Exploring Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Whether you’re looking to jumpstart your full stack web development career or just want to brush up on your object-oriented programming (OOP) skills, the world of self-taught programming is wide open to those who bring energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. From Python to ReactJS, OOP remains one of the basic building blocks on which software is constructed and a must-have skill of any successful tech stack.

A Brief Introduction to OOP

At its simplest, OOP involves working with objects as well as their related behaviours, rather than logic and procedures. In essence, you create objects which act as a representation of a real-world model, and that object can then be manipulated in some way. The advantage of working with objects instead of straight functions is that you can call and store the same object over and over, whereas with a function you will have to call it each time you want to use it.

Getting Started with OOP for Beginners

One of the great advantages of OOP is that most of the fundamental programming languages support it, so regardless of which language you choose, some of the basic principles will be the same. To begin, we recommend starting with a core language such as Python, JavaScript or C++. Each of these languages is an excellent starting point and the basis of many full stack web development roles.

Resources for Exploring OOP

While totally self-taught tuition is totally possible, the OOP journey is often best served by the guidance and mentorship offered by top-class tutorials, websites, YouTube channel and coding boot camps. But don't be too afraid to try it on your own, either.

• Lynda.com - Lynda offers dozens of excellent video tutorials covering all aspects of OOP.
• Code Academy - Code Academy allows users to quickly jump into a coding course and start coding right away.
• Udemy - Udemy is home to thousands of courses, covering all aspects of web development, including OOP.
• Treehouse - Treehouse is a platform designed to teach people how to code from the comfort of their own home.
• Hack Design - Hack Design is a massive open course focused on designing great software applications.

Best YouTube Channels for Learning OOP

For those who prefer an audio-visual learning experience, YouTube is chock full of video tutorials, courses and resources to help you along your OOP journey.

• The Coding Train - One of the most popular channel for learning coding, thanks to the fun and informative way the founder teaches.
• Let's Build That App - If you're looking to learn iOS development, this channel is perfect.
• Programming with Mosh - Mosh is one of the best teachers and break concepts down in a way that makes sense.
• freeCodeCamp - Perfect for coding bootcamp beginners, this channel has a range of tutorials for languages such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
• Google Developers – Learn core web development skills from one of the best tech companies.

Practical Experience in OOP

While it’s great to learn a programming language or two, gaining practical experience is one of the most important steps in the journey to becoming a programmer. Although freelancing or an internship may seem daunting, they're both very good opportunities to build your experience and learn best practices. If you're starting out as a freelancer, try to find a project you can work on with a friend. Having an accountability partner makes the process a lot easier and it creates a sense of camaraderie. You'll also learn to work with different technologies, such as Linux, Ubuntu, DigitalOcean, APIs, and servers. Working on real-world projects will give you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop problem-solving skills.

Tech Stacks for Self-Taught Programmers

Full stack web development usually involves working with frontend and backend programming languages, frameworks and databases. There are numerous tech stacks available for web development, but some of the most popular ones are:

• Python and Django: Python is easy to learn and is popular among novice developers. Django is a popular Python-based framework used for building web applications.
• ReactJS and NodeJS: ReactJS is a JavaScript library used for creating user interfaces, while NodeJS is a JavaScript runtime environment built on Chrome’s V8 engine.
• Ruby and Rails: Ruby is a robust language often used for developing web applications, while Rails is a popular framework built on Ruby that allows for rapid development.
• HTML/CSS/JS: HTML is used to structure web pages, while CSS controls page design and JavaScript adds interactivity and dynamic elements.

Conclusion

Exploring OOP can be both rewarding and challenging but also very fulfilling. Learning OOP means becoming part of a larger and ever-growing community of self-taught coders and having the skills to develop best-in-class applications. With the right resources and commitment, it is only a matter of time before you’re on the road to full stack web development and freelancing success.