Topic – How long does it take to learn coding? | 2021-22
Are you dreaming of making a career in software coding? But have a couple of doubts on how to begin this journey?
Are you wondering how long is it going to take for you to master this art of coding? or Why Coding is So Hard?
Or maybe you are just another curious cat out here.
Can a software developer become a billionaire? – WENT VIRAL !!
We understand how today’s era calls out for explorers in the field of software development and coding.
Hence along with answers to your much-awaited questions, we’ve brought you the top 10 must-read books for you to plunge into the world of coding.
What are you waiting for? Read along to find answers to all your worry questions!
‘Code is like humour if you have to explain it, it’s bad.’
Know How long does it take to learn coding
How many hours does it take to learn how to code better?
As per the overview we’ve found that most of the programmers agree to the fact that it takes them at least three to six months of practice & learning to be comfortable with the language.
But you can learn the art of coding faster or slower depending on your learning pace.
Is coding hard to learn?
No, simply no. Coding is not at all tough to learn. But only when you take the required time and have a lot of patience, you can learn about anything.
And coding is no exception to it.
A good amount of time and persistence is what learning coding is all about.
So, if you have these qualities, you’re going to get there.
Coming to the other related questions,
Is computer programming tough to learn?
To answer this question, we have to consider few factors like
What particular programming language are you wanting to learn?
Is that language categorized as easy to learn or as a complex language?
Concerning its complexity, do you have the time to spend learning this coding language?
What kind of program do you want to develop?
The answer to all these questions plays a big role in the language you’re wanting to learn.
Since programming languages were not created with an all-purpose objective, you’ve to carefully select the language which is beneficial for your project.
How many hours a day should one practice coding?
This question is such a question which only you can answer. Some people suggest keeping it short and sweet and hence they dedicate only fifteen to twenty minutes daily.
Some people have dived in this industry within a year by coding for 9 to 10 hours daily.
Coming to the bottom line, only you know how much time you can commit to code every day. Hence only you can make it a habit without getting burnt out.
On average, people can code for about 4 hours a day.
So, you need to ask yourself, how much time are you willing to dedicate. And do stick to it.
How can I teach myself to code?
First and foremost, it’s not going to be you alone teaching yourself to code. To make learning joyous recent technological advancements have brought good platforms for us to learn online coding.
So, when you sit and teach yourself how to code, make sure that you’re following the best explanation books out there to dive into this field. You can also join some coding boot camps or complete some online courses across various platforms and apps.
The deal here is to select quality content to study and also be updated about all new advancements.
But there’s nothing to worry about! In this article, we’ve brought all the best suggestions of coding books exclusively for you.
Ways to learn coding
There are three main ways in which you can learn coding.
By Self study
Within 6 to 12 months of consistent self-study, one can learn the basics of coding. It is the most popular, cheapest, and flexible option of learning. Nowadays, there are courses and lectures available. Right from Coursera, Edx to Youtube to supplement your learning experience.
Get some good books to learn how to code & then keep practicing!
By College Degree
Through this means of learning, you’ve to invest 4+ years to master & specialize in the field of coding.
Pursuing a traditional degree in computer science is indeed an effective way to learn to code.
But there are also a few downsides.
One of them is time. For people who wish to switch careers; It is impractical to invest 4 years into learning one skill.
Also, the cost of higher education is too much. Very few people are willing to take out massive amounts of student debt to finance their education this way.
By Coding Bootcamp
Luckily there’s another less time-consuming way in which you can learn your desired skill!
The coding or programming boot camps are short-term programs that teach you all the fundamental requirements and everything you need to know to when starting a career as a professional coder. Most of the coding boot camps last only 3 to 6 months for training.
Hence, these programming boot camps are becoming one of the best ways to learn coding in a short duration of time. Also, you get the benefits of all full-time computer science degree programs like access to instructors, projects and other valuable learning resources.
They also provide access to mentors, job placement assistance and other remarkable tools. Not only do you learn how to code fast but also you learn how to get a good job in the tech industry when you’re done learning.
Basic coding languages/Easy programming languages
There’s an enormous amount of autonomy in the selection of a coding language. To learn how to code a programming language you can always start with an easier one.
According to statistics to learn a relatively easy programming language can take up to 4 to 6 months.
It would be reasonable to assume that you could learn languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript or Python in that time if you buckle up and practice full time.
The 5 Easiest programming languages you can begin with today are:
HTML (learn coding properly)
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the language that is used to code most websites. It makes use of tags, elements to define text, images and interactive forms which can be displayed.
HTML is often supported by CSS or Cascading Style Sheets to define various styles & JavaScript is used for scripting the programs and making the website more dynamic.
