There are a lot of reasons to want to learn to code; it is arguably one of the most sought after skills among employers in the 21st century. If you know how to program, or even have just a rudimentary understanding of coding, then you will find there are much more opportunities that you are qualified for. TechQuarters, who are one of the top IT services companies London based SMBs rely on for their IT, predicts that coding and programming will become one of the new, fundamental skills that most businesses expect, the same as basic computer proficiency.
Perhaps you have tried learning programming and coding before, and not been successful? Or perhaps you’ve never codes or programmed anything in your life, and you want to finally learn how. The good news is that there are 5 simple steps to becoming proficient in coding.
The work won’t necessarily be easy, or quick – but if you stick to the steps, you will definitely be able to achieve your goals.
Coding and Programming
Most people think of coding as a highly scientific, mathematical skill that is very technical in nature. But in reality, coding is just like learning a new language – something that anybody can do, because everybody speaks at least one language.
Coding has a lot of relevance in today’s society, considering how reliant many organizations and services have become on technology. The outsourced IT support London provider known as TechQuarters provides, doesn’t always require coding and programming knowledge, but there are definitely situations and use-cases where an understanding of coding helps. Learning to code is simply learning how to communicate with computer, to give it instructions for performing certain tasks. In its most basic form, it can be used to create shapes and patterns, and it can be used for very complex tasks like building software, websites, mobile applications, etc. But don’t let that intimidate you, it always starts with learning the basics.
So, what are the 5 basic steps for learning to code?
Decide what area you are interested in
Whether you’ve tried learning in the past, or are starting completely afresh, the first and most important step is picking what area of coding you are most interested in. Not taking this step might have been why you are unsuccessful the last time you tried to learning coding. Coding is a broad field, and you can quickly become overwhelmed with what needs to be learned, which is why picking a specific area can make it feel more approachable.
Find the right learning resources
Once you know what area you want to focus on, it becomes much easier to find the resources you need to start learning. Start by asking yourself what languages are used in the area of coding you have chosen – once you know that, you’ll be able to find tutorials and web resources for learning that language. Additionally, figure out what tools you need – there are lots of essential tools – such as code editors, text editors, etc. – which can be found and downloaded for free. With a bit of research, you can find all the tools for free.
Dedicate time to learning
Once you know what languages and tools you need, develop a curriculum for yourself. This might sound dry, or intimidating – but all that means is figure out what order you should learn things in and create a schedule for yourself. For example, some types of programming may use multiple languages, but one acts as the backbone – start by learning the basics of the backbone coding language.
Say you wanted to be a web designer. Find out what the most basic steps for building a webpage are, and focusing on learning those steps.
Practice, practice, practice
Just learning the theory is not enough, however. Practicing will help reinforce that learning, and cement the knowledge in your mind. If, like in the last point, you decided you wanted to be a web designer and have learned the fundamentals of building webpages, you can practice by creating lots of webpages. They don’t have to have any content, or be very detailed, but practice makes perfect – and once you have the fundamentals memorized, it is like a canvas for you to start painting on with the next step of your learning schedule.
Get involved with coding communities
This is the biggest step in becoming a fully-fledged programmer. Once you know enough coding to try out some personal projects and even start experimenting, it is highly beneficial to start connecting with other coders in online communities – here you will find a lot of useful advice and guidance from people with diverse experience. Tapping into the diverse pool of experience you find in coding communities is a surefire way to becoming a versatile programmer yourself.
