How to Learn Programming

Computer programming involves creating instructions designed for a computer to read, interpret, and execute. This process requires Programmers to write and test code designed to help software programs and applications operate successfully. The number of options for learning programming might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, and classes, among others to choose from; selecting one will ultimately depend on your learning style and personal preferences. 

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods available for learning programming so you can decide how you’d like to get started.

What is Programming?

Computer programming is writing coded instructions that communicate to a computer, software program, or application you’d like for it to perform a specific task. Programmers write code to create these instructions to find solutions to different issues and ensure that different software programs and apps will operate successfully. This process often involves devising strategies to enhance code to implement organizational initiatives more effectively. Most programmers work with various coding languages, such as Python, C++, and JavaScript. Typically, Computer Programmers perform various daily tasks: writing code, updating software programs to address security vulnerabilities or fix bugs, writing and testing code for apps and programs, troubleshooting code to spot errors, and translating existing code from one programming language to another. It’s a job that is ever-changing. The field of computer programming continues to grow in popularity as Programmers find new ways to communicate more effectively with computers. Programming has changed drastically over the past century. Initially, programmers used punch cards containing rows of numbers read by a machine. Now, it incorporates drag-and-drop interfaces and other methods that allow for much faster programming speed. Although some individuals use the terms “programming” and “coding” interchangeably, the two are slightly different by definition. Programming is a mental process that requires creating the instructions given to a computer. In contrast, coding pertains to translating those instructions into a written language understandable to a computer. Read more about what programming is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Programming?

Computer programming is a versatile skill with various uses across industries and professions. Because we rely so much on computers for daily tasks, those who know how to program have many job opportunities. 

The following are a few items you can do with a background in programming:

• Programmers who know languages such as JavaScript, CSS, or HTML can design interactive websites for clients.
• Individuals with advanced programming skills are needed to create computer games, a popular form of entertainment for many. 
• Mobile apps are more popular than ever as cell phones become more widely used for everyday tasks like banking and navigating. Those who know how to program can create mobile apps to simplify these tasks.
• Repetitive work tasks can take many hours of tedious work to complete. However, with the help of automation, they can be instructed to work independently to complete said tasks. Programming skills make it possible to automate tasks like posting on social media, controlling the thermostat at home, or sending emails.
• Programming with R or Python allows users to incorporate advanced statistical analysis into analytical or research tasks. 
• With programming, it is possible to build or maintain large databases. Programmers use languages such as SQL or PHP to use and maintain extensive databases.
• Those who work in the field of data science rely on programming to perform tasks such as developing models that can make predictions based on data insights.

In-Person Programming Training

For extroverted learners who thrive in the traditional classroom environment, in-person programming classes are designed for you. Electing to study in this format, participants can complete lessons in a computer lab with the most up-to-date applications, tools, software, and programming languages. The in-person environment also provides an excellent networking opportunity to meet others studying programming. Because an expert instructor leads the lessons, you can ask questions as they arise and receive assistance working with complicated programming concepts. 

In-person study does require attending regularly scheduled class meetings. Required meetings at a specific location and time may be challenging for those who work full-time since it can require taking off work as well as budgeting in time for commuting and parking. The commute may also add additional costs to study. Those who learn programming in-person can connect with other learners despite these hurdles. This benefit is likely to extend far beyond the classroom.

More than 300 online courses are available from reputable education providers if you want to learn programming. DevMountain’s Web Development Immersive is a full-time course that spans 13 weeks. Participants receive instruction to prepare them to work as Full Stack Developers. By course completion, students will have acquired knowledge of React.js, Node.js, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS. Fullstack Academy’s Flex Immersive is a part-time, 28-week program taught by live instructors. This three-stage course covers coding with JavaScript, working with databases, and creating an ecommerce site.

Noble Desktop provides a range of programming classes for those interested in studying this topic in the in-person learning format. The Full-Stack Web Development Certificate prepares participants to work on every part of a web application, such as how it appears in the front end and how data is managed in the back end. All participants receive one-on-one mentoring along with tuition. Noble also has a Data Science Certificate, which includes instruction on creating machine learning models, querying databases using SQL, and using Python to analyze data. Noble's JavaScript Development Certificate is for individuals interested in learning how to work with JavaScript to create web applications. Participants receive expert instruction on how to work with React, Node, Express, MongoDB, JavaScript, and SQL. 

Live Online Programming Training

Another great way to study computer programming is to enroll in a live online course. Similar to in-person study, online programming classes provide students with access to an instructor in real-time who’s available to provide support and answer questions as they arise. Because students can complete all coursework remotely, those enrolled can study from the comfort of their home or office without having to commute to and from campus in rush-hour traffic or waste time searching for parking. A critical consideration of live online courses is that they still require participants to attend regularly occurring meetings. Thus, meetings or workloads may require individuals to take off work or rearrange their schedules to attend. 

