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IT’S NEVER BEEN easier to learn how to code.
Even if you have no ambition to become a coder or developer, there are benefits to having a working knowledge of HTML or Javascript. Considering how many services we use that are created using these programming languages, it’s handy to know what’s happening underneath those apps and sites you visit everyday.
If you’re looking for somewhere to get started, here are a couple of free resources that will kick things off for you.
Code Academy
One of the best known and user-friendly resources out there. Code Academy brings you through the basics of almost all the programming languages you can think of. Each lesson is short and to the point, meaning you can easily grasp the basics in a few hours whether it’s HTML, JavaScript or Python.
Khan Academy
Originally starting out as a way of teaching maths through videos, Khan Academy now covers a broad range of courses and disciplines, and computer science is one of them.
Each course comes in the form of short step-by-step video tutorials, accompanied by practice lessons, making it handy for beginners.
Google’s University Consortium
If you want advanced courses on mobile and web coding, then there’s probably no better place than looking at one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Google’s University Consortium offers a number of free courses on programming language mobile development, and web development.
While these courses are mostly geared towards those with a decent grasp of the fundamentals, there are still content for those starting out.
Udacity
Another online course site, Udacity includes courses in web development, data science (not coding, but still useful) software engineering and Android.
There are paid courses included, but the site breaks down each section into courses for those new to tech, beginners, intermediates and advanced learners.
MIT Open Courseware
One of the biggest universities in the world to focus on applied technology also has its own resources for those wanting to learn how to code. While there are introductory programming courses available, you can jump into other areas like Python, C and Java.
HTML5 Rocks
Another site for the more advanced learners. HTML5 Rocks is run by Google so as a result, it’s focused mainly on its tools. Even if you’re not a fan of the company, it’s still a good resource should you need some advanced lessons.
Coursera
Similar to Khan Academy, Coursera offers a large number of free courses in Computer Science from a number of different universities. They include areas like artificial intelligence, software engineering (which represents the main coding courses), systems and security and theory.
Finding the courses you want isn’t as easy as the other examples here, but it does have some useful topics if you want to specialise in a particular area.
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I’d like to learn how to code but do I have to read this article first?
If wants=”learn coding” then
readarticle
else
stupidcomment
end if
It’s handy to learn JavaScript so you then know how the websites you visit work?!?!
Thats like saying it’s handy to study advanced microelectronics so you can watch Jeremy Kyle on your TV…..
Python….13 Hours estimated course time – ill give it a bash.
Har har.
Ive been learning Python through Code Academy. It’s good for starting at a basic level.
Least someone understood my joke. good luck with Code Academy – dont let thejournal distract you too much :)
I didn’t understand this at all… Twas like yis were speaking in code!
2 of the best platforms for learning code are Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
Both offer a chance to read from sensors and give physical outputs so you can see real world uses for your code.
Raspberry Pi is also a complete computer for running several Linux operating systems.
That’s Coursera, not Coursea. Great site for learning just about anything including coding. Apart from languages. I would highly recommend Duolingo as the app for languages.
For web design I’d also recommend w3schools.
In college (computer science in DIT) this is what our lecturers used to teach us to code for the first two years. Then we learned to code plain C from a book. Big difference. W3Schools is brilliant and a great place to start.
I’m a huge fan of the Lynda courses by Simon Alerdice. Amazingly simple and easy to follow along to pretty advanced OO concepts. They’re part of the training package for all new hires where I work now.
I’ve never met a programmer who calls it coding. I Never seen a job vacancy looking for a ‘coder’ or someone who can code. It’s called development and programming. If you’re going to learn how to do it at least get the industry terms correct.
The ones who call it coding have no idea what it is
Highly recommend buying your kids Kano computer .@TeamKano ;)
Twas used for http://www.ostrichracingcentral.weebly.com
“Energy data is to the real world what website traffic data is to the virtual world”…
Watch this space for Irish startups like Energy elephant and others…
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