Are your friends buzzing about Node.js, and you’re still wondering about Ruby and the coding world? It feels like everyone’s diving into programming, and you’re trying to catch up. You’re not alone if you think CSS is just a laundry term! The good news is, there’s a wealth of resources available to help you learn to code.
This guide explores why learning to code is a fantastic idea and helps you determine the Best Way To Learn Computer Coding that suits you. We’ve also compiled a list of 18 diverse classes, videos, and programs to kickstart your coding journey.
1. Why Learning to Code is a Smart Move
The tech industry is booming, and the demand for skilled coders is higher than ever. There’s a significant tech skills gap across industries globally, creating huge opportunities for individuals with the right tech knowledge and abilities. Learning to code isn’t just about getting a job; it’s about future-proofing your career and opening doors to exciting possibilities.
The statistics speak for themselves. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 16% job growth for web developers between 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations. A quick search on Indeed.com reveals over 170,000 developer job openings in the US alone.
Becoming a freelance web developer offers even more flexibility. You can choose your clients, work on creative and engaging projects, and set your own schedule. Sounds appealing, right?
2. Finding Your Path: 4 Key Questions Before You Start Coding
So, you’re convinced that a career in programming is for you – excellent choice! Before you explore our list of top learning options, consider these crucial questions to pinpoint the best way to learn computer coding for your needs and style:
1. Do You Prefer Learning Solo or with Guidance?
Are you a self-starter, able to stay motivated independently? While self-motivation is highly valued, it’s not always easy to maintain, and that’s perfectly okay.
Just as having a mentor is invaluable in fields like UX design, it’s equally beneficial when learning web development. Mentors provide accountability and offer invaluable insights and real-world perspectives.
If you thrive with structure and support, look for coding classes or bootcamps that include tutors or mentors. While they might be a bit pricier than self-study options, the personalized guidance can be a worthwhile investment in your learning journey.
2. What’s Your Budget and Time Commitment?
Cost is a significant factor. Are you willing to invest in paid courses, or are you looking for free resources to learn coding? What’s your budget, and how much time can you dedicate to studying? Can you commit to full-time learning, or do you need a part-time schedule due to other commitments?
The rise of flexible online coding bootcamps addresses the needs of learners with busy lives. These bootcamps often offer extended study schedules, allowing you to learn at your own pace and fit coding education around family, work, or other responsibilities. This flexibility makes learning to code more accessible than ever.
3. Online or In-Person Learning Environment?
Are you comfortable learning solely online, or do you prefer a traditional classroom setting? Perhaps a hybrid approach, blending online and in-person learning, would be ideal? Consider the importance of a student network for collaboration, support, and networking opportunities.
For those aspiring to become remote developers, online learning aligns perfectly with the remote work environment. However, if you value face-to-face interaction and a structured classroom, in-person or hybrid options might be a better fit.
4. What Are Your Goals After Learning to Code?
What do you hope to achieve after mastering coding? Are you aiming for job connections and networking opportunities? Are you interested in a competitive web developer salary, or are you learning purely for personal enrichment and fun?
Your goals will shape your learning path. If you aspire to be a full-stack developer, you’ll need to focus on acquiring a comprehensive set of full-stack development skills. If frontend development and web design are your passion, you’ll want to build a strong developer portfolio showcasing your creative skills.
Understanding your objectives will help you choose the most relevant programming languages to learn first and tailor your learning experience to achieve your desired outcomes.
3. 18 Ways to Learn Coding: Exploring Your Options
This comprehensive list presents 18 of the best ways to learn computer coding, outlining the features, pricing, learning style, and skill level for each option. Whether you’re looking for free resources, mentored programs, or immersive bootcamps, there’s a path for you.
Soon, you’ll be confidently discussing Python and JavaScript, leaving behind any confusion about coding jargon.
1. Web Development for Beginners Short Course
Developed by CareerFoundry’s experienced developers, this free short course is designed for absolute beginners eager to see quick results. In just five days, you’ll build your first webpage using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
This course provides a hands-on introduction to web development and helps you determine if coding is the right path for you, all at no cost.
Web Development for Beginners: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Outcome-oriented, teaches essential basics, builds your first website quickly, free of charge.
- Cons: Doesn’t provide comprehensive skills for professional web development, lacks mentorship.
2. FreeCodeCamp
FreeCodeCamp is a renowned non-profit organization offering free, comprehensive web development education. It provides structured learning paths in web design, frontend and backend development, data visualization, and algorithms and data structures using JavaScript.
