Learning to code can be a rewarding and lucrative profession. It’s also difficult and there’s a lot to learn. If you want to learn how to code, the first thing you’ll probably want to do is decide exactly where to start. Sure, Google can point you in the general direction of places like Code Academy or freeCodeCamp, but these services are specifically designed for beginners and may not be your best option for learning coding.
After all, while it might be tempting for a beginner to take on the task of learning web development at once, coding isn’t something that anyone can do overnight — and you shouldn’t expect it either. To get yourself into the mindframe of a coder and work your way up from there, take a look
“Whether learning the basics of HTML/CSS or trying to understand the benefits of data science, Codecademy.com has some great courses. The courses have projects and quizzes just like a traditional education source, but they are easy to use at your own pace. While not the best long-term, it can get you off the ground.” – Michael Averto, ChannelApe
Codecademy is possibly one of the most popular online code-teaching websites. At Codecademy, you can learn seven different languages: HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, Python, Ruby, and PHP. Once you learn the basic languages, you can move on to more advanced tasks like building a website, making a Rails app, using APIs to make applications, and other fun goals.
Track your progress by gaining points, earning points, and racking up a high day streak. Codecademy is constantly expanding their offerings so expect to see even more from them in the coming years.
“As a self-taught professional software developer, I recommend Khan Academy. It has tons of in-depth videos and interactive exercises. It invested heavily in data science to study learning, and it shows. Its cheerful animal guides promote a growth mindset by providing much-needed encouragement.” – Kevin Tao, NeuEve
Khan Academy started as one man tutoring his cousin. Today, Khan Academy teaches people all over the world. Unlike other online resources to teach coding, Khan Academy isn’t limited to just computing courses—you can also learn about various subjects from math to arts & humanities.
Under Khan Academy’s computing courses, you can learn JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. You can also learn computer science basics. If you only have a short amount of time, there is even an “Hour of Code” option.
“Coursera has great tools that teach the fundamentals of computer science taught by some of the best university professors. You can take classes such as Fundamentals of Computing and Computer Architecture. I refer back to some of the courses if I ever need a refresher.” – Jared Atchison, WPForms
“Several years ago, I wanted to learn how to code my own websites and apps so I didn’t have to rely on a full-time webmaster. I enrolled in six free computer science courses on edX.org (developed by Harvard and MIT). Now I’ve developed two apps for clients, and we’re launching one this winter to go with our newest e-commerce web property.” – Kristin Marquet, Creative Development Agency LLC
If you like the style of university courses but don’t want to pay the university price, websites like Coursera and edX have compiled multiple different computer science courses that you can take from top schools all over the world. Courses are constantly changing, so if the language you want to learn isn’t currently being taught, you may find a course on it at a later date.
“Code Avengers has built-in tools, video tutorials and quizzes that all provide a way to apply what you are learning through the free online course. It’s easy to follow for anyone, including someone who has never tried to code before.” – Angela Ruth, Calendar
If you want to learn how to build a website, apps, or games, Code Avengers is the site for you. Code Avengers has over 100 hours of courses teaching you how to build websites in HTML & CSS and games or apps in JavaScript.
Before you even sign up, you can try out the lower level lessons. To help you remember what you learned, you can take notes along the way which will save to your account.
Despite its name, Learn Python the Hard Way really is meant to be for beginners. Learn Python the Hard Way is a book that you can purchase (or try out for free) that gives you videos for each exercise and the ability to continue working whether you’re on- or offline.
The book claims to be “made for beginners who know nothing about programming. Not a book claiming to be for beginners but really for programmers.”
While built for developers, you can still learn coding basics from Mozilla Developer Network. First learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and go on to learn more advanced skills like integrating with APIs or security. Tutorials and references are available to teach you your new skills.
If you’re not exactly sure where to start, Code School offers different paths that you can follow to build specific skills. If you’re ready to just dive right in, you can also select courses from the full library.
Most of the basic-level courses are free, but in order to be able to take all of the courses that Code School has to offer, you must enroll in a no-contract subscription.
Treehouse offers over 100 courses across 11 topic areas: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Design, Ruby, PHP, WorPress, iOS, Android, Dev Tools, and Business. You will learn from teachers through video, challenges, and quizzes which are all interactive.
