So you’ve looked at the salary programmers make and you think to yourself… “Hey, I want to learn how to code.”

That’s great, but much like learning how to do other technical things. You don’t know how, or where to start. In my opinion, the best way to learn how to do something is by looking at other people’s mistakes.

Here I examined 11 coders to see how they would learn to code if they were to do it all over again. Then I’ve compiled a list with the most common questions and answers that new programmers asked.

What Programming Language Should I learn First

Deciding what program language to learn

The most common answer from experienced programmers has been python. Python is not only extremely versatile, but it is an easy language to learn for people who have no previous experience coding. 

The second most common answer was javascript. Javascript was also highly recommended because you can do backend and frontend work. Much like python javascript is easy to learn and quite versatile. 

Some honorable mentions include HTML and CSS. These were referred to as the “fundamental languages” to learn. They are handy to learn but not necessary in order to learn Python and Javascript which are more popular and required for job applications. 

Where Do I Learn How to Code

Where to learn coding

All programmers agree that the best way to learn is by actually applying what you are learning. This helps you see how your code works, learn how to fix errors and you can slowly build up your portfolio. So, you don’t need any college or high-level education needed to be a programmer.

The most common places to learn are Codecademy and Freecodecamp. These websites help you learn the concepts and give you the opportunity to apply what you are learning. This brings me to the next common question.

What Do I Actually Need to Learn

This can be a tricky one because this is all based on what type of job you want. But, good news! If you follow Codecademy or Freecodecamp’s course you should learn all the fundamentals needed. And you will be able to create projects to show off to your potential boss. 

But if you want to zero in on a certain job, you can get more information by googling:

  • (language) for (job/industry)
  • how is (language) used for (job/industry)
  • projects for (job/industry)

How Do I Land a Job With No Coding Experience

get a code job in 5 steps

According to 11 experienced programmers, there are 5 key things that you need to do in order to get your first job. 

  1. Create projects that actually work
  2. Share them on Github and/or a website portfolio
  3. Learn/practice Leetcode questions
  4. Network
  5. Keep learning

Helpful Tips For Beginner Programmers

mindfulness for programmers

Here are some helpful tips that should keep you motivated and help you avoid burnout.

  1. Don’t take too many notes or over-focus on small details 
  2. Don’t be afraid to apply to jobs soon(after 6 months)
  3. Start projects as soon as you can
  4. Don’t overcomplicate things. They are not that complex. Take a break and get back to it.
  5. Join coding communities
  6. Stay focused and don’t get distracted by other languages.

Additional Resources

Felling stuck or need help? Stackoverflow and Google are your buddies

This is pretty much all you need.

Hope this helps you through your coding journey.