Getting Started With Coding

Coding offers a unique opportunity for people to create something from nothing. It is a skill that is in high demand and can open career opportunities that are hard to find in other skills. With the popularity of coding, more and more people are looking to get involved with coding and as with anything, getting started will be the hardest step. In this article, we will discuss the basics of coding, what you will need to get started, and some of the best resources available.

What is Coding?

In simple terms, coding is the process of writing instructions in a programming language so that a computer can execute the instructions. It is the process of writing software applications for computer systems and websites. There are many types of coding you can do, such as web development, game development, mobile app development, and more.

What do I need to Get Started?

To get started with coding, you will need some basic tools and knowledge. Here are some of the tools that you will need:

• A computer or laptop with an internet connection
• A text editor (e.g. Sublime Text, Atom, or Visual Studio Code)
• A web browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, or Safari)
• A programming language (e.g. JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or Java)
• A backend web development stack (e.g. Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP)
• An API platform like REST or GraphQL
• A cloud host (e.g. Digital Ocean, Amazon AWS, or Microsoft Azure)

You don’t need to have all of these tools and technologies to get started, but they are good to have in the long run.

The best Resources to use to Get Started

If you are serious about learning to code, you need to find the best resources to help you on your journey. Here are some of the best resources you can use to get started with coding:

• Books – there are plenty of books out there that are great for learning to code. Check out books from the O'Reilly series for an in-depth look at a particular topic.
• Online Tutorials – online tutorials are great for getting a quick and easy introduction to programming. Codecademy, Treehouse, and Udacity are some of the best online tutorial sites around.
• Videos – Youtube is a great place to find coding tutorials. Check out the channels of Scott and Tom Scott or Code with Mosh.
• Blogs – blogs are a great way to keep up with the latest developments in technology and programming. Check out the sites of John Resig, Chris Coyer, and Alex Sexton for great content about web development.

Aside from these resources, there are also a number of great online communities that you can join to get started with coding, like Stack Overflow, Reddit, and CodePen. These communities are full of people who are passionate about coding and are always willing to help.

Technology Stacks and How to Choose Them

Once you’ve gotten your feet wet with coding, you’ll want to dig deeper and learn more about the various technology stacks and how to choose the best one for your project. A technology stack is a collection of programming languages, frameworks, and other tools that are used to develop web applications. Some of the most popular technology stacks are the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP), the MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js), and the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js).

Choosing the right technology stack will depend on the type of project you’re working on. If you’re building a basic website, you’ll want to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. For more complex applications, you’ll want to use a framework like Django, Rails, or React. You’ll also want to consider the hosting environment you’ll be deploying your application to and the database you will be using.

Freelancing as a Programmer

Once you have gotten comfortable with coding, you may want to consider freelancing as a programmer. This is a great way to earn extra money on the side, as well as gain valuable experience. Platforms like Fiverr, UpWork, and Codeable are great resources for finding freelance coding gigs and building a portfolio of work.

Conclusion

Coding is a great skill to learn that offers a lot of career and personal opportunities. Whether you choose to freelance as a programmer or become a full-stack web developer, coding is a skill that you can use to better yourself and your career. Getting started with coding can be a little intimidating, but with the right tools and resources, you can quickly and easily get started. Hopefully this article has given you a good introduction to coding and some of the best resources to help you get started.