Learn To Code Using Free Resources

This week I had the opportunity to share my journey into tech with the Coding Black Females community. If you'd like to hear how I changed careers, along with the many trials and tribulations, the recording of the event can be viewed on youtube.

If you're learning to code, there are a variety of free and paid resources available online. I mentioned a few resources during the event. In this post, I have compiled a full list of free resources I used when learning to code. I used these during the first 12 months of my journey, before becoming an intern at 8th Light.

During this period, I lacked direction and structure, jumping from resource to resource. I've compiled the list in a somewhat logical order, starting from getting familar with the command line, to Ruby.

Note: I completed the majority of the courses below, but not every single one.

Command Line

Shell Workshop

• Get up to speed on the shell — using a terminal, managing files and directories, and running command-line programs.
• Access the course on Udacity

Linux Command Line Basics

• Learn the basics of the command line interface of a Linux server: the terminal and shell.
• Access the course on Udacity

Git and Github

Version Control With Git

• Covers the essentials of using the version control system Git.
• Access the course on Udacity

How To Use Git and Github

• The course covers Git, a specific version control system, and GitHub, a collaboration platform.
• Access the course on Udacity

Github and Collaboration

• Covers the essentials of working with remote repositories and collaborating with others.
• Access the course on Udacity

FreeCodeCamp

FreeCodeCamp is a fantastic resource. I used it as a curriculum during my journey. Although the exercises were good, I needed a bit more in order to understand the concepts. This is why I supplemented it with the resources below. There are projects to complete at the end of each section, which is great if you're wondering what projects to create to practise and demonstrate your learning. Access FreeCodeCamp here: www.freecodecamp.com.

HTML

Learn HTML

• Learn the basics of HTML5.
• Access the course on Codecademy

Intro to HTML and CSS

• Learn the fundamentals web development, along with best practices and professional problem-solving techniques using Developer Tools.
• Access the course on Udacity

CSS

Learn CSS

• Learn how to style and visually organise HTML with CSS.
• Access the course on Codecademy

Responsive Web Design fundamentals

• Learn and practice strategies for developing websites that look great on every device.
• Access the course on Udacity

Responsive images

• Learn how to make images a part of your responsive design workflow.
• Access the course on Udacity

JavaScript

The jump from CSS to JavaScript was quite challenging for me. The resources below helped with understanding the language and various concepts.

Introduction to JavaScript

• Learn the JavaScript fundamentals you'll need for front-end or back-end development.
• Access the course on Codecademy

Intro to JavaScript

• Learn the fundamentals of JavaScript. Covers conditionals, loops, data types and more.
• Access the course on Udacity

JavaScript and The DOM

• Discover how the DOM is created and learn to programmatically control the page using JavaScript.
• Access the course on Udacity

Practical JavaScript (project idea)

• Learn the fundamentals, and create a to do list app.
• Access the course on Watch and Code

Codewars

• Train on a variety of JavaScript katas to solidify your learning.
• Codewars

Ruby

• Ruby is a high-level programming language. I found it really nice to use after struggling with JavaScript. I started learning Ruby to apply to Makers Academy (spoiler alert: I didn't get in). Learning Ruby came in handy, as I have used it during the intership and apprenticeship at 8th Light.

Learn Ruby

• Learn to program in Ruby, a flexible and beginner-friendly language used to create sites like Codecademy.
• Access the course on Codecademy

Learn to Program Book

• Ruby for newbies. Covers variables, to classes, to blocks and procs.
• Learn to Program Book

Learn Ruby The Hard Way Book

• Consists of 50+ exercises in Ruby.
• Learn Ruby The Hard Way Book

Codewars

• Train on a variety of Ruby katas to solidify your learning.
• Codewars

Project Ideas

What now? Build stuff! Put your new skills into action. Here are a few sites to find project ideas:

• Javascript30 - Build 30 things, in 30 days, with 30 tutorials
• Beginner friendly project ideas
• Project based learning - A list of programming tutorials in which learners build an application from scratch

image credit: wocintechchat.com