It is easy to learn because it has got a very simple structure along with human-readable opening and closing tags.
You can use a WYSIWYG editor & you can witness and study the code change in the split view.
Finding and fixing bugs in HTML is very easy.
JavaScript (learn coding properly)
JavaScript along with HTML and CSS is known to make up the dynamic internet. Libraries like jQuery and React with frameworks like Angular, the web’s most complex problems seem easy to solve.
JavaScript is easy to learn because it is meant for non-programmers and is a beginner-friendly language.
It is also considered the ideal first language.
It is very much widespread which is why most of the browsers serve as the default environments.
There is no need for a compiler to see the JavaScript in action and you can see the results instantly.
JavaScript has a large community that makes it helpful to the new coders.
C (learn coding properly)
C is introduced as a general-purpose language. This language helps the programmer to learn better before moving on to more complex languages.
Most of the applications we use today like Unix, Windows to the Tic Tac Toe and Photoshop, etc. Are built on C.
It is easy to learn because it has a simple syntax with only 32 keywords.
And the data structures are easy to understand and learn.
Python (learn coding properly)
It is known as a high-level general-purpose programming language. Among web developers, data scientists, ML/AI professionals and embedded application developers Python is the beloved language.
It is very easy to learn because this language is very obsessive about the readability of the code and often uses English language words.
Its generous use of whitespace makes it less intimidating and hence it is popular because of it.
Many libraries are available for their various applications.
A huge community of programmers, support Python and they’re likely to have answers to all your questions.
Java (learn coding properly)
The class-based and object-oriented general-purpose programming language is Java.
It is known to be designed to function across multiple environments. Write once, run anywhere (WORA). It is one of the most popular languages among security applications and the back-end developers’ community.
It is very easy to learn because it is beginner-friendly and has an intuitive syntax that is very concise.
The language is structured and hence leaves very little room for deviation.
If you have prior experience with object-oriented programming, then it is much easier for you.
Few Key Coding/ Programming terms you should know
The language of computers has a fair bit of lingo that goes along with learning code. As you will start to get more and more familiar with coding, you’ll be in a need to add on a few key terms to your vocabulary.
As a coder, some of the most used expressions you’ll come across are:
Algorithm:
To complete a task any collection of steps or instructions meant to be performed is called an algorithm.
Binary:
Coming from the Latin term ‘bini’ meaning two by two, anything which represents a set of two is a binary. The computer language is written in binary codes of 0s and 1s.
Bug:
The error in the written code which prevents the program from running efficiently is called a bug.
Data:
All the simple information like characters, symbols, the quantity entered into the computer (input), the result of a function (output) is what we call data.
Function:
This is the reusable code block that you can keep calling over and over again to perform a single related action. These are also called procedures, methods or subroutines and are based on different programming languages.
Tools you can use for coding (learn coding faster)
Every industry has its required tools. As a coder or a software programmer, your ammunition to write the best code are listed as follows:
Text Editors:
The plain text in a computer is edited by a program called a text editor. Some of the common text editors are Sublime Text, Vim and TextMate.
Code Browser:
The editor which is designed to structure the code from its source or extension is the code browser. The overview of code from large projects is effectively presented as it utilizes a variety of techniques to make cross-referencing and navigation between codes easy and fast. A good browser is very essential for coding and developing programs.
REPL Program:
The read-eval-print loop is a simple and interactive computer programming shell. It runs only single user inputs. After which the results are returned to the user.
Best ways to learn coding fast
To learn coding faster, we’ve brought the top 7 tip and tricks for you to follow and achieve you dream pace of learning to code faster than before!
- Keep your fundamental clear to learn coding
- Learn by practising and doing and not just reading
- Learn to code by hand
- Keep sharing, teaching, discussing and asking for help
- Always try to use online resources
- Do take proper breaks
- Make sure you learn to use Debugger
Top 10 books for you to explore the world of coding
Are you wondering what are the programmers reading now?
Here we’ve brought to you a very helpful list of the top ten books right from the amazon bestsellers to the suggested reading lists we’ve combined from the best technology blogs.
We hope that you enjoy this treat!
#1 The Self-Taught Programmer – The Definitive Guide to Programming Professionally ~ written by the author Cory Althoff (A Must Read)
Cory Althoff is a self-taught programmer who took a job at eBay just to realize that it takes much more to learn to become a professional programmer.
This book is not just for beginners but also for all the self-taught programmers who want to polish their skills and become professionals.
The topics of this book incorporate object-oriented computer programming for beginners, how to use coding to make a web scraper, the fundamentals of computer architecture, and algorithms & coding practices for software development.
#2 Make Your Own Neural Network ~ written by Tariq Rashid
The Buzz around is about AI programming and neural networks. Although most of the book revolves around Python Programming, the core of the book provides the basics of mathematics which underlines neural networks in general.
