Getting a Coding Job For Dummies®

Chapter 9

Coding on Your Own

In This Chapter

Assessing time and money needed to learn to code

Finding resources to learn coding on your own

Using tips to keep progressing even when you get stuck

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

— Pablo Picasso

When you decide that a career in coding is for you, there are many ways to take the plunge and start learning. You can learn by yourself, in modern high-intensity coding schools, in traditional environments such as a university or college, or on the job.

Unlike learning subjects like biology or chemistry, learning to code doesn’t require lots of expensive equipment or many years before you see results. You can learn how to code a feature or a function, and start implementing it right away. No matter what route you take to learn how to code, it’s a good idea to try learning a little bit on your own to see how you like it.

In this chapter, you choose a goal, discover the hardware and software you’ll need to start coding, and see the various free and low-cost resources available to learn coding on your own. Learning to code, especially on your own, is not easy — this chapter provides a roadmap ...