Coding for Beginners

Coding for Beginners: A Simple Explanation

Ever wondered how websites or apps are created?

The process starts with coding. Coding can be understood as writing a series of instructions that a computer or program processes and executes. There are many coding languages and it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of possible combinations. The good news is that decades of computing knowledge and the collaborative nature of modern-day coding has spawned simplified languages and frameworks that you can learn, without having a Computer Science degree.

Coding can seem like a foreign and intimidating concept to many, traditionally embraced by “geeky” cis-males, whilst women+ programmers made up a tiny portion of the coding workforce. The “brogrammer” culture of tech hubs like Silicon Valley also played its part in keeping women, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals on the sidelines of careers in coding. Thankfully, we’re witnessing a transformation in this gender disparity and CodeOp aims to demystify coding for all women+ interested in getting into tech. Let’s get started!

 

What is a coding language?

As mentioned above, coding involves using human-readable characters and numbers to create instructions that can be executed by a computer. These instructions, or so-called “programs” are present in everything from powering up your smartphone to flying a spacecraft. So whether you’re writing a script to perform a simple calculation or building an entire application, you’ll always be writing in a specific language. Teams of programmers may work on a project together using a common language to contribute to the code or write different parts in different languages. Even to create a website, several coding languages are involved.

Some popular programming languages include HTML, CSS, Python, Java, JavaScript and C#.

The Basics of Syntax

Syntax is the set of rules that govern how a language should be written.

Think about how the syntax of Cantonese, Danish, and Urdu may differ from each other. Similarly, each programming language has its own strict set of rules, which if broken will result in broken code.

Once you grasp the basic syntax of a language, writing code becomes a matter of stringing together the correct commands in the correct order.

Of course, mastering even basic syntax takes time and practice, and there are plenty of resources o help you along the way.

Debugging Your Code

“Debugging” is the process of identifying and fixing errors in your code. Even experienced coders make mistakes; it’s all part of the learning process!

Noob disclaimer: do not get discouraged when you run into errors in your code. Just take a deep breath, read through your code line by line, and see if you can identify where things went wrong.

Once you’ve found the error, making the necessary correction is often just a matter of changing or adding a few lines of code.

Then you can save your code file, “run” it again to see if your changes fixed the problem.

Why should I learn coding?

Technology is changing the world at an unprecedented rate, and coders are at the forefront of this change.  There are endless possibilities for what you can create with code. Once you’ve learned the basics of coding, the sky’s the limit in terms of what you can build giving you the power to create products and services that make people’s lives easier, faster, and more fun.

The creative pursuits that women+ can bring to tech through coding are endless. Imagine how different an app that helps busy parents stay organized or a website that facilitates finding mental health resources in their area can be when a gender diverse team is behind the project.

The difference it makes

With coding comes greater versatility and creativity—two qualities that employers value highly.

If you want to start your own business, learning how to code can help you turn your entrepreneurial visions into reality without having to outsource development projects (and pay somebody else to do them).

Learning how to code opens up doors for you to work at tech firms big and small. Whether you’re more akin to a corporate giant like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook or excited by the fast-paced and <scrappy> environment of a startup.

Even if you don’t want to become a computer programmer, web developer or software developer many employers are now looking for people with coding skills because they know that these skills can transfer to other areas (like marketing or customer service).

The Basics of Coding

Java is one of the most popular languages, and there are often lots of opportunities for Java developers. Java can run on a huge variety of systems and has innumerable applications.

Java is used for Android applications, one of the fastest growing markets. C++ is highly recommended for developing video games

There are other languages as well, which serve different purposes and are used in different applications. These are: Low-Level Languages: They closely resemble binary code and are difficult to learn and write.

For example, Assembly is a low-level language which is used in device drivers, low-level embedded systems, and real-time systems.

C and C++ are middle-level languages. You can write operating systems, internet browsers, database systems, image/video/sound processing software in these languages.

High-Level Languages: They are easy to code and learn. Most of the popular high-level languages used today are Java, PERL, Python, etc.

These languages have a variety of applications.

Don’t worry if those names sound like gibberish to you right now—we’ll explain each one in more detail shortly.

For now, just know that there are various coding languages and various programming languages, and each has its own unique syntax (or rules).

As you learn more about coding, you’ll become familiar with different programming languages and how to use them.

Why Learn How to Code?

So why bother learning how to code?

Well, coding for beginners, it’s an incredibly useful skill to have. In today’s world, almost everything runs on computers—which means there’s a lot of demand for coders or code editors!

By learning how to code, you’re opening yourself up to all sorts of job opportunities. Not interested in becoming a professional software engineer or coder?

That’s okay! Even if you never use your coding skills for profit, they can still come in handy for personal projects (like building your own website or teaching yourself how to automated tasks).

Trust us—once you learn how to code, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.

How to Start Learning To Code

Now that we’ve hopefully piqued your interest, let’s talk about how you can start learning to code.

These days, there are plenty of resources available online (such as websites, tutorials, and forums) that can teach you everything from the basic concepts of coding syntax to more advanced concepts such as coding and web development, hypertext markup language, database management systems, style and format content and data analysis.

You can also have a good grip on coding such as python code or binary code.

Programming still involves writing instructions for the computer to follow, but now data structures and algorithms are important.

Some coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and Markdown don’t use algorithms and data structures, while others such as JavaScript, Python, Java, and C++ use them heavily.

And the best part is that most of these resources and video tutorials are totally free! All you need is an internet connection and some spare time to learn valuable skills.

1. Choose the right language.

The first step to coding is choosing the right programming language. There are dozens of different languages out there, so it’s important to take some time to research which one is the best fit for you and your goals.

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s okay!

A great way to narrow down your options is by thinking about what you want to use your newfound coding skills for.

Are you interested in creating websites?

If so, HTML and CSS are great options for you.

Are you more interested in developing apps?

In that case, you might want to learn Swift or Java.

JavaScript Image Source JavaScript is a programming language that turns static web pages into dynamic ones. It enables page elements to move, react to user actions like clicks, and handle any operation beyond simply existing on the page.

Once you’ve settled on a programming language, it’s time to move on to step two!

2. Find resources that work for you.

Once you’ve chosen the right language, it’s time to start looking for resources that can help you learn how to start writing code using said language.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of great resources out there!

A quick Google search will bring up dozens of free courses articles, tutorials, and even entire websites dedicated to teaching people how to code.

Not sure where to start?

We recommend looking for resources that match your learning style.

Are you a visual learner?

If so, YouTube video tutorials and online courses might be the way to go.

Do you prefer reading over watching videos?

In that case, blogs and articles might be more your speed.

The important thing is finding resources that work for YOU and that will help YOU learn effectively.

3. Start coding!

Now that you’ve chosen the right language and found some great resources to help you learn said language, it’s time to start coding!

Don’t worry if your first few attempts aren’t perfect—everyone has to start somewhere.

Just keep at it and before long, you’ll be coding like a pro!

Conclusion:

Coding for beginners doesn’t have to be daunting or overwhelming—we promise!

Just follow the steps laid out in this blog post and trust us when we say that before long, you’ll be coding like a boss!

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