Neural networks are considered as foundations of Artificial Intelligence and deep learning. This is one of the finest books to introduce the readers to the concept of neural networks with clear and easy examples.
Along with Python Programming information, this book provides you with working knowledge of neural network implementation.
#3 Managing Humans – Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager ~ written by Michael Lopp (Best Management Insight)
Lopp used to work for Symantec, Netscape, and Apple before running Rands in the Repose blog. All his collected management experience reflects in his book which is a memoir as well as a guide.
Through his book, he gives a tour of what it is like to work in Silicon Valley also managing what he terms as dysfunctional bright people. Reading this book, you’ll grow to appreciate Lopp’s experience.
#4 The Pragmatic Programmer – From Journeyman to Master ~ written by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas (Insightful)
Since 1999, this book has been one of the consistent bestsellers among programmers. It has also been used as a university coursebook for beginners.
With the help of short stories and anecdotes for the software developers, the book keeps the lessons fresh and provides a better understanding.
At the time of its release, it also helped to popularize a few of the coding terms and expressions.
#5 Learning JavaScript Design Patterns ~ written by author Addy Osmani
In all languages and all codebases, design patterns are very important. If you’re wanting to understand the basics of designing then this book is the best primer for your need. It is going to help you write better codes with the design patterns explained.
This book shows you the tried and true, road-tested patterns used by the developers.
#6 The Art of Invisibility – The World’s Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data ~ written by the authors Kevin Mitnick and Robert Vamosi (Famous Bestseller)
The bestseller of the book ‘Ghost in the Wires’, Mitnick calls himself the world’s most famous hacker. His very hacking career started at the age of 13 when he hacked a punch card system just to ride to Los Angeles for free.
The former black hatter wanted by the FBI spent five whole years in prison for some crimes and wire fraud. Now he teaches the public about invisibility in the age of Big Data.
Those who are new to programming can get along the easy-to-follow steps from the book and for the advanced readers, the authors present something called the ‘elite’ privacy hacks.
#7 Clean Code – A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship ~ written by Robert C. Martin
‘Just because you can, that doesn’t mean you should.’ This phrase is popular when it comes to bad coding. A bad code might perform the required function, but too much of a messy code might create problems for someone else, it might also create havoc for you.
This book trains the readers along with examples so you ought to prepare more than just read and follow the tricks. You’ll understand what is a good code and what is a bad code.
The writer has included portions of codes for analysis so that you may find the best technique out there for you. Though the codes are Java-based, the principles of this learning can be applied to any other coding language out there.
#8 Hacking – The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition ~ written by Jon Erickson
The basic core concept of Hacking is what we call problem-solving. At times few problems require some unconventional types of solution. Sometimes getting a solution is also exploiting someone else’s programming.
This book provides one of the finest points of view towards the lines and lines of codes from a hacker’s perspective. This book also gives details on the topics like hijacking network communications and how to exploit weaknesses in cryptography.
It is easy to follow text and diagrams available throughout this book for you.
#9 Code – The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software ~ written by Charles Petzold (Very well illustrated)
Since 1984, Charles Petzold has been writing about programming and is well known as one of the seven Windows pioneers of Microsoft. Since the release of the book in 2000, it is regarded as one of the finest explanations of the coding world.
Petzold has explained the concepts of coding with simple everyday examples and languages like Braille and Morse Code. The book is illustrated and it grabs the attention of the non-savvy coders too.
#10 JavaScript for Kids – A Playful Introduction to Programming ~ written by Nick Morgan
Don’t go on the title of this book. No matter if you’re 10 or 90, this book gives you a fun way to learn to code. This book will help you understand the basics of JavaScript easily and guide you around practice projects.
There are fun visuals and simple explanations for you in this book.
How long does it take to become an efficient coder?
Coders are known for constantly learning. There’s no full stop to learning when your profession is as a programmer. You’ve to be updated with the latest advancements, the upgrades in the language.
Also, you’ve to study the problems which arise at times of coding and keep finding better ways in which you can improve your coding and reduce the errors.
So, to answer the question, learning how to code is a never-ending process. But we can learn and master the basics of coding through self-learning, reading various books, college degrees, and coding boot camps.
Through these means, it will take about 6-12 months of consistent practice to become a good coder.
Skills you need to learn coding
In today’s job market computer coding is an important skill. If you learn how to write codes it’s going to open doors for you to work in numerous industries.
If you’re looking forward to adding this skill to your profession, there are a few more important skills you need to acquire to get a professional.
Let’s go through the prominent 6 skills you need to get a hand at to become a professional at coding.
