Can I Learn Coding On My Own?

A common question related to learning coding is whether it’s possible to learn this skill on your own. There are many different resources that can help you teach yourself to code, and you’ll find some unique benefits associated with this learning path. However, there are also a number of drawbacks to directing your own learning. Overall, you’re likely to find that the answer to this question is that it is definitely possible to learn coding on your own, but a formal coding class will probably make the learning process both quicker and easier. For this reason, many people choose paid, live coding classes over self-teaching.

Advantages of Self-Teaching Coding

If you don’t know much about coding, learning some basic concepts by yourself can be a good way to get a better understanding of this field before committing to a formal class. You can use self-teaching to get an overview of what coding actually involves and to learn some fundamentals, and you can even start working on a few basic coding exercises. By doing this, you can decide whether or not you’re ready to invest the time and money for a formal class. Self-teaching can also be beneficial for people who already have some coding experience. Most experts say that after you have learned one or more coding languages, learning others will probably be much easier. If you already know how to use some coding languages and want to learn a new one, self-teaching can be a good option because you may be less likely to need constant guidance from an instructor.

Coding is a complex topic and while self-teaching can have the downside of not giving you access to instructor guidance, one benefit of teaching yourself is that you can learn at your own pace, which can allow you to spend the time that you need in order to get a solid understanding of the material. You can pause and go back through material whenever you need to, and take as much time as you need to understand new skills. Since you direct the pace of your learning, you can also learn on a schedule that works for you. In addition, you can include a lot of practice time in your learning schedule. Practice is an important part of mastering coding. It reinforces the concepts you have learned, helps you master them, and teaches you to apply them in real-world situations. 

Coding Self-Teaching Tools

There are a number of different ways to teach yourself some coding skills. Many websites, like YouTube, offer free coding tutorials. These resources cover many different aspects of coding, introducing a variety of different topics and showing different coding methods. Many coding schools also offer free information to help prospective students get a better understanding of this field before they commit to a formal class. For instance, Noble Desktop offers a number of free coding seminars that cover introductory information. Intro to Front End Web Development is a seminar that covers front end tools like HTML, CSS, flexbox, grid, Bootstrap, and JavaScript. Intro to Python Fundamentals is another free Noble Desktop seminar and is intended for anyone who is new to coding and wants to get a better understanding of what Python is all about. In addition to its free seminars, Noble Desktop also has a coding blog where you can find more information about coding.

On-demand classes are another self-directed coding learning resource. These classes contain pre-recorded content that you work through at your own pace. With an on-demand course, you can work as quickly or as slowly as you want to, stopping and starting wherever you need to. Some on-demand classes are free, and those that do cost money are generally relatively inexpensive compared to live class options. While on-demand classes are not 100 percent self-taught, they do require a high level of self-motivation and self-direction. Codeacademy and LinkedIn Learning are two sites that offer free on-demand coding classes.

Coding games can also be a fun and effective way to strengthen your coding skills. There are many free coding games online. In most games, you’ll focus on a specific coding language. An example of a game is Codewars, which is a ninja-themed game where you solve a variety of different puzzles and coding challenges. With this game, you can choose from many different languages including Python, SQL, C++, and JavaScript. This is just one of a vast number of coding game options that you’ll find online.

There is also a lot of free online content designed to help people who are trying to learn a specific coding skill or troubleshoot a problem. You’ll find many short free tutorials on sites like YouTube that can help you with specific coding problems. You’ll also find online forums where more experienced coders are often happy to share their expertise for free. Solving problems is a fundamental part of coding, so if you’re learning coding you can expect to find yourself troubleshooting often. In a LinkedIn article titled, “Why Are Problem Solving Skills Essential for Programming?” the author explains, “Coding is fundamentally about addressing challenges and creating efficient solutions. Programmers must analyse complex problems, break them into manageable parts, and devise logical solutions.” 

