make these changes if the desired output is not achieved in any future assignment.
Learn by doing. Always play with the code while learning
With every new subject, the sooner you start playing with the code, the faster you will learn the given concepts. Even if you blaze through an entire chapter of reading and a topic like for loops seems straightforward – so a monkey could do it – you’ll still be scratching your head when tasked to implement the code for the first time. You’ll think, “wait, what was that one piece of syntax again?” As the saying goes, you need to “use it or lose it”, because despite the evolution of technology, this ole’ proverb holds true when learning to code.
Reach Out to Others for Guidance
Seeking help from professionals while learning a new skill is never looked down upon. As with many professions, a fellow programmer will likely not feel any hitch in sharing their knowledge with you. In most cases, they have been in the same position as you find yourself to be in now, and help will be forthcoming.
You may need help with understanding where the bug in your program is or when getting stuck in a debugging effort. Like solving a Sudoku game or a crossword puzzle, the other person’s glance might go straight to the point, which might have escaped your attention all day long. Your co-programmers can be included in this exercise too. Don’t feel shy that they will make fun of you. They may be stuck with a similar issue one day and will feel comfortable coming to you for help.
Seek out more online resources. There’s a wealth of content
If a particular concept doesn’t make sense, be it on in a textbook, or during class lecture, maintain your confidence and look for alternate online resources to learn the same content. Everyone learns differently, and just because one source doesn’t make sense, doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It means that you’re not clicking with the delivery of the material. The online resources to learn computer programming are endless, and there’s always tutorial, or blog explanation that will make the material-at-hand crystal clear.
Take Breaks to Get Refreshed
You’ve probably come across friends in the same profession burning the midnight oil, yet not arriving at the solution to a bug detected and reported by a client or testing team.
These are commonplace occurrences in the industry. But you might have heard of instances where the coder takes a break, plays a game, or even takes a nap, and then, back at the monitor, the solution pops up like a flash. Taking advantage of the benefits of taking breaks will make you better at learning programming.
Don’t just read the sample code. Tinker with it!
Reading sample code is not enough to understand how it works. To develop a true understanding, you need to actually run the code and tinker with it. With the additions of comments and instructions, sample code is packaged to be by the reader; but in reality, it’s pretty difficult to replicate from scratch. Reading is not the same as understanding, and actually trying to write the code yourself, or at least running it, will facilitate the learning process much more.
Read Relevant Material
This could be an extension of the last tip, but in a different context. In this tip, the advice to read extensively is not just about the coding process alone. The idea is to boost your domain knowledge while doing coding work.
In a majority of real-life situations, if you are engaged in writing code for a particular client, the client’s team will possess complete knowledge of their business, how it works, and everything else there is to know about it, but they would not know how to write the code for a program to improve that process.
You may be an expert at coding, but your knowledge of the business you’re dealing with may be very limited. That’s why equipping yourself with information about a particular business is crucial. It will be much easier for you to program and deliver what’s expected of you.
Never Get Tired of Practicing
The adage “practice makes perfect” holds true no matter what profession you are in. In the case of coding or programming, it becomes even more critical, since your first exposure is through books or other theoretical methods whereas the real work has to be done hands-on. You must, therefore, spend as much time on a computer as you can to get the hang of it in the initial stages.
Take any model project and start doing it. Some experts suggest personal projects as an effective starting point. Think up a project and start writing the codes. You may feel like you’re getting nowhere, but slowly, the solution will emerge.
The more you practice your coding during your learning days, the sooner you will end up feeling confident to take on any coding assignment. That kind of confidence will help you perform quite admirably in a technical evaluation by your prospective employers. If you are lucky, you might start off with a tough assignment that could even fast-track your career.
Learn From the Bugs
Life is an endless learning process. The previous generations had the luxury of making mistakes, learning from them, and then finding success. In today’s context, you have to be more alert and learn from others’ mistakes, and not commit the same errors yourself.
Bugs appearing in a program you wrote are part of a fully acceptable and commonly occurring situation. Your programming skills lie in quickly detecting the bug and resolving it. In many cases, detecting the bug may take a while, but once found, it may take very little time to resolve or reset the codes.
There are debuggers available that you can use to make the resolution process faster. The effort may have to be repeated a few times, since you will have to get back to the full program to test out the changes made in the coding and check if the expected output is being achieved or not.
best way to learn programming on your own
Programming is a skill that more and more people have been learning over the past few years. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who work as computer programmers in the USA, there are thousands and thousands more who program for fun or in their spare time.
