
Whether you used to tinker with your MySpace profile or have no idea what the difference is between Python and HTML, one thing’s true: everyone starts somewhere. And the great news is, there are more free (and friendly) ways to get into coding today than ever before. Here are some great places to start…
freeCodeCamp
Still one of the best free resources out there. It’s great for beginners because it blends short lessons with instant feedback — you type your code right into the browser and see what happens. We still recommend trying the first 20 JavaScript lessons if you’re considering a coding bootcamp. If you enjoy it, that’s a brilliant sign. If not, you’ve lost nothing but a bit of time.
Why we like it: Great intro to coding logic and syntax. Tons of support via forums and YouTube videos. Good to quickly find out if coding is for you or not.
Scrimba
Scrimba offers interactive, screencast-based lessons that let you pause the video and edit the instructor’s code in real time. It’s like watching a tutorial and getting stuck in at the same time. Their “Frontend Developer Career Path” is especially good if you’re eyeing up a bootcamp or junior dev job.
Why we like it: Combines teaching with doing so no more passive watching.
DEV.to Beginners
Includes loads of helpful tips on everything from interview study guides to inspirational Chinese proverbs (“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”) DEV provides a continuous stream of guides and resources from other beginners who are also learning how to code. It has a familiar social media feed format and the content spans anything from helping the absolute beginner to getting people into work.
This is great for: sharing problems and finding solutions to sticking points you might come across while learning.
Get to a workshop
Workshops and community get-togethers are ideal for getting beginners started. They’re fantastic for asking questions, learning new things and meeting new people who are already in the industry. Here are a couple that we think are great. Meetup is a great website to find your nearest coding community.
This is great for: talking to other beginners and people already in the industry about their experiences.
Northcoders Software Development Bootcamp
If you’re ready to commit, Northcoders offers a beginner-friendly bootcamp where you’ll learn JavaScript, full-stack development, and career-ready skills over just 13 weeks (or 20 if you choose the new part-time option). You’ll be taught live by experienced developers and get real mentor support every step of the way. Many students even land roles before they graduate.
Why we like it: It’s structured, supportive, and actually gets people jobs in tech.
5 Resources to Learn to Code for Absolute Beginners
Whether you used to tinker with your MySpace profile or have no idea what the difference is between Python and HTML, one thing’s true: everyone starts somewhere. And the great news is, there are more free (and friendly) ways to get into coding today than ever before. Here are some great places to start… freeCodeCamp…
The Beginner’s Guide to forEach, map and filter in JavaScript
What even are JavaScript Array Methods? Now that you’re getting started with the basics of JavaScript, at some point soon you’ll likely come across three seemingly magical words in many code examples: .forEach(), .map() and .filter(). When you go to loop through (or iterate through) an array, the first thing you think of is probably a for loop. .forEach(), .map() and .filter() are all just other ways…
You CAN Become a Software Engineer Without a Degree. Here’s How
You don’t need to study computer programming at uni to get your foot on the coding career ladder. With the right help, training and support, you could go from absolute beginner to junior engineer in as little as 13 weeks — no qualifications required. Here’s how… For those pursuing a career in software development, the…
Ellie: Mechanical Engineer to Software Developer
It definitely lived up to the hype. I was very focused on finding the ‘right’ job – I really felt they understood what I wanted How did you find your time on the bootcamp? I already had great expectations of the course after hearing about it from a friend, and it definitely lived up to…
Reduce: Five Unusual Uses
…for the best thing in JavaScript The array method reduce is the best thing in JavaScript, but it’s only existed as a native method of the language since 2009 or so, when the 5th Edition of ECMAScript was released. Before then, people would have relied on their own or other implementations. Even now, there are arguments for going elsewhere…
React: componentWillMount to be deprecated!
Our React teaching team follow developments in the Facebooks UI-creating library very closely. We update our curriculum every 2 weeks, and recently they came across an update worth sharing with everyone! This is a blog for anyone who builds User Interfaces with React! Some very important features are improving – but it’s important everyone knows…
JavaScript: The Spread Operator
The spread operator is awesome. It can do SO much — it’s efficient, readable, and can save a whole load of mess. I don’t know how you can not love it! It’s a reasonably new feature of JavaScript that came with ECMA2015 (or ES6, if you prefer, although the former is technically correct!) — or for those unfamiliar with…
Taking your JavaScript Skills to a Higher (Order) Level – Part 1
Take your JavaScript knowledge to another level, a ‘higher-order’. I remember reading about Higher Order Functions, watching videos and still not being 100% sure about what they are and what I should understand about them. Maybe it was a case of trying to run before I could walk but it all seemed so mysterious. This…
A Beginner’s Guide to Test-Driven Development
Test Driven Development (TDD) is an industry best practice, and it’s a method we teach our students from week 1 of the course. Throughout this post, I will be using Mocha as a testing framework, and Chai as an assertion library. If you’re new to programming, you’ll need to ensure you have Node installed on your machine before you read up…
Is Coding for Me? Signs You Should Learn to Code!
Ever considered learning to code? If you’re bored at work, consider yourself creative, or love learning, this post is for you! You like learning I’ve always enjoyed learning, even when I didn’t necessarily enjoy my schooling. I liked the feeling of approaching a brand new topic, having no idea where to start, and slowly feeling my…
Writing the Perfect Junior Developer CV
Poor CV? No interview. Great CV? Fast lane to interview. Your CV is your first chance to market yourself, and in many cases, your only chance to make a first impression. Make it count. In this post, I explain how to write a great Junior Developer CV What are the best practices? 1. Keep it…
What is Pair Programming and Why Do Developers Do It?
New to the world of programming? You might not be familiar with the term pair programming – yet. But one thing’s for sure, you will be by the end of this post! What is pair programming? Pair programming is a common software development technique where two developers work on the same code, together, at the…