A Beginner's Guide: How to Start Coding

Introduction

Coding has become an essential skill in today’s digital age, opening up a world of opportunities in a variety of industries. Whether you want to develop software, build websites, analyze data, or run automated projects, learning how to code can enable you to achieve your goals. If you are new to coding and wondering how to get started, this article is here to walk you through the process step by step.

So, being a non cs-degree holder, I learnt how to code and got into tech on my own. Did a lot of hits and trials to understand things, cause there was no one to guide me. Based on my and my peer's experience, I have written these steps, which I am sure will help you to get started with coding.

Step 01: Choose a Programming Language

The first step in learning code is choosing a programming language to start with. There are many different programming languages ​​to choose from, each with its capabilities and applications.

Here are some popular options for beginners.

a. Python: Known for its simplicity and ease of reading, Python is a good choice for beginners. It is widely used in data analytics and artificial intelligence.

b. JavaScript: Essential for web development, JavaScript allows you to add interactivity to web pages. It’s beginner-friendly and versatile.

c. Java: Java is used in many applications including Android app development and desktop application development.

d. Ruby: Ruby is often chosen for its beautiful syntax and is best suited for web development using the Ruby on Rails framework.

e. C#: If you’re interested in game development or Windows applications, C# is a good choice. Start with one language, and as you gain experience, you can explore others.

Step 02: Set Clear Goals

Before you get into coding, define your goals. Ask yourself what you want to achieve by coding. Your goal could be to build your own website, develop a mobile app, analyze data, or simply learn a new skill. Having a clear goal will help you stay motivated and focused. This website roadmap.sh, helped me to understand that, what all things, I need to learn to achieve my goal. I recommend you try it out too.

Step 03: Select Online Learning Platforms and Courses

There are many online resources to help you learn how to write code. Websites like Codecademy, Coursera, edX, Udacity, Udemy, YouTube and Khan Academy offer interactive coding courses for beginners. Many of these platforms offer free classes, making them accessible to everyone.

While starting, I enrolled in a $4 udemy course and parallelly referred to YouTube videos, for any concepts that, I didn't understand.

Step 04: Select Books and Documentation (Optional)

When I was a beginner books and documentation were not my cup of tea. But, growing as a developer, I started loving them. If you prefer a structured learning approach, consider getting coding books or reading official documentation. Books like "Python Crash Course" by Eric Matthes or "JavaScript: The Good Parts" by Douglas Crockford can provide in-depth knowledge and exercises.

These, are just samples that, I provided. You can refer to their official documentation too, you will find the same concepts "pateto, potato" but will have more examples and illustrations in books, compared to docs.

Step 05: Practice, Practice, Practice

Coding is a skill that improves with practice. Start with simple projects and gradually work your way up to more complex ones. The more you build projects, the more you get to know about the tech stack you are dealing with.

I would also suggest, you to build a personal portfolio website, no matter if you are a frontend or backend developer, at least have a portfolio website (either make it on your own, copy from YouTube, use Wix templates etc.) but please have one. This will help you to showcase your skillsets, projects etc. making you stand out from the crowd.

Once, you have built projects and want to work more on logic building and cracking coding interviews, you can find coding challenges and exercises on websites like LeetCode and HackerRank to hone your skills.

Step 06: Join a Coding Community

Connecting with fellow coders can be incredibly beneficial. Join online forums, and coding communities on platforms like Discord, Twitter, Instagram, GitHub, or local coding meetups to learn from others, ask questions, and collaborate on projects. Doing, so you will not feel alone during this journey and also, working with peers is going to help you learn new things from them too.

Step 07: Debugging and Problem Solving

Coding often involves debugging and problem-solving. Don't be discouraged by errors; instead, view them as opportunities to learn. Learn to use debugging tools and techniques to identify and fix issues in your code. Use Google, StackOverflow, Chatgpt and even Discord to find answers. Working, as a software engineer, apart from writing your code, you will be using the above-mentioned tools daily for finding solutions.

Step 08: Stay Updated

The world of technology is constantly evolving. To stay relevant, make it a habit to keep up with the latest trends, updates, and best practices in your chosen programming language(s). Social handles like Twitter, and LinkedIn and tech news websites such as Hacker News, can help you get the latest updates on your tech stack.

Step 09: Stay Persistent and Patient

Learning to code can be challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Stay persistent and patient, and don't give up when you encounter difficulties. Remember that even experienced developers were once beginners.

Also, remember that coding daily for 30 minutes is far better than coding on weekends for more hours.

"Consistency is the key"

Conclusion

Starting your coding journey may seem daunting at first, but with the right mindset and resources, it's an achievable goal. Select a programming language, set clear goals, and immerse yourself in learning and practice. As you build your skills, you'll discover the endless possibilities that coding offers and open up exciting opportunities in the digital world. So, don't hesitate—start coding today!

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