However, learning this skill can sometimes feel like an uphill battle with a lot to learn and think about. In an effort to help you out, we have decided to craft an article all about providing you with some tips to help you learn programming faster.
Consider Which Language You Will Learn
Before even learning to program, you need to choose which programming language you will learn. Now, there is no rule about only having to learn a single language, but when you are just starting, there are some that are easier to learn and might make a better option to start with, such as Python and Java.
Before even learning to program, you need to choose which programming language you will learn. Now, there is no rule about only having to learn a single language, but when you are just starting, there are some that are easier to learn and might make a better option to start with, such as Python and Java.
If you start with a very complex and tough-to-learn language, it may deter you from continuing and getting somewhere with programming. Of course, the language you will learn will also depend on what you want to use the code for, but you can’t discount how important it is to start with something you can handle.
Practice, Practice and More Practice
You can read all the books you want and watch all the videos you can, but in order to get better at programming, you have to actually get down and practice. The quicker you actually start playing around with the code and practicing, the better. It might be frustrating and hard right off the bat, but the more you practice the better you will get.
Also, practice is an ongoing thing that you should continue doing even after you have learned to program. If you go a long time without programming, you could lose the skills, which is never a good thing. Because of this, you should spend some time keeping fresh and practicing frequently.
Learn the Fundamentals First
While you might want to dive into the advanced concepts and material right away, you need to dip your toes in before diving in the deep end. No matter how simple or easy the fundamentals might seem, it is important to learn them first. If not, you might find yourself scratching your head once you do reach those more advanced steps. The better you understand the basics, the easier the more advanced concepts will be to grasp.
Play Games and Work Through Tutorials
When you are just sitting down and coding for hours on end, it can get a bit monotonous. It may not keep you engaged, and some people might have troubles keeping it up. If that sounds like you, then you might want to either play some games or work through tutorials.
There are several simple and basic coding-related games out there that are not only fun but can also help you learn. Also, there are thousands of tutorials for every different programming language under the sun, which can all help you learn without it being too dull.
Be Sure to Log
While you might not think about it, logging is one of the most important tools any programmer or developer will have. Logging is all about getting more data about what your code is doing, which can help with debugging and programming itself. It is also helpful in managing complex programming.
Of course, if you are going to log, you will need some log management to keep things well managed. Check out this link to learn more about log management: Configuring centralized logging from Python apps · Papertrail log management.
Don’t Be Scared to Seek Out Help
While most coding work is done alone, that doesn’t mean you need to learn alone. The internet is full of literally thousands of different resources that can help you learn about coding. Whether this is posting a question on a subreddit, participating in a forum discussion or even personally reaching out to a programmer you know.
Some people hate asking for help, but the quicker you get over that fear, the quicker you will be able to learn to code and program effectively. Many people are eager to help out newcomers, so you should easily be able to find help and answers to your questions.
Take Some Breaks and Don’t Burn Yourself Out
When working on code and trying to learn how to program better, you can often be sitting down at a desk or computer for hours and hours at a time. As you could imagine, this can be terrible for your body and it is recommended that you get up and take some breaks.
In addition to that, it is easy to get discouraged or “stuck” when trying to learn or fix a problem. Sometimes, all it takes is a few minutes of clarity and stretching to get you back on track. This could save you a lot of time and energy in the long run, as well.
best way to learn coding free
Learning to code will always offer a variety of benefits. For webmasters, having some basic programming skills can make website management significantly easier. Moreover, it can make you less reliant on developers to build and run projects, reducing costs in the long run.
For job seekers and career switchers, coding can open up doors to various programming professions, many of which are in high demand.
These days, learning to code can be very affordable. Tons of free resources are available, whether you want to master a new programming language or start a code-based project.
To help you choose where to learn to code, we’ve compiled a list of the top 27 free online coding courses and resources in this guide.
1. BitDegree
BitDegree is a great place to learn to code for free. This online learning platform has courses on various programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, jQuery, and Ruby on Rails.
Moreover, there are coding classes for subjects like game development and data science. Some even come with certifications, which can be helpful when looking for a new job.
To get started, simply sign up with an email address and password, and pick one of the available free courses.
