Learn to Code Online: The Ultimate Guide

Learn to Code Online : the Ultimate Guide
Learn to Code Online : the Ultimate Guide

I want to learn how to code web applications? I want to learn how to develop mobile apps? Or I want to build advanced machine learning models?

These are some of the questions people ask around the world. The reason why many people want to join coding bootcamps is that a large number of businesses now rely on computer code.

For example, a small business needs a website where it can list its products and services on offer. With HTML, PHP, CSS, and Javascript coding skills, this is easy. Not only can a small business owner create a business website. But he can develop a blog and social shares to share content with social media users.

Coding has become a valuable job skill. According to a report by Burning Glass, over 7 million jobs in 2015 required coding skills. The researchers discovered that programming jobs were growing 12% faster.

Also, employees with coding skills earned $22,000 more every year compared to employees in other industries.

So, do you want to learn SQL, Java, Python, CSS, PHP, HTML, and more? Do you want to increase your earning potential boost your career?

Well, the best way is to learn to code online.

In this post, we take you through our learn to code online guide.

Ready to get started?

Keep reading!

1. Find a Reputable Coding Bootcamp

Coding from the comfort of your home or office is the best way to acquire programming skills such as:

  • HTML
  • ES6, the latest version of Javascript
  • CSS
  • SQL
  • PHP
  • XML
  • Python and others

To gain these skills, you must learn from the best. A simple Google search with “coding bootcamp near me” keyword will provide you with several results. Among these results, you will come across hundreds of platforms that teach full stack coding and other bootcamp courses.

The questions is, which is the best coding bootcamp? The simple answer to this question is Le Wagon.

Why Choose Le Wagon

Le Wagon is like no other full stack coding bootcamp found online. Founded in 2013, Le Wagon has had 7310 graduates who built over 1850 products.

Second, the coding bootcamp has a presence in more than 38 cities in 20 countries. They have a presence in France (7 cities), Europe (15 cities), Asia Pacific (9 cities), the Americas (6 cities), and Tel Aviv.

Thanks to the huge presence, you will learn all about:

  • Web stack
  • Databases
  • Object-oriented programming
  • Back end programming languages

With these skills, you will be in a better position to build web products, design wireframes, and even test your UX.

Another benefit of choosing Le Wagon is that they offer lifetime access to all its alumni. As such, alumni can access up to date video and tutorials. They can also learn about the best practices of programming and the latest tools in software development.

Most importantly, they belong to a community where they get to network, share opportunities, and tips.

Other Coding Bootcamps

Besides Le Wagon, you can find useful resources to help you learn to code online at:

  • EDX
  • MIT OpenCourseWare
  • W3Schools
  • Code.org

2. Choose the Right Online Coding Course

To learn to code online, you must fist select the right course. To do so, you have to ask yourself several questions. By taking the time to analyze and answer these questions honestly, you will be able to make a smart choice.

Why Am I Learning How to Code?

Am I learning to code to join a startup as a full stack developer or data scientist? Am I learning how to code to explore an interest or to further a career? If you want to learn to code online to become a full stack developer or data scientist, it will be easy for you to choose which languages to pursue.

What Languages Should I Learn?

If you want to become a web developer, you must have skills in the following languages: HTML, CSS, PHP, ES6, and Ruby. Not everyone aspires to be a web developer. Others want to become data scientists and have skills to build advanced machine learning models.

To do so, they need to learn the following languages:

  • Python
  • JavaScript
  • R
  • SQL
  • Scala
  • TensorFlow
  • MATLAB and more

Where Should You Learn to Code Online?

Le Wagon has a presence in more than 30 cities in 20 countries. Choosing Le Wagon is not only an opportunity to gain new skills and learn. But to make friends and experience something different.

At Le Wagon, you can also undertake web development courses and data science courses.

3. Have the Best Hardware – PC or Laptop

Every trade needs the best tools to achieve the best results. Learning to code online is no exception. Yes, you can use the basic notepad available on Windows, and Linux but the results will not be pleasing. In fact, your code structure will not be appealing.

PC or Laptop Requirements

You have the option of a PC or laptop. Most PCs and laptops have webcams with a decent picture/video quality. But if you want better quality, we recommend buying an external webcam with 1080p or 4K capabilities.

If you are a newbie in the tech world, start with a Windows PC or Mac laptop. Here are the minimum hardware specs:

Operating system – Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 10 (64-bit versions) or MacOS 10.15 and above

  • Processors: Intel i3, i5, or i7. AMD processors are ideal too
  • Memory: 4 GB minimum
  • Hard drive – 250 GB SSD and above
  • Internet: at least 1 Mbps or higher

4. Choose the Right Coding Editor or IDE

Besides your PC, you also need a coding editor. If you want to learn HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, or XML, you need a text editor.

Best Coding Editors

Some of the best coding editors are:

  • Atom
  • Brackets

These text editors are open source with focused visual tools. They also have an easy to use interface, are lightweight and powerful.

