These days, basic programming skills are quickly becoming a requirement for success in a variety of fields. Once the exclusive province of professional programmers in the tech industry, coding has finally gone mainstream. As such, amateurs and professionals of all stripes are learning to program like never before. If you’re interested in adding an impressive skill set to your resume, improving your programming abilities, or simply have an interest in coding, there are several great sites for you to learn at your own pace and from your existing skill level. Here are five of the best resources for online programming education.
Udemy
As an open-air bazaar of e-learning, Udemy is the premier destination for many neophytes looking to pick up their first programming language. Featuring more than 12,000 courses in everything from Python to C++ to Lisp, Udemy can help you learn any coding language you desire. Best of all, quite a few of their courses are free.
Udacity
Without a doubt, Udacity is one of the best places to pick up basic and intermediate coding skills online. Udacity allows students to work their way through self-guided courses that apply programming know-how to real-world problems. Taught by top academics from a wide array of fields, in a massive open online course environment, Udacity’s courses are some of the best that can be found online.
Codecademy
If you’re looking for an easy, interactive introduction to the world of coding, look no further than Codeacademy. Targeted squarely at the web designers and developers of tomorrow, Codecademy offers free courses in HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Python and Ruby. Many courses are created and constantly improved by users themselves, which makes the learning curve far less intimidating for first-time programmers.
Learn Code the Hard Way
Though it’s not interactive like many online e-learning resources, Learn Code the Hard Way is arguably one of the best sites for those with no prior programming experience. Whether you’re interested in learning Python, Ruby, the C programming language or SQL, Learn Code the Hard Way can show you the ropes of each in record time.
NJIT Computer Science Online
Sometimes, open internet e-learning courses aren’t the best way to tackle a complicated subject like programming. For many, a more traditional online course of study with expert-guided instruction from an accredited institution is the way to go. In that case, http://computerscience.online.njit.edu/ offers one of the best computer science degree programs available to aspiring professional programmers who want to learn online and earn a degree in the process.
Learning any new skill is quite the undertaking, especially when you’re your own teacher. The discipline required often changes how people look at various aspects of their personal and professional lives. Ultimately, learning and mastering programming is almost invariably a positive experience for those that complete the process. Not only does knowing how to program make you that much more employable, through self-taught programming you’ll learn the discipline needed to master future skills.
