Software and computer code are extremely prominent in nearly everything we do. Believe it or not, you interact with code every single day, sometimes without even realizing it. Most devices in your home including your phone, TV, and even your fridge rely on code to function correctly.
Coding (or computer programming) is the process of writing instructions for computers. In order for devices to perform useful tasks, they must be told exactly what to do. From simple tasks like a microwave timer or a car parking sensor to more complex tasks like rendering 3D graphics and physics for video games, our world is built on code.
For many reasons, the world needs talented coders. If you're ready to learn to code and get into a stable industry, we're here to share the skills you need to learn and the courses that will get you there.
Learn to Code with Thinkful
Take the proven path to a high-income career with professional mentorship and support, flexible ways to pay, and real-world, project-based learning.
Coding Courses
Let’s explore 8 highly recommended courses for aspiring developers. These courses and certificates will help you learn the coding skills you need to get hired, and could even help you increase your salary as a coder.
Software Engineering Bootcamp
Learn to become a full-stack developer by taking a software engineering bootcamp. You’ll learn multiple languages to become a full-stack developer, including C, C++, Java, and JavaScript. You’ll chat with an industry expert as your personal mentor throughout the course.
This bootcamp is designed for anyone who’s motivated to start a career in tech, even if you don’t have a background in coding.
Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals
Offered by Duke University, this is an ideal course for beginners who want to learn the basics of software engineering. The course will familiarize you with JavaScript and CSS.
The course outlines key principles to keep in mind while coding in Java. The code should be simple, object-oriented, and secure. It should be threaded, interpreted, and dynamic.
SQL for Data Science
In this Coursera course, you’ll learn to saturate and analyze data effectively. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to handle data numbers and strings, deal with complex data, and understand SQL fundamentals.
You’ll gain insights into filtering, calculating, and modifying data with SQL and SQLite.
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers
In this course from Johns Hopkins University, you’ll learn to build web pages using HTML and CSS. These programming languages are ideal for beginners. You will get familiar with Ajax (which is a method of building interactive applications) as well.
Data Science Bootcamp
In Thinkful’s online Data Science course, you’ll learn some of the most valuable programming languages for data scientists, like Python and R.
Ideal for beginners, Python is designed to be easily readable with uncluttered formatting. It frequently uses English keywords, whereas other programming languages use symbols or punctuation marks like curly brackets. This course is heavily focused on using Python for data analysis.
R is a programming language and development environment for data analysis and graphics. This language is mostly used by statisticians and data miners for data analysis. It includes linear and non-linear data modeling, clustering, and classification. Like Python, R is also an interpreted language, which means that the code you write is interpreted into a language understood by the computer.
Ruby on Rails - An Introduction
Commonly known as Rails, Ruby on Rails is a server-side web application framework written in Ruby.
The Rail framework is geared for rapid prototyping. In this course from Johns Hopkins University, you’ll explore how to build web applications using the Ruby on Rails framework. This course will also introduce you to more advanced topics such as arrays, hashes, unit testing, Heroku, and Sublime Text.
Functional Programming in Scala (