My husband is a technician through and through who creates code to make simple websites and apps just for fun. I'm not. I used to be familiar with MySpace HTML (enough to at least change my background) and was able to navigate WordPress for my college newspaper, but those skills have now rusted.
For almost everyone working in our digital world, learning to code is a valuable skill. And although unemployment due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Technology giants like Amazon and Apple are still hiring. Learning some coding skills through an online coding course can help you get your foot in the door.
From the laboratory to your inbox. Get the latest scientific stories from CNET every week.
Before you begin, it's important to know that the language you want to learn - Python, Javascript, C #, or one of hundreds of others - depends on what type of computer or data science you want to do with it. how to create a website, app or game. For example, if you want to learn how to code so that you can work in a professional environment, you should learn about Python, Java, or C #, all of which are in demand by many companies.
Continue reading: Do you want to become a successful YouTuber? Start here
We've put together five online courses for beginners that explore basic programming concepts and fundamentals of computer programming - coding the boot camp, so to speak. Some touch on specific languages while others remain more general. But all of them are the best online coding courses that can help you learn a programming language. We will update this list regularly.
Skillshare / Screenshot by Shelby Brown / CNET
The Coding for Beginners course describes itself as a basic beginner course that introduces students to common coding concepts such as errors, pseudocode, and code execution. The concepts can then be applied to the programming language you are learning. Over 30 lectures and coding lessons will help you build the skills to create a simple app in both coding languages, Scratch and Python, the final project of the course.
What it costs: Some online courses on Skillshare are free when you create an account. Most, however, require a premium membership, which costs $ 99 per year or $ 19 per month. You can enroll for 14 free days with unlimited courses. Premium membership is also ad-free and allows you to download classes to your mobile device and watch them offline.
Udemy / Screenshot by Shelby Brown / CNET
The preprogramming course from the founder of the digital agency, Evan Kimbrell, also starts with basic concepts such as adapting the computer itself, the Internet and the operating systems to the programming. This may sound too easy, but if you are just starting your learning journey this is a helpful context.
Finally, the lesson focuses on the core concepts of coding, various programming languages, front-end and back-end frameworks, application programming interfaces, content management systems, and other more advanced concepts.
What it costs: Udemy course prices are set by the individual instructors of a price level, unless they offer them free of charge. The course is currently available for $ 13.
Skillshare / Screenshot by Shelby Brown / CNET
The programming course from software developer Cas Van Gool focuses on the basics of programming in any software language. The coding tutorials cover topics such as variables, strings, integers, if statements, while statements, for statements, and for each statement. Van Gool offers step-by-step exercises and creates projects in C #, from shopping lists to mini-games. This course also requires you to download Microsoft's free Visual Studio Code source code editor program.
This coding class is useful if you are interested in coding games or getting started on a professional level.
What it costs: Some online courses on Skillshare are free when you create an account. Most, however, require a premium membership, which costs $ 99 per year or $ 19 per month. You can enroll for 14 free days with unlimited courses. Premium membership is also ad-free and allows you to download classes to your mobile device and watch them offline.
Coursera / Screenshot by Shelby Brown / CNET
The Programming Foundations with Javascript, HTML and CSS course offered by Duke University covers skills such as HTML, JavaScript, Java programming and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). You will learn how to write programs, solve complex problems, design algorithms, and test and debug your programs.
The programming foundations course is part of the five-course specialization Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals. You can enroll in a single course to earn a certificate or check out the online coding class and review the materials for free. The specialization in Java programming and software engineering basics is considered a beginner's specialization. When you subscribe to a course, you are included in the entire specialization.
The course requires a laptop or desktop computer for Java programming and that you create a free account with CodePen.io. If you want to continue with the other courses you will need to install Bluej, the free software for Java development.
This course is most useful if you are interested in coding websites.
What it costs: Compared to Skillshare or Udemy, Coursera works more like a traditional online college course with enrollment windows. Sometimes the certificates you earn can be applied for as a credit to an institution, but it must be specified. When you sign up for Coursera, you get a free 7-day trial that costs $ 49 per month. You can also check out the online class for free so all you can do is read and view the course content.
Udemy / Screenshot by Shelby Brown / CNET
What you ultimately want to do with your programming skills, in turn, determines which coding language you want to learn. What I liked about the Coding for Beginners course on Udemy is that it touches on the basics of five different programming languages - Javascript, Python, Ruby, HTML, and CSS. You can try your hand at any language and create applications such as calculators, digital clocks, music players, and blog pages. This gives you an insight into how the individual functions work and gives you practical experience and projects.
What it costs: Udemy course prices are set by the individual instructors of a price level, unless they offer them free of charge. This course costs $ 14 during a special sale.
For more information, see five master classes to become a filmmaker and other online courses to help you learn to play the guitar or Learn to draw.