Many excellent live online programming classes are currently available for interested students. Interested learners can select from over 400 course offerings in programming languages like Python, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. NYC Data Science Academy’s Introductory Python provides an overview of how users can utilize Python for data analysis. Participants in this beginner-friendly class work with NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, and Seborn for data analysis and data visualization. If you want to work specifically with JavaScript, Juno College of Technology’s JavaScript class provides instructions on creating interactive websites with this coding language.

Noble Desktop also has a range of live online programming classes available to learners new to coding and those with more advanced skills. Noble’s Software Engineering Certificate teaches students the skills needed to pursue a career as a Full Stack Developer or Software Engineer. Instruction is provided on working with CSS, React, JavaScript, and HTML for front end development and using Django, Node.js, and Python for building the back end. Noble’s Python Developer Certificate prepares participants to work as Software Engineers, Back End Developers, or Python Developers. In this hands-on program, students receive instruction on performing Python software development using developer tools like Git, SQL, and Django. Noble’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate is also available in the live online format. This class covers both front end and back end web development. Each of these Noble Desktop certificates includes one-on-one mentoring with tuition.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Free introductory programming courses are available online if you want to learn computer programming but aren’t sure about enrolling in an entire course. These courses and videos are designed to help you understand different programming languages before committing to more intensive learning options. 

Noble Desktop offers an hour-long webinar devoted to getting started with Python programming. Intro to Python Fundamentals provides an overview of how to use Python for automating boring or repetitive tasks. This beginner-friendly course is designed for those who may be new to programming and want to know what Python is and how to work with it. Noble also offers Intro to Node.js for those who want to learn about this popular JavaScript framework used for creating web apps. 

In addition to Noble’s free online programming resources, materials are available from other top educators as well. Udemy currently has several free online programming classes, such as Programming 101, designed for those new to working with hardware, networking, licensing, and programming. In addition, Git & GitHub Crash Course: Create a Repository From Scratch is also available. This course is a mere half an hour long and teaches students how to make a Git repository, clone it, and make changes. Coursera also provides a wide range of free programming courses. Code Yourself! An Introduction to Programming offers 12 hours of beginner-friendly content on core programming principles in software engineering. Coursera’s C++ Basic Structures: Vectors, Pointers, Strings, and Files includes nine hours of instruction on how to code and run a C++ program.

Read more about free programming videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Programming Classes

In addition to live online programming courses, on-demand programming classes are also available. These courses are ideal for those new to programming and interested in an overview or for individuals wanting to learn a specific programming language, such as Python or JavaScript. Self-paced programming classes are generally the most affordable study option; some courses are free. They’re an excellent starting point if you aren’t fully ready to commit to a bootcamp or certificate program. Because all course material is pre-recorded in asynchronous programming classes, you can study at your own pace and complete lessons around other life commitments, like family engagements, full-time work, and travel. Programming videos can be paused, rewound, and rewatched as often as needed to help you retain information and take notes on what you’re studying. 

Although self-paced programming content like online tutorials and YouTube channels is a great starting point in your programming journey, it’s important to remember that these classes don’t provide access to an instructor. You will have to find answers if you have questions about the course material. For this reason, asynchronous programming content is best suited for beginner-level study; mastering more complex programming skills may require the structure of an in-person or live online class. Also, because of the sheer amount of self-paced programming material currently available, it may be challenging to know which is the most up-to-date and which is not current. 

Noble Desktop provides two free on-demand Programming tutorials: Making a Twitter Bot in Python and Exchanging Excel for Python. Both videos are barely over an hour long. They are a great way to learn more about using Python for programming tasks and discover whether Python will eventually replace Excel in industries like finance and marketing. In addition, 160 hours of beginner-friendly content on programming is available from SheCodes Pro. This course track teaches students core JavaScript, CSS, and HTML web development skills and how to work with APIs and AJAX. The cost of the study is $1,390. For intermediate-level programming instruction, Udacity’s Full Stack Web Developer is offered. Participants in this four-month course learn how to create databases using Python and SQL and use Flask while they develop and test REST APIs. A platform subscription is required for this class.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

Because of the sheer number of resources available to help beginners learn programming, you might need clarification on which is best for you. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the great things about directing your learning is that you pick which combination of tools you prefer; you don’t have to stick with what a teacher chooses.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method for your programming study. If you have responsibilities like a full-time job, travel, or family commitments, you may not be able to devote time to a structured course that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be better learning options since you can access them as your schedule allows and complete them at your own pace. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online. 

