Learn to code – the best resources to get started

03/01/2021, 9:00 a.m.

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Always wanted to learn to code but don’t know where to start? With our overview you will find the right entry. Twelve offers to improve your coding skills.

Learning to program is not easy. In the meantime, however, the network offers a wealth of resources with which you can get started easily. Many platforms where you can learn to code are even free. We present twelve providers – even experienced developers can learn something here.

Freecodecamp

Freecodecamp is a non-profit organization that is financed through donations. It was founded in 2014 by Quincy Larson. The platform has several learning paths in its portfolio; You can receive certificates for completing small projects at the end of a learning path. There are currently learning paths on the topics of responsive web design, JavaScript algorithms and data structures, data visualization, API as well as microservices, information security and quality assurance. The paths are subdivided into various larger and smaller sub-topics – the Responsive Web Design Path includes the topics HTML and HTML5, Basic CSS, Accessibility and newer topics such as CSS Grid and CSS Flexbox. The learning material is conveyed via text that explains a CSS property or an HTML element. In an embedded editor interface, learners then have to solve a task that relates to what has been explained. Anyone who has completed the task receives a success message with a motivating slogan:

The tasks at Freecodecamp are ideal for getting started and as a playful addition, also because the content is served in small, bite-sized pieces that can be solved within a few minutes. The success messages when solving the challenges bring a little sense of achievement every time, so that learning via the platform is even really fun. However, the introduction to the first small project comes very late. When working on the responsive web design path, it became clear that solving the tasks primarily required text comprehension and logical thinking and that the programming skills required for the project were not internalized. As a supplement to other resources, the tasks at Freecodecamp are definitely suitable. The numerous articles on the platform, which you can find under News and the Freecodecamp YouTube channel.

Codecademy

Codecademy leaves little to be desired and is one of the most popular platforms for learning programming languages ​​- including HTML, CSS, Ruby, Python, jQuery and many more. Codecademy not only teaches different programming languages, but also, for example, how to set up and publish a website. With easy-to-understand exercises, you are introduced to the subject step by step and you can continuously expand your skills in the respective area. Most courses are free. Those who want to learn even more can upgrade to Codecademy Pro for $ 19.99 a month.

Martin Weigert has already dared to try it himself. Here you can read how he fared after taking a programming course.

Code Avengers

Code Avengers is a platform on which content is conveyed in a very similar way to Freecodecamp. It is nicer for absolute beginners that you can always see the effects of your code changes directly in a mockup on the right edge of your browser window. At the end of each learning unit, you have the opportunity to play a game in order to repeat and consolidate what you have learned. On Code Avengers you can find courses on Python, Javascript, HTML and CSS, design, computer science, web and game development. There are also separate junior learning paths for kids aged 5 to 14. For $ 29 a month there is access to over 500 courses, over 100 quizzes and a Slack channel, among other things. You can decide whether this is worth the rather high amount during a seven-day, free trial period.

Treehouse

Treehouse offers over 1,000 videos from the areas of web design, coding, business and much more. The collection is constantly updated with the latest technologies, so that the participants are always up to date. It is explained with video tutorials, followed by example exercises. Anyone who performs well receives an award – a gamification approach is pursued here.

Unfortunately, there is only a seven-day test version for which you have to enter all data. A full membership costs $ 25 a month or $ 250 a year.

Egghead.io

egghead offers “video tutorials for tough web developers”. Egghead is nothing for absolute coding newbies, but anyone looking for a sound introduction to a framework that is new to him or her, for example, is definitely well advised with the online courses. The learning bundles often contain additional materials such as course notes and guides or access to live coding sessions and podcasts. A pro membership is available for $ 350 a year, if you don’t want to commit yourself for a whole year, you can pay $ 40 a month. Interested bargain hunters can keep their eyes peeled for discounts that are available from time to time – during such a campaign the annual bundle can sometimes be had for half the regular price.

Level up tutorials

Level up tutorials is a platform that was launched by the great web developer Scott Tolinski. There you will find tutorials on individual technologies such as GraphQL or Svelte. The whole thing is structured according to levels so that users can find the right tutorial depending on their level of knowledge.

The best thing about it: Due to the corona crisis, all courses have been reduced, the pro membership even with a 50 percent discount. The price for an annual subscription is now only twelve dollars a month.

Sololearn

Sololearn is a platform that aims to introduce you to programming languages ​​and concepts in the form of small quizzes – often in multiple choice format. The platform offers learning paths to common programming languages ​​such as Python, JavaScript, PHP or Java, the concepts and syntax of which are available to learners, primarily through explanatory text and sample code, which prospective developers can try out, as well as final quizzes for learning control. Sololearn is free and the whole thing is also available in the form of a mobile app for iOS, iPadOS and Android on the go. Sololearn is probably the programming counterpart to the Duolingo owl, anyone who allows push notifications can enjoy daily reminders with the mobile app. If you get stuck solving a challenge, you can get help and inspiration from other users via the associated forum.

Envatotuts

At Envatotuts, the marketplace for pretty much everything that has to do with the web, you can take numerous training courses. In addition to programming courses, the portal also offers courses for illustration, web design and business. You can choose from over 1,000 tutorials on various programming topics, including Git and GitHub, for example.

Here, too, the free trainings are limited. After ten days of free testing, a subscription must be taken out. The cheapest starts at $ 16.50 a month, students save 30 percent.

Udemy

On too Udemy Programming newbies will of course find what they are looking for. The platform offers video tutorials and courses on all sorts of topics, including programming languages, of course. However, care should be taken when making a selection, the quality of the courses may vary. Before you decide on a course, you can use the preview to get a picture of the instructors. Courses that are a little older are often available for a fraction of the original price. Before you invest time and money in such a course, you should pay close attention to whether the content conveyed is still up-to-date. For example, The Web Development Bootcamp from Colt Steele is available at a greatly reduced price – the course is regularly updated and supplemented, but still contains some lessons based on outdated software versions, such as Bootstrap 3. If you don’t mind, the If necessary, following tutorials with a newer version – in this case Bootstrap 4 – in a modified form can definitely invest the 9.99 euros with a clear conscience.

The German-speaking alternative: developer hero

Developer hero is a German-language platform on which (prospective) developers can try out coding challenges in various programming languages ​​after registering, including JavaScript, Python, PHP, Java, C # and C ++. Registration is free, only the email address has to be entered. In a code editor embedded in the web interface, the platform provides registered users with tasks sorted according to difficulty level. The first challenge is the well-known FizzBuzz problem. Users can choose whether they want to solve the task just to practice, or whether their results should be visible to companies that may be on the platform for the purpose of looking for talent. As a special gamification incentive, developer heroes, as the platform calls their users, have the opportunity to collect rewards by solving tasks, which can then be exchanged for an Amazon voucher, for example. The platform is not for complete newbies, but for all those who have already acquired a foundation of knowledge in the language to be deepened and are perhaps even looking for a job, Developer Hero is definitely worth a click.

For (prospective) data scientists: Data Camp

Datacamp offers learning paths to technologies and programming languages ​​that belong in the repertoire of a data scientist or data analyst, including Python, R and SQL. Those who want to learn can get a taste of the first chapter of a course for free; those who want to complete complete courses have to pay $ 25 for a standard account or $ 33 for a premium account.

Mozilla Developer Network

The Mozilla Developer Network is a wiki in which resources on various web technologies are collected. Similar to Wikipedia, anyone can write on it. MDN, as the wiki is also called, is an indispensable reference work for experienced and newcomers. If you cannot find what you are looking for in the German version – the English version is often much more detailed.

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