Nearly everything today is based on computers and computer processing. My car has computers in it. My washing machine has computer chips in it. My phone is based on a computer and code, called apps.
Code.org says that by 2020 there will be 1 million more computer jobs than computer science students in the United States. Experts fear U.S. society will be dominated by users of computers and programs that they don’t understand and haven’t created.
“We are going to fall behind and that is not a position any of us wants to be in” said Barrett Bryand, Chairman of the University of North Texas Computer Science and Engineering Department.
Website Magazine’s August 2014 issue contained an article by Derek Schou with a few alternatives for learning to code:
Code Avengers is a free online platform that helps developers learn three of the most common languages: HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
For those just beginning to learn to code, HTML and CSS are almost always used together. HTML is used to create the content and structure of a Web page while CSS is used for the website’s visual elements. Using just these two languages, developers can create a fully functioning, although somewhat limited website. Code Avengers breaks up with lessons by using HTML and CSS to create Web pages and JavaScript to creates apps as well as games.
Codecademy is another free platform that starts with the very basics, and builds toward intermediate level skills. Codecademy offers a wide variety of computer languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Python, Ruby PHP and APIs as well as a clear breakdown of the lessons inside each course.
The CEO and cofounder of Codecademy said “Coding literacy will be considered a universal basic skill in the very near future – similar to how reading, writing or mathematics are now considered basic skills in today’s modern world.”
Codacademy and Code Avengers are good for learning to code. CodinGame offers a fun and exciting environment for developers to test their skills by playing games. Through the use of games, CodinGame keeps learning to code fun as it provides an experience for developers to test their skills as well as learn new ones. The free lessons are divided into four tiers of difficulty with each lesson being some type of game.
For a greater challenge developers can test their wits using Pluralsight. Formerly named PeepCode, Pluralsight offers an impressive list of advanced computer language courses that includes jQuery, PHP, HTML5 and Java. Each course contains a specific set of lessons that are taught using online videos. Some lessons also contain exercise files, providing a space for developers to practice writing code based on a video training session. Developers do have to pay a fee ($29-$49 per month, or $299-$499 per year) to use Pluralsight to its full potential. There is a free trial available to be able to try the platform being paying for it.
There are dozens of other platform options available to learn to code. You may already have a great one that works for you that wasn’t included in the list above. The platform doesn’t matter as long as you are making progress and learning to code.
The path from novice to expert is not an easy or quick one. Each platform allows developers to work at their own pace, but learning in isolation is not for everyone.
Do you know of anyone interested in participating in a coding group? Coders at all levels would be welcome to join and share their projects or ask for help from those farther ahead on the learning curve. Interested in providing a workshop topic or coding challenge? This will be the group for you! We’re collecting names and contact information and preferred meeting times now, and will keep you posted on when the first meeting will be. Call Bonnie at 931-456-4910 and let her know you’d like to be added to the list.
My dream? 100 People Who Code in Crossville, TN! Let’s create the talent to fill those jobs long before 2020!