Code Online With an Integrated Development Environment

Besides text editors, you need an IDE or an Integrated Development Environment. Unlike a text editor, the IDE allows you to create projects, code, and build them. An IDE also offers deep insight into your code thanks to built-in libraries.

Basically, the IDE analyzes your code, checks for symbols and errors by comparing libraries. It also offers in-depth coding assistance, clever error analysis, and code refactoring. This comes in handy during code debugging.

Best IDEs

  • Visual Studio
  • Visual Studio Code
  • Eclipse
  • Android Studio
  • NetBeans
  • PyCharm
  • IntelliJ IDEA

5. Invest in a Database Management Software

If you want to learn to code online, what you will discover is that your web app will have to record data to a database. For this to be possible, you need a database management software. Today, modern database management software support relational databases.

What Is a Relational Database?

A relational database is a type of database that allows the identification and access of data. This is possible by relating to another piece of data found in the database. For example, a business has employees. At the end of every month, the company must pay its employees.

To simplify its operations, the business will invest in software such as Enterprise Resource Planning. This software has a relational database. So, if the payroll department needs to pay employees, the ERP will match the employees’ records to their pay.

That includes employee ID, personal details, and pay. The reason it’s able to do is through the use of primary and secondary keys.

Best Database Management Software

So, which relational database software will come handy as you learn to code online?

  • MySQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • FirebirdSQL
  • Cubrid
  • SQLite
  • MariaDB

These softwares are free and open source. Also, a large community of developers supports them. This means regular security updates and new features.

6. Have a Secure Browser

You may wonder why we did not include the browser as part of the PC and laptop requirements. Well, today there is an increased rate of cyberattacks, and we want to make sure you are safe as you learn to code online.

Research shows that there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds. In the study, researchers found that the rate of hacker attacks on devices with internet access is every 39 seconds. This affects 1 in 3 Americans.

By using unsecured browsers, you give hackers more chances of success to access your data. Through browser jacking, hackers can have access to your personal details. For example, they can get your social security number, credit card, email, and passwords.

With these data, they can carry out fraudulent activities in your name. For example, they can shop for weapons on the dark web using your credit card information. To stay secure as you learn to code online, use the following secure browsers:

  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Iridium
  • Icecat
  • Brave
  • Pale Moon Browser

Third-Party Browser Plugins

You can strengthen your Firefox browser and others with the following plugins:

  • UBlock Origin
  • HTTPS Everywhere
  • Privacy Badger
  • NoScript
  • UMatrix
  • Decentraleyes

7. Learn to Use Git Repositories

Git is an open-source version control application. Originally created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds, its distributed. As such, every developer has full access to the code repository.

While this makes the cloning of the repository slower. Other operations, such as merge, commit, diff, and blame, are faster.

When you join a coding bootcamp to learn to code online, teachers will pair you with a buddy. Your assignments will require you to collaborate on different projects. By using Git repositories, you make it easier to track every change to your codebase.

Best GIT Clients for Version Control

  • GitHub
  • Sourcetree
  • Tortoise GIT
  • GitBox
  • GitUp
  • GitX-dev
  • QGit
  • GitKraken

8. Join a Coding Class

Learning to code begins with joining a learn to code online class. For example, if you aspire to become a full stack developer, you need to join a web development class. At Le Wagon, classes are available in the form of webinars.

These webinars are only 2 hours long. During the webinar, students not only learn how to code in HTML, CSS, and Javascript. But they learn how to design web pages using Bootstrap libraries. They also learn how to incorporate fonts, colors, and icons in their web pages.

By doing so, they create interactive and aesthetically pleasing websites. Besides web development webinars, you also have:

  • Prototyping your app with Figma
  • UI Design with Figma
  • Automating tasks with APIs
  • Data science

9. Learn Database Querying

The world today is data-driven hence the use of relational databases to record or store data. To retrieve data, every developer must learn to use a query. This is a string of SQL statements that helps you retrieve selective data.

For example, you have built an eCommerce website and connected it to your database. You and your coding buddies populate the database with data. A teacher asks you to retrieve a specific customer who bought a certain time on a particular day.

Using SQL statements, you can do this in seconds. Le Wagon offers a webinar that covers the basics of SQL and database queries. All you have to do to learn to code online is to choose your session.

10. Practice With Personal Projects

No matter how many coding languages you learn, your skills will only improve with practice. Many people who learn to code online forget that they need to improve continually.

To become a full web developer or data scientist, practice with personal projects. For example, you can create a simple shopping cart where shoppers can buy art, music, or antiques. By continuously tweaking the web app, you improve your coding skills.

Remember, you need to apply your coding skills in personal projects. Without doing so, you will not gain the skills required for professional coding projects.

Is Learning to Code Online Worth It? Learn to Code Online Guide

Yes, it is. Not only are you able to learn coding languages such as HTML, Javascript, CSS, PHP, Python, and more. But you gain skills that prepare you for professional coding skills. We hope you enjoyed our comprehensive learn to code online guide. If you think a coding bootcamp is the best choice for you, apply to Le Wagon now!

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