Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in software programming, also known as coding. Today, more and more people are asking questions about the top programming languages and where to learn them. This article explores answers to these questions and more.  

What Are the Top Programming Languages? 

Many languages are relevant in a host of applications in web, mobile, enterprise, and more. The IEEE Spectrum developed an app in collaboration with Nick Diakopoulous, a data journalist, that weighs and combines 11 metrics sourced from 11 websites to rank the popularity of programming languages. Python ranked first in the 2020 ranking. This object-oriented programming language retained its position from previous years. Python, Java, C, C++, JavaScript, and R are also amongst the top 10 most popular languages.  

Besides a passion for solving problems with code, many people consider a coding career because it is financially rewarding. Today, programmers are some of the best paid IT professionals the world over, according to CompTIA. For example, full-stack developers earn a wage of $113,011 US dollars annually, on average.  

 In addition to the increasing demand for IT experts, these reasons make software programming an attractive and potentially rewarding career option. 

Coding: Where to Start 

Coding requires high levels of patience and self-motivation. If you opt for a career in this field, you must put in the work regardless of the many challenges you may face. With that out of the way, here are some pointers on how and where to kick-start your coding career. 

• Start with the Fundamentals  
• Don’t Jump the Gun: Learn the Basics
• Try Your Hand with Your First Project 
• Choosing a Project  
• Seeking Extra Help  
• Gain Hands-on Experience, and  
• College Degree vs. Boot Camp: Choose one

Start with the Fundamentals 

I recommend you start by grasping the basics of programming. The first step to achieve this is deciding on a programming language to learn. This decision must be in tandem with your personal goals: what do you aim to accomplish as a programmer? Are you interested in web or mobile app development? For instance, a web developer requires adequate JavaScript knowledge, a mobile app developer, Java, Kotlin, or Swift, while a data analyst, Python or R programming languages.

Two great ways you can learn these programming languages include using interactive websites and watching online video tutorials.  

Interactive Websites 

Codecademy, Udemy and Coursera are a few interactive websites you can explore for quality content on learning to code. Their developers designed their courses with coding newbies in mind, incorporating compilers into their platforms to ensure seamless coding. Most of these sites offer free tutorials. However, you may get premium content and privileges for a small fee. 

Video Tutorials  

Video tutorials are useful for learning different programming languages. You, however, require an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for code compiling and debugging. Many tutorials also teach you how to install the required IDE. You can get these tutorials from online platforms such as YouTube. Some top YouTube channels where you can learn how to code include: 

• Kudvenkat 
• DevTips 
• ProgrammingKnowledge 
• Mike Locke 
• Learncode.academy 
• TheNewBoston 
• Adam Khoury 
• Treehouse 
• Derek Banas, and 
• CSS-Tricks 

You should note that some of these channels are best suited for beginners, offering valuable tips and tricks, while others are not. 

Don’t Jump the Gun: Learn the Basics 

As a novice, begin with the basics. A solid foundation in coding promises you a formidable career since it provides a base on which you can build more complex concepts. While learning the basics, you can write simple code that can solve simple problems. You may also learn about different data types, variables, various functions, and arrays or lists. Other topics you must pay attention to as a new programmer include: 

• Classes and Objects  
• How to Handle Exceptions 
• “If” Statements  
• Trees and Maps, and  
• Conditional Loops 

 Having a strong background in these topics assures you of a strong coding foundation.  

Try Your Hand with Your First Project  

After grasping the important concepts, the next important step is to build your first project. Gaining expertise in any programming language is the first essential step when building out your portfolio.  

 So, what project should you go for as a newbie? You can work on a simple project that piques your interest and has real-world use cases. For instance, if you are interested in photography, you can build a photography website showcasing your work.  

Start with a simple project at the beginning so you don’t get stuck. Keep working on simple projects until you are confident enough to attempt complicated ones. For example, you can build a simple checkers app if you are interested in working on a gaming project as a newbie. 

 A project that solves a particular problem can be very useful to you and others. Working on such a project can be very beneficial to your coding career in the long run. For example, it can get you more downloads and potential investments from tech companies around the world. These kinds of projects can give you a competitive advantage when applying for a coding job or freelancing gig. Some Python-related examples are website blockers, binary search algorithms, and calculators, while a few simple android project examples are tic-tac-toe and smart alarm. 

Need Extra Help? 

Sometimes you may get stuck while working on a project. What to do when this happens? Below are some useful tips:  

• Google the error 
• Join online forums 
• Attend events and meetups, and  
• Get a mentor  

Knowing how to find solutions to coding problems on search engines can save you a lot of time and stress. I highly recommend that you master this step because it can help you quickly fix errors in your code.   

Online, open-sourced forums like Stack Overflow and GitHub can also help guide you on what to do when you get stuck by directly answering your questions or by letting you download and explore different project resources.   

You can drop your questions on the platform and get relevant answers from more experienced coders and developers. The probability of getting the perfect solution is very high since other coders are likely to have experienced a similar challenge and found an excellent fix. 

 Attending events and meetups can help you network with programmers with similar interests, allowing you to share ideas and compare notes. However, it may be an inconvenience, as it requires you to leave your comfort zone. But you’ll enjoy it once you try it. You cannot neglect the benefits of mentorship. Getting a mentor on the same career path can give you an edge. She can guide you on courses to take, and tips and strategies to follow that will be of help to you. 

Gain Hands-on Experience  

Getting a job, internship, or volunteering are other great ways to hone your coding skills. As a coder, you will end up with a development job. It is therefore advisable that you land a paid or unpaid internship in line with your interests. This can offer a hands-on experience that can help develop your programming expertise. It also affords you the chance to network. 

Moreover, by searching for coding pages on LinkedIn, attending career fairs, and networking, you can find career opportunities. LinkedIn is effective for networking professionally, linking job seekers with prospective employers.  

Career fairs allow you to meet employers face to face, where you have the chance to address them and ask questions about any challenges you may be having. If you’re lucky, they may even onboard you into their internship programs with potential, subsequent full-time employment. You can even possibly land a job from a referral. 

College Degree Vs. Bootcamp 

When trying to decide whether to begin your programming career by getting training from an accredited tertiary institution or attending a Bootcamp, there are no hard and fast rules, as it varies with different people. 

It depends on the learner and her learning ability. However, if you are about to graduate from high school and have a passion for coding, get enrolled in a Computer Science course. If you are interested in coding at a later period of your life, a boot camp might be the better option. Remember that exploring online courses first before enrolling for either of the options gives you a feel of what learning how to code entails, and you can decide whether to go through with it. 

Final Thoughts 

As you’ve learned in this video, you should start with the basics, build your first project, gain hands-on experience, and seek help if you get stuck. You may opt for self-education, or a more structured learning path via college, certifications, or Bootcamps. All in all, software programming offers you great career prospects.