“Treehouse is a fantastic site full of high-quality video tutorials. Its library has grown significantly to include all things related to coding, and it now offers tutorials on web design as well.” – Ben Lang, Spoke
If you enjoy the classic live classroom environment with discussions, you have the option to participate in live classes as well as discussion forums with other students. You can try out Treehouse for free for 14 days and then select from two monthly subscription plans.
Want to know what companies like AT&T, Google, and Autodesk are looking for in their developers? Get a Nanodegree from Udacity to find out. Udacity worked with AT&T, Google, Cloudera, Salesforce, and Autodesk to build programs around skills that the companies recognize in their fields.
Udacity currently offers five Nanodegrees: Front-End Web Developer, Data Analyst, Introduction to Programming, Full Stack Web Developer, and iOS Developer. If you’re unsure if you’re ready for a program, you can take an assessment before you sign up. Each course can take from 6-12 months to complete, dependent on your schedule. While not the cheapest option out there (the courses cost $200/month), you walk away with a verified nanodegree certificate.
SQLZoo is the go-to online resource for learning everything SQL. From SQLZoo, you can learn about SQL server, Oracle, MySQL, DB2, and PostgresSQL. Learn from various interactive tutorials and reference pieces and test your new skills with assessments.
With all of these great online resources, the hardest thing will be choosing what to learn first. And once you’ve become a master of code you can search Monster’s openings to find a coding job with your new skills in your area.
freeCodeCamp
“freeCodeCamp is a great place to learn to code, and you can feel good about doing it. Start with the basics of HTML and get through to advanced coding. They offer up to 1,200 hours of instructions, as well as up to 800 hours of open-source coding for nonprofit websites. freeCodeCamp coders have provided approximately $1.7 million worth of code to various nonprofit and charitable organizations.” – Erik Bullen, MageMail
Hour of Code
“For most people, learning how to code seems like a long and tedious task; that’s why most people don’t get started. I recommend committing to a one-hour challenge via Hour of Code to see how much fun it can be. After you do a couple of small projects, you will be hooked.” – Alejandro Rioja, Flux Chargers
Khan Academy
Mimo
“Mimo is a free mobile app that allows you to learn to code on the go. Whether you are interested in learning how to build an app, a website or a game, Mimo makes it easy to understand the basics of each platform. I am constantly on the move, so I enjoy the luxury of learning basic code no matter where I am.” – Duran Inci, Optimum7
MIT OpenCourseWare
“If you’re trying to learn a language like Python or JavaScript, spend some time on MIT’s OpenCourseWare platform learning computer science fundamentals. Having that background will make learning specific languages easier, because you’ll have an understanding of the underlying mechanics.” – Ashish Datta, Setfive Consulting
PyLadies and other meetups
“I’ve been a member of PyLadies for over five years; it’s a free meetup for women working with Python. What your local meetup offers depends on where you are. PyLadies PDX does at least one beginner-friendly class every year, as well as a place to connect with more experienced programmers willing to help out newer programmers.” – Thursday Bram, The Responsible Communication Style Guide
Swift Playgrounds
“If you have no previous coding experience, Swift Playgrounds, an educational app from Apple, is the perfect way to learn the basics while solving puzzles in a graphical environment. Swift isn’t the most useful language outside the Apple ecosystem, so if you already have a grasp of the basics, try taking a JavaScript course on Code School.” – Vik Patel, Future Hosting
Visual Studio Code
“Visual Studio Code is a programmer’s text editor from Microsoft. It’s free and has features for both experienced developers and learners. VSC is particularly strong as a JavaScript development environment, with helpful features like IntelliSense for highlighting and smart completion, built-in Git support, and integrated debugging. You can code in any editor, but VSC is one of the most helpful.” – Justin Blanchard, ServerMania Inc.
WPBeginner
“I think a lot of people dive into coding only to get discouraged because they’re not building things quickly enough. If you start by creating a WordPress site, you can use free guides and tutorials on WPBeginner to get started. Once you’ve built a couple of websites, try to build a plugin and go from there.” – Syed Balkhi, OptinMonster
YouTube
“There are many YouTube videos, all of them free, that walk you through the basics of coding. There is nothing more important in learning than getting your hands on it. Watch the videos and go step by step to build your first HTML site, then go onward from there.” – Andy Karuza, FenSens
Conclusion
There are so many options on the internet when it comes to learning how to code. From Codeacademy, to Treehouse, or even on more official sites like Coursera. But which is the best option for you? Let’s compare all the big names out there and at the end of this article, you will find a conclusion about which one I think is best!