With a strong alumni network and active community forums, FreeCodeCamp offers a supportive learning environment and has helped countless graduates launch tech careers.
FreeCodeCamp: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free, Community Support
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Pros: Free, industry-recognized, high-quality content, extensive community support.
- Cons: Community support may not suit all learners, lacks personalized mentorship.
3. Codecademy
Codecademy is a popular online platform offering free and paid coding courses in languages like Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and more. Known for its interactive “console” approach, Codecademy allows beginners to start coding immediately.
With a large user base and endorsements from prominent figures, Codecademy is a consistently recommended starting point for learning to code.
Codecademy: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free and Paid Options, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Pros: Hands-on coding from the start, engaging “console” approach, motivates beginners.
- Cons: Fast-paced lessons may be challenging for some beginners, limited in-depth theory, community support but lacks personalized guidance in free tier.
4. PluralSight
PluralSight provides video-based coding courses for both beginners and experienced developers. It covers a wide range of technologies, including Ruby, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and more, with user-friendly interfaces and engaging content.
While much of PluralSight’s content is geared towards experienced coders, beginners can access a significant amount of introductory material for free, making it a valuable resource for skill development.
PluralSight: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free and Paid Options, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Pros: High-quality video tutorials, wide range of topics, attractive design, some free beginner content.
- Cons: Primarily aimed at experienced coders, may be overwhelming for absolute beginners.
5. Coursera
Coursera offers a vast library of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from top universities and institutions worldwide, many of which are free to audit. These courses cover all aspects of programming through video lectures and course materials.
Coursera provides accessibility and variety, allowing you to explore various programming topics and learn from renowned instructors. However, MOOCs typically lack personalized interaction and have lower completion rates due to the self-directed nature of learning.
Coursera: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free and Paid Options, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (Varies by Course)
- Pros: Free audit option, lectures from experts, diverse course selection, explore interests at no cost.
- Cons: Low completion rates, lacks personalized learning and interaction, limited community features in free audit.
6. General Assembly
General Assembly (GA) is known for its immersive bootcamp-style courses in web development, UX design, and more. GA offers both full-time and part-time programs at various global locations and online.
GA’s programs provide hands-on, expert-led training and are generally well-regarded by students. However, the tuition for their immersive courses is significant.
General Assembly: Quick Overview
- Format: In-Person and Online, Paid, Mentored
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Immersive, hands-on learning, expert instruction, career services.
- Cons: High tuition costs.
7. Bento
Bento, created by a StackOverflow developer, is a curated guide to the best free web development tutorials available online. It organizes free resources logically for beginners, including videos, interactive classes, and reading materials.
Bento simplifies the process of finding quality free coding resources and provides a structured learning path for web development fundamentals.
Bento: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
- Pros: Curated collection of free resources, logical learning path, wide skill range covered.
- Cons: Tutorial quality and teaching style vary due to diverse sources, lacks mentorship.
8. Treehouse
Treehouse is an interactive online learning platform that teaches web development, mobile app development, and design skills through video tutorials and interactive exercises. Treehouse employs a “show, explain, do” methodology and uses quizzes to enhance engagement.
Treehouse offers structured learning paths and covers languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more, with a focus on practical skills development.
Treehouse: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Paid, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Best practices emphasized, on-demand video tutorials, structured learning paths.
- Cons: Paid subscription, lacks personalized learning, forum content can be disorganized.
9. CareerFoundry Full-Stack Development Program
CareerFoundry offers a fully online, mentored Full-Stack Web Development Program designed to launch tech careers. The program combines expert mentorship with a structured curriculum, covering both frontend and backend development.
Students receive personalized feedback, support from mentors and career specialists, and a job guarantee upon graduation, making it a comprehensive and career-focused learning option.
CareerFoundry: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Paid, Mentored
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Personalized mentorship, career-focused curriculum, job guarantee, flexible learning, strong support system.
- Cons: Focuses on JavaScript full-stack development (expanding language options in the future), requires significant time commitment.
10. Udacity
Udacity originated from a Stanford University computer science course and offers online courses (Nanodegrees) in various tech fields, including web development. Udacity courses include video lectures, quizzes, and projects, emphasizing “learning-by-doing.”
While Udacity offers courses from reputable instructors, some early partnerships faced challenges with student success rates.
Udacity: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Paid, Self-Paced (with project reviews in Nanodegrees)
- Skill Level: Varied
- Pros: University connections, high-profile instructors.
- Cons: Historically lower success rates in some programs, can be expensive for Nanodegrees.