The Language acquisitions
Computer code is the language people use to communicate with computers. A variety of computer languages exist which perform specific functions.
Most of the professionals in the industry are fluent in more than one coding language which adds to their effective skillset.
Some common coding languages you should know are Java, Ruby, Python, HTML and C.
Innovative Thinking
Many times, the computer coders are self-taught and they keep learning by making mistakes. Innovative thinking in coding is often referred to as the ability to find creative solutions to the problem independently.
This is a very crucial skill that a coder must exercise effectively.
Analytical skills
In coding not only creative solutions are needed but also thorough analytical skill is a skill you must practice. To solve issues by thinking logically is very important.
Often troubleshooting the errors in the program requires the collection and analysis of the data properly. Logical methods and mindsets prove to be better assets to the field of computer coding.
Attention to detail
Coders are known to be methodological in their work as one single error in the code can lead to the disruption of the entire program.
Coders should be able to concentrate on minute details for a long amount of time. The traits like noticing patterns, memorizing commands prove to be a plus point to the coder’s skillset.
Patience
Computer coding is known to be full of challenges. Hence, the coders are expected to act calmly and carefully whenever they encounter any coding errors in their work. Patience plays a vital role in making the program better by careful analysis which is very much needed in the industry.
Computer coding also takes time to get a hold of. Developing enough patience indeed prove a virtue here and help you through the coding obstacles.
Communication
Most of the coding professionals have to coordinate, collaborate and negotiate with the other developers on the same project.
The ability to efficiently explain and discuss ways in which the software is to be improved, with utmost professionalism boosts the team’s overall productivity.
Hence a code developer needs to be a good communicator.
Improving your communication skills can also help you stand out from the other candidates. Also, it is necessary to explain to your customer the process properly. Since it increases the overall success rate.
Earn a certificate in coding (List of colleges to learn coding)
Any skill of yours for recognition requires to be certified to reach the tier of professionalism.
To help your skills get recognition, we’ve brought the best 5 Computer Programming Certificate courses for you!
Seminole State College of Florida ( learn coding through online courses)
This public university provides online computer programming technical certificates.
Students have to complete 33 credits which usually get done within two semesters.
These required courses consist of topics like network concepts and operating systems, systems analysis and design, and Oracle structured Query Language. Students also choose six credits in programming languages like Python and C++.
Daytona State College ( learn coding through online courses)
Again, a public college provides online certified courses in computer programming. They follow the same 33 credit system mandatory for the students to complete to be eligible for network plus certified professional exam.
These courses consist of topics like internet web foundations, principles of computer programming, and professional performance for technicians.
Learners here can choose elective courses to further specialize in the program.
Lone Star College System ( learn coding through online courses)
This public Community college provides an online level 1 certificate in computer programming.
Students enrolled in this course complete 21 credits of this course entirely online.
The course includes Introduction to computers, Linus installment, and configuration, Introduction to computer programming, Introduction to MySQL, etc.
Montgomery College ( learn coding through online courses)
This college is another public college that provides online certificate courses on computer programming. Here the learners complete their 18 to 20 credits online.
The course topics are computer concepts, Introduction to programming, intermediate languages, and advanced languages.
Students can also select elective courses from the computer science department to further specialize in the program.
Clark State Community College ( learn coding through online courses)
This college provides online computer programming departmental certificate. Students here complete their 21 credits. Most of the learners finished their program in one year itself.
The courses available are programming fundamentals with Python, JavaScript, and JQuery, secure coding, and various programming courses in programming languages like C++.
The program offers learners the skills needed to design and develop computer software applications.
What can you expect from a computer coding certificate?
The details of the courses might vary. But most of these programs have a similar timeline, costs, and also requirements.
Most of these online programs consist of 18-20 credits and take 6 to 12 months to complete the course.
An online computer program course usually costs from $2,000 to $5,000. At the end of the program, the learners typically complete their projects rather than the final exams.
Common Courses for computer programming certificate consist of:
- The Computer and Information Technology concepts
- The Computer Operating Systems
- The System Analysis and Design
- The Software Development Fundamentals
- The Data structures and algorithms
- Proper Coding
- Python language
- C++ Coding
- Java Programming
- Windows Programming
- C Programming
- PHP Programming
- Mobile Device Programming
- SQL Database Design and Programming
- CSS
- HTML
Concluding the discussion of how long does it take to learn coding
We hope this article has provided you with a better idea about how long does it take to learn coding and the finest ways in which you can explore this industry.
There’s a growing demand for good programmers and coders in the market and hence there has never been a better time to learn how to code.
We hope that you learn how to code efficiently. Also, do enjoy the process and give way to your bright career! This concludes the topic of how long does it take to learn coding.