Why Learn Programming?

Computer programming is one of the most sought-after skill sets in this technological age. Because the tech boom isn’t expected to slow in the coming years, those with programming skills have many job prospects with high pay. The median pay for Programmers in 2021 was $93,000. Programming is valuable because of how much of the world is automated online. Those with coding skills have the power to improve how businesses run, which is of value to many employers. 

Another reason to learn programming is that the profession has many perks beyond the high pay. Not only are programming jobs available in various fields and professions, but many provide enticing work benefits, such as unlimited vacation time, flex hours, and work-from-home options. In addition, programming is a skill that allows you to explore your creativity through a technical channel. This profession involves much more than giving machines instructions; it involves problem-solving, abstract thinking, and creativity. Even though programming may seem a rigid, tedious process, those skilled at writing code find creative solutions to real-world problems that address the larger picture. They create code from scratch, using the organization’s goals to inform their work. This process involves experimenting with different codes to find the most efficient, appropriate solution. 

You may also want to learn programming because it’s a skill that can lead to much greater workplace efficiency. Programmers create applications that can automate regular processes that would otherwise take many hours. In addition, they create websites or apps that reach a much wider audience of interested customers. This scalability has the potential to improve an organization’s reach much more than advertisements, or physical stores would be able to accomplish.

Read more about why you should learn programming.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

If you’re interested in learning programming, you may wonder how hard it is to write code. Programming is generally considered difficult to learn due to the complex instructions a computer can understand. When communicating with a computer, you can’t simply feed it instructions in English or any other human-created language. Thus, depending on the project in the cue, Programmers have to learn different languages to communicate with the computer, a process similar to learning French so that you can speak to locals when visiting Paris. 

Programming is also considered by most to be a complex skill to learn because of the sheer number of languages being created each day. It can be challenging for some individuals to decide which is best to study. Another factor contributing to the difficulty of learning programming is the inherent uncertainty in this field. Additionally, the vocabulary required to write code can be challenging to acquire for those who don’t have prior technical experience or aren’t familiar with primary foundational languages such as C. 

Because programming requires an understanding of logic, it’s essential for those who wish to master different coding languages to have a solid background in the field of logic as a prerequisite. Logic involves the study of “correct” reasoning. There are two primary branches of logic: formal and informal. Formal logic studies logical truths or deduct inferences; informal pertains to critical thinking, informal fallacies, and argumentation theory. Logical or “correct” reasoning is used in many fields, such as linguistics, philosophy, math, and computer science. Learning to code will be a much more challenging task if you don’t know how to understand or work with logical statements. 

In terms of cost, the good news is that most of the core coding languages are free to use and simply require installation. Popular languages like C, Python, R, Java, and C++ are free downloads.

Read about how difficult it is to learn programming.

Learn Programming with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop, an educational provider, located in Manhattan, offers a range of programming courses for those new to this field and individuals with more advanced coding skills. Noble’s bootcamps and certificates provide hands-on programming training in the small class setting and are an excellent option for those who want to take their programming skills to the next level.

Those wishing to pursue a career as a Full Stack Web Developer, explore Noble’s in-person and live online Full-Stack Web Development Certificate since it presents a high-level learning opportunity. Instruction is provided on both front end web development and back end programming. Participants in this rigorous course learn CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. In addition, instruction is provided on using Git to track code changes. Those enrolled also create dynamic web apps using Node.js and React. For those who want to study the most widely used programming language, Noble’s JavaScript Development Certificate is for you. This intensive certificate program teaches students how to use JavaSript to design websites, build web applications, and create database-driven apps.

Noble also offers a Data Science Certificate for those interested in becoming Data Scientists. This hands-on program provides mentoring, as well as hands-on training, from industry experts. Instruction is provided on core data science skills, such as creating machine learning models, using SQL to query databases, and performing data analysis using Python. Tuition includes the option of a free class retake for up to one year, as well as one-on-one mentoring.

Noble also offers an in-person and live online Python Developer Certificate for those who want to work with Python. Those who enroll in this certificate receive hands-on instruction on fundamental Python programming skills, like using Django for Python software development and working with Django REST, SQL, and Git. This training is designed to prepare students to become Back End Developers, Software Engineers, or Python Engineers.

Key Insights

• Programming is creating instructions that tell a computer an action to execute. This process involves writing and testing code to help software programs and apps run smoothly. 
• Programming is often considered difficult to master due to the complexity of some coding languages and the combination of technical and creative knowledge required to write high-quality code.
• Various training options are available for those who want to study programming. In-person and live online courses provide access to an instructor in real-time; self-paced study material is pre-recorded and can be completed at any time, from any location.
• You can receive comprehensive programming training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.