11. Thinkful (Acquired by Chegg)
Thinkful, previously Bloc, offers online coding bootcamps with mentorship, blending online flexibility with personalized tutoring. Thinkful programs are more intensive and pricier than some alternatives, but provide dedicated mentor support and a structured curriculum.
Thinkful emphasizes a supportive learning environment with 24/7 mentor and student support, but requires a significant time commitment from students.
Thinkful: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Paid, Mentored
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Supportive community, dedicated mentors, full-time and part-time options.
- Cons: Intensive program, high cost, requires substantial time commitment.
12. Web Fundamentals (Google Developers)
Web Fundamentals, from Google Developers, is a free collection of online tutorials for web development. It is best suited for developers with some existing coding knowledge looking to expand their skills.
While not ideal for absolute beginners, Web Fundamentals offers valuable resources for intermediate learners to deepen their understanding of web technologies and debugging techniques.
Web Fundamentals: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Pros: Free resource from Google, valuable for leveling up skills.
- Cons: Not beginner-friendly, assumes some prior coding knowledge.
13. The Code Player
The Code Player offers free online videos where you can watch code being written live during tutorials. This unique approach allows learners to observe the coding process in real-time.
The Code Player provides a dynamic and visual way to learn coding tasks, with adjustable video speed to accommodate different learning paces.
The Code Player: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Pros: Live coding demonstrations, adjustable video speed, unique learning approach.
- Cons: Lack of structured instruction may be challenging for some learners.
14. Eloquent JavaScript
Eloquent JavaScript is a free online book (also available in print) that provides a comprehensive introduction to JavaScript programming, covering both principles and practical applications.
While some content may be slightly dated, Eloquent JavaScript remains a valuable resource for understanding JavaScript fundamentals and gaining a deeper conceptual understanding of coding.
Eloquent JavaScript: Quick Overview
- Format: Online (Free Book), Offline (Paid Print Book), Self-Study
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: In-depth JavaScript fundamentals, free online access.
- Cons: Less focused on problem-solving skills, some content may be slightly outdated.
15. Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is a non-profit organization focused on closing the gender gap in technology. They offer free programs for girls aged 13-17, pairing them with mentors to learn coding and encourage tech careers.
Girls Who Code has a significant impact on empowering young women in tech, with graduates pursuing computer science at impressive rates.
Girls Who Code: Quick Overview
- Format: In-Person, Free, Mentored
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Empowers young women in tech, free, mentored programs.
- Cons: Limited to girls aged 13-17.
16. Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a free online learning platform offering video tutorials across various subjects, including computer programming. Khan Academy is a great starting point for learning coding for art, games, and basic programming concepts.
Khan Academy provides accessible and highly-regarded educational content, making it a fantastic way to explore coding fundamentals before diving into more specialized areas.
Khan Academy: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Free, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Pros: Free, highly-praised content, broad subject coverage, explore coding concepts.
- Cons: Less focused on practical “how-to” tutorials for specific career paths.
17. Code Avengers
Code Avengers is a visually appealing online platform offering courses in JavaScript, Python, HTML/CSS, and more. Code Avengers emphasizes instilling good coding habits and best practices in its students.
While lacking video tutorials, Code Avengers provides a structured and engaging learning environment focused on developing solid coding foundations.
Code Avengers: Quick Overview
- Format: Online, Part-Free, Part-Paid, Self-Paced
- Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Pros: Visually appealing platform, emphasizes best practices for junior developers.
- Cons: No video tutorials, no mentorship.
18. Fullstack Academy of Code
Fullstack Academy is a New York-based coding bootcamp known for its immersive and career-focused programs. Fullstack Academy promises job-readiness in 17 weeks and provides career services to help graduates find employment.
Fullstack Academy is a high-cost, intensive option focused on preparing students for immediate entry into web development roles.
Fullstack Academy of Code: Quick Overview
- Format: In-Person, Paid, Mentored
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Pros: Career-focused, job placement assistance, prepares students for immediate employment.
- Cons: High tuition cost, short 17-week program may be intensive.
Final Thoughts on Your Coding Journey
With so many excellent options available, finding the best way to learn computer coding is within your reach. We hope this guide has provided you with the information and motivation you need to start your coding adventure.
At CareerFoundry, we highly recommend our Full-Stack Web Development Program, which offers expert mentorship, a job guarantee, and a comprehensive curriculum covering both frontend and backend development.
If you’re seeking more coding insights, explore our guide to 22 Coding Tips from Reddit.
To delve deeper into the world of web development, check out these related articles: [link to related articles – to be added].