Drawbacks to Learning Coding on Your Own

In most cases, learning coding on your own will be a more challenging way to learn than taking a coding class. One of the biggest downsides to learning on your own is that you won’t have access to an instructor who can provide help and feedback. In an October 2020 post on the Stack Overflow blog, programmer Daniel Chae explains that coding can be extremely challenging at the beginning of the learning process. He says, “Learning to program can be brutal. You don’t know if you’re learning the right things and there just seems to be so much content to learn.” In addition, even if you think you understand what you’re doing, you’re likely to make a lot of mistakes at the beginning. Without an instructor, you might be left aimlessly searching for answers online, which can get frustrating quickly.

Without the structure and accountability that come with a class, it can also be more difficult to stay engaged and motivated. While many students have successfully taught themselves to code, others report that they found it difficult to learn by themselves and had trouble staying focused and on track without the accountability of an instructor and a group of students. Some even say that they ended up giving up.

Another drawback to learning by yourself is that there are many things in this field that are learned with time and experience; things that you won’t have as a beginner. A seasoned instructor can offer insight on things like best practices, tips and tricks, pitfalls to avoid, and how to succeed in a professional coding career. If you’re self-taught, you won’t have access to this insider knowledge, and it can take you a lot longer to figure out many of these things by yourself.

Alternatives to Learning Coding on Your Own

A popular alternative to learning coding on your own is to enroll in a paid, live coding class. Live classes can be taken in person at a training facility, or you can learn live online, which means that you log in online and attend via Zoom or a similar platform. With a live class, you can follow a comprehensive curriculum that starts with important foundational concepts and then moves on to more advanced skills. An instructor will lecture in real time and be available to answer your questions and provide regular feedback on your progress. Feedback is an important part of learning because it allows you to learn from both your successes and failures, and constantly improve your coding skills.

With a live class, you’ll learn along with a group of other students, which can also have benefits. Many people find that they learn more quickly and gain a deeper understanding of the material by talking about coding with other people and also by helping others. In addition, learning with a group will help you learn to work with a group. This is important because while coding has a reputation as a solo activity, in reality, it is frequently a collaborative process. Another benefit of being part of a coding class is that it can give you access to valuable networking opportunities. Networking is associated with a long list of benefits including career advice and support and access to job opportunities.

Learn Coding with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a number of live coding classes. You can learn in person at Noble’s Manhattan facility, or live online from any location that you choose. Classes are immersive and hands-on, and are designed to leave you ready to work in a professional coding role. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department and all of its classes come with the option of a free retake within one year in case you want to refresh your skills.

If you’re looking for a short coding class, Noble offers a beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp is a multi-day course that starts with Python basics and takes you to the start of machine learning with Python. You’ll begin by covering fundamentals like writing statements and expressions, creating variables, and working with different data types. After that, you’ll learn about structuring programs, which includes using conditional statements and control flow tools. The next part of the bootcamp is focused on arrays and data frames and covers importing and cleaning data using NumPy and Pandas. Finally, you’ll learn to analyze and visualize data. This includes working with key data science libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This class also comes with a one-on-one bonus training session.

Finally, this school also runs a number of certificate courses that will cover a broad range of coding skills over a number of weeks. The Software Engineering Certificate is popular. This comprehensive, multi-week course is designed for students who want to become a Software Engineer or a Full Stack Developer. It covers front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. You’ll learn a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll learn how to use Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. In addition, you’ll learn about JavaScript, including data types, loops, and variables. Instructors will also cover the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In this course, you’ll also learn about Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.

Another popular certificate program is the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. This course covers everything you need to know to create a website from scratch. You’ll learn both front end and back end skills. Some of the specific skills covered include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js. You’ll also learn about databases, APIS, databases, server environments, and interactivity. Ten one-on-one mentoring sessions are included. As part of the course, you can also choose to attend Noble’s SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp for free. Finally, this hands-on program includes working on real projects that can be used for a portfolio.