Nowadays, with the rave being generated by coding, it seems like this new skill is the next best thing to learn. Everyone seems to be convinced that it can bring you lots of money, and while that is somewhat true, it should not be your only reason to jump into learning this skill. It has to be said that coding is a very valuable skill in the world we live in today.
However, like other skills, learning coding is not the answer to getting rich. There are many other things to learn from different places like this website, such as how to market the skill you have acquired and how to rest playing exciting games. This, along with getting better at what you do, is very important in the world of marketing your skills and value.
Anyone can learn coding – it only takes time and dedication from different people. The more time and dedication you can give yourself, the better you will get at coding. Getting better is the goal, and becoming one of the best is a further but realistic goal nonetheless.
But first, what is coding?
Defining Coding
To put it simply, coding is the process of writing a programming language, thereby giving users the ability to give a computer instructions.
So why should you code?
There is a reason for everything, and your decision to code should have one, too. People need reasons to make decisions, and the reason is this: Sometimes, it gets tough when learning, and it looks like it will never be like you dreamed. It is at this point that you take solace in the reason for the decision, which is sure to always help you push on.
Be it a dream, and simply and purely financial reasons, having a reason reminds you of why you do what you do, and why you need to keep doing it till the end. Ensure you have a reason for jumping into code.
Now to the real deal.
Steps to Take to Start Coding
In this age, learning code does not necessitate you sitting in a classroom. Now, there are online learning platforms that can teach you for free (and paid). Some of these platforms are YouTube, Coursera, w3schools.com, and many others. You can also join coding boot camps, hackathons, and online communities where coding topics are discussed daily and answers to coding blockers are dropped.
Here are tips to help you begin coding and become one of the best in the industry:
Learning from videos
Classes are not the only place to learn from nowadays; the internet is enough. Enter YouTube. Currently the biggest video-sharing website of all time, YouTube hosts a stunningly large amount of coding resources (some free and some are not). Due to the solid method of approaching curated content, this platform has become the go-to source for many topics, of which coding is a big source. Channels to learn from in this aspect are CodeWithMosh, FreeCodeCamp, and w3schools.
There are many other video-sharing websites that offer courses, such as Udemy. Ensure you don't limit yourself to one platform, as you might find rich and useful content for different programming languages across different platforms.
Working on projects
Coding is a practical course, which means you need to dig in and do the work after learning. The best way to learn is to work, and there are many ways you can do this. The best example is to take on a project and work on it from start to finish. Do not be in a rush to complete the projects as the knowledge gained along the line is better than the speed of completion.
This is not to say you will not get stuck at certain stages, but working on projects gives you valuable experience for when you step into the real world. It is, therefore, important that you have experienced coders who are available to help you when you get stuck because it is highly likely you will get stuck. This leads us to our next point…
Connect with experienced coders.
No man is an island, and the same is true for this scenario. Having an experienced (not necessarily older) coder who can pull you out of blockers and ruts can be quite helpful. It does not mean you will not solve any issue on your own; it simply means you will ride on the wings of those who have “been there and done that.” What’s more, you will make fewer mistakes simply because you have more knowledge than before.
You should also connect with coding communities physically and virtually, as this offers you a way to connect, make friends, and build a network of people who can help each other in the professional sector. When connecting, it is important to note that you need to have some values too. People will always find it easy to communicate with someone who they perceive will also be valuable to them.
Who knows, you might meet life friends at these places, so get ready. The more people you connect to, the faster it is to finetune your skills and become a better coder.
Conclusion
Coding is not as hard as you think – you do not need to know all the facts before you jump right in. However, be aware of the needs and the requirements so you do not fall at the first hurdle. For beginners, it is always best that you start from the simple concepts before moving to the more complex ones. That way, you will discover that some of the knowledge you picked up along the way will eventually become useful for you even as you go.
Also, another thing to note if you want to succeed as a coder is to join communities of like-minded individuals. That way, you can share information with them and learn new things that you ordinarily may not know yourself. Also, when you are confused about a concept, you can get the opinions of other members of the community. A vibrant community can also be a good place to get jobs at your knowledge level, which will serve as a motivation