Generally, there are two types of online courses to choose from. The first is designed by BitDegree itself and usually comes in an interactive format. There will be a screen with a code editor, allowing students to test the scripts right away.
The other type is composed of standard video lessons developed by experts in the industry. Some may include quizzes, open-ended questions, or exercises to create a more engaging learning experience.
What’s excellent about BitDegree is that it uses a token system to reward students every time they complete a session. They can use these tokens to get a discount for paid coding classes or fund upcoming courses in the Community Votes section.
Other than that, students can check out the Code Playground page to submit their work or check others’ for inspiration.
Learn to code by reading the following guides
What Is JavaScript
What Is jQuery
HTML Cheat Sheet
CSS Cheat Sheet
2. Codecademy
Codecademy is one of the best sites to learn coding. Like BitDegree, it offers free and paid courses on a wide range of programming subjects. Students can choose their class based on the language they want to master or their desired career path.
If you’re unsure where to begin, Codecademy has a sorting quiz to determine what programming job is best for you and which course to start with.
The free coding classes mainly cover introductory lessons, though there are several intermediate ones as well.
Besides essentials like HTML and CSS, Codecademy also features specific programming languages, such as Go and Swift. These are used to make Google and Apple applications, respectively.
The learning experience is quite hands-on. Each course features a set of explanations and instructions, along with a code editor for students to practice their knowledge.
Should you get stuck on the instructions, use the hint provided. The community forums are also accessible within the lesson if you need more information.
Note that Codecademy doesn’t offer certificates for its free courses as BitDegree does. To get them, consider purchasing the Pro plan, which costs $19.99/month. College students can enjoy a 35% discount.
3. Coursera
Coursera is a leading online learning platform. Partnering with top universities and companies, it offers high-quality courses for in-demand skills – including programming.
The subject library is vast, starting from computer science, web development, data analytics to machine learning.
Many of the classes are free, but you will have to pay around $39 or more to get a certificate and complete specific tasks. The paid courses, on the other hand, usually come with a 7-day free trial.
When signing up, Coursera will have you insert some personal information so that they can tailor the course recommendations to your taste.
The learning process generally uses a mix of video content, reading materials, exercises, quizzes, and participant forums. Students can also set a weekly learning goal to stay motivated.
If you want to learn how to code a website, check out this Introduction to Web Development course from UC Davis. It will explain the basics of how websites work and how to use HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
4. edX
Next on the list is edX. It’s a nonprofit that works with world-class universities, like Harvard and NYU, to provide 3,000+ free online courses.
Like Coursera, the lessons are freely accessible, but getting a certificate and doing tasks for grading requires purchasing the course. The cost is between $50 and $300.
The free coding classes are mostly available in the Computer Science category.
There are introductory coding lessons on languages like HTML, JavaScript, SQL, C, C++, and Python. Alternatively, pick subject-specific programming courses, such as website building, mobile app development, data structures, or software engineering.
Aside from videos, the courses usually include readings, exercises, and forums to make the learning experience more interactive. Students who enroll in the free track will have access to these materials until the specified expiration date.
5. Khan Academy
Another non-profit company, Khan Academy, offers excellent beginner-friendly resources to learn to code for free.
The topics are mainly basic computer programming principles, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and SQL. While the collection isn’t as vast as in other platforms, it is sufficient for novice web developers.
Other than that, Khan Academy also has a short and interactive program called Hour of Code. There, students can practice coding for animation, building websites, or managing data.
The primary teaching media consists of videos, flashcards, and practices using a code editor. When the instructor has finished explaining, the participant can practice their newfound knowledge by completing the challenges in the section.
6. Code.org
Code.org is a non-profit company that aims to make programming a part of the mainstream education curriculum.
While the course catalog is primarily for K-12 school students, we find them suitable for beginners of any age. The teaching method mainly uses a block system where users can drag and drop code to the editing interface, which can be less overwhelming for newcomers.
We recommend starting with the grade 6-12 category as they come with introductory programming lessons.
Like Khan Academy, Code.org also has an Hour of Code – quick coding tutorials for building websites, apps, and games.
7. Codewars
Codewars is one of the most popular coding websites among developers. Run by a tech assessment company, this platform offers code challenges called kata to sharpen your programming skills.
What makes Codewars unique is its community engagement. Participants can see how they rank against other members, check what their peers’ answers look like, and create their own kata for others to try.
