These days, coding is a required skill in most tech careers around the world. Due to this a lot of people interested in these careers need to learn to code. A web developer must know how to code to develop websites. Learning to code can be easy when you know where to start.
In this guide, I will show you how I learned to code very fast as a beginner and was able to adapt despite all the challenges. But before I start, let's define coding.
What is coding?
Coding, in simple terms, refers to writing instructions in a language that the computer can both understand and perform correctly.
As an individual who wants to learn how to code (not just for future research or for the sake of just learning) but wants to build a career with coding, you need to pass through some of the following steps.
1. Ask yourself why you want to code:
This is the first question every beginner should ask his\herself. Knowing the reason behind your coding interest makes further research easier and less complicated. In general, it makes the coding journey better.
2. Look for a roadmap:
A roadmap is a plan that defines a goal and includes the major steps to reach it. If you want to code to get into a tech career a roadmap is very necessary. Roadmaps make research easy and it takes you through a defined path.
3. Research:
Sometimes you may not be very lucky to get a complete roadmap or the roadmap itself requires some further understanding or you may have some doubts. To make things easier you need to do this extra research. Note that everything cannot be gotten from google. Your research can come from a person too.
4. Choose the right learning platform:
Your learning platform could be:
- books
- youtube
- boot camps
- others
It is very important to choose a platform that deals with your current level. For example, you cannot be a beginner in python and you learn in a platform that is for advanced python learners.
5. Set coding goals and start coding consistently:
Coding goals would improve your learning as a beginner and would develop your time-conscious skill. Every Person who earns through coding is time conscious. So doing that from the beginning builds that personality in you.
Coding consistently does not mean you should spend a lot of hours writing codes. It means you can code for two to three hours every day or choose a particular period within the day. But make sure you should try as much as possible to code every day.
6. Solve related projects:
Testing your knowledge is one of the best ways of learning. After each topic look for a project related to that topic or the past topics. Try to solve it without looking at the solutions. Even better, look for projects with no solutions.
7. Attend hackathons:
Hackathons are events where programmers meet up and create something functional. Lots of programmers have built great skills just by attending hackathons. Hackathons can be online or in person. By attending hackathons you meet new people, learn new things, and build great networks.
Additional tips:
Learning comes from so many locations. If you come across content that you have already learned, take 2 minutes to 5 minutes and go through it. You may learn something new.
Don’t give up. Coding is very challenging. Projects are more challenging but keep pushing. Remember it's not hard, it's just challenging. Try to pass that challenge.
When solving a project, try to analyze a step and see if it works before implementing the next step.
Follow people who are already in your desired fields of interest and Join tech communities
Ask when you find it difficult. Don’t ask without trying.
Most importantly, love it even if it makes you cry.
Conclusion
When coding, always try to be consistent even if you code for just one hour per day. Do research when you don't understand. Remember there are so many blogs out there to solve your problems. And always test yourself by doing projects. Not copying them.
Thank you for reaching this point. I hope this helps you as it did for me. Happy! Coding!
By K.FAITH