Moreover, participants can join discussions on GitHub or Discord platforms for live interaction.
To get started, users need to choose a language. Then Codewars will present them with a challenge to prove their skills and determine the difficulty level of their first challenge. As you progress through each kata, the assignments will get tougher.
Some programming languages you can learn are JavaScript, PHP, Java, C#, Python, Ruby, and SQL.
8. Udemy
Udemy is an online education portal with 130,000+ online courses. While most of them are paid, there are tons of free options as well.
The development category alone has 2,000+ classes, including programming languages, game development, data science, WordPress theme development, and more. Feel free to filter the options by duration, subtitles, course features, or subcategories.
With so many choices, it’s best to start with courses that have a high star rating and plenty of reviews. Also, check the instructor’s credentials and the number of students to see their reputability.
Note that with free online courses, you will only be able to watch the video content. Getting a certificate or interacting directly with the instructor won’t be possible.
9. Dash by General Assembly
Dash is a website developed by General Assembly, a coding bootcamp and digital learning platform. With this site, users can learn to code for free by creating basic online projects on their web browser.
No need for any programming experience to get started. Simply sign up with an email address and pick your first project – making a personal website. Each assignment will walk you through the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
As with previous platforms, Dash comes with a code editor for students to try the tutorials. Next to it is the front-end interface where they can see how their site looks in real-time.
To get assistance, feel free to join their Facebook group and ask questions in their feed.
10. freeCodeCamp
With a 3,000-hour curriculum and 40,000+ graduates, freeCodeCamp is one of the most trusted platforms to learn to code for free. Its alumni have secured jobs at distinguished companies like Google, Apple, and Spotify.
After signing up, users will see a set of courses, ordered from a beginner to advanced level. That way, they can begin their coding lessons right away instead of spending hours looking for a suitable class to start with.
Furthermore, students will get a free certification after completing a course.
Another standout feature is that the freeCodeCamp learning and code editing interface is responsive, so you can learn how to code from a mobile device.
After finishing all the available modules, consider giving the challenges a try to hone your coding skills.
Should you require assistance, there’s a community forum to discuss assignments and ask for feedback from fellow learners.
how to understand code language
Before we begin reading further let me remind you that you have chosen a path that demands patience and motivation to never give up in spite of the challenge on the way. Read through and follow the steps below to become a programmer.
Learn Programming Fundamentals
The first and foremost step is to choose the language to learn. It is recommended to start with Python as it is simple like English and so easy to learn you can check out some of the best Python tutorial and get started. But you may choose the language that interests you and also based on the project that you would like to develop in the future. So if you plan to develop a mobile app you may want to begin with Java or Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS, and if you want to build a website Javascript is suggested, to begin with. For a profession in data science, AI & ML, Python & R are the languages to study.
You may want to learn the languages in one of the following two ways:
1. Through Interactive Websites
Websites like Codecademy and Freecodecamp are recommended for interactive coding sessions. These were built with the idea that many beginners are stuck at the beginning when they start to learn to code while setting up the development environment. These websites offer online text editors and compilers to begin coding instantly.
2. Through Video Tutorials
If you are a person who likes a detailed study with step by step guidance then we recommend you enroll into any online programming tutorial that teaches you from the beginning to install and download the required IDE to basic concepts of the language and it ends with a capstone project to test your coding skills. Some tutorials and courses also offer certifications that could help you later when you look for the job. We recommend Pluralsight and Lynda for searching the beginner tutorials for the preferred language. You may also want to check out some top-rated tutorials at Hackr.io.
Focus on Learning Programming Basics
It is always suggested to make your fundamentals strong so as to be a pro coder. Learn the basics thoroughly and try your hands on the code by making your own problems and solving them. Stress on the following topics to begin learning as they are common in almost all the languages.
- Data Types
- Variables
- Functions
- Array or Lists
- If statements
- Conditional loops
- Classes and objects
- Exception handling
- Trees, maps, and more.
Build your First Project
Building your personal project is the best way to analyze and learn what you have learned. Building a project of your choice would give you practical learning experience of the language in much detail as you would come across the implementation of the concepts that you have learned earlier and also learn how to deploy the project to be used by you and all others. Moreover, as you build your projects add it to your profile or your GitHub account, this would help you in the future when you look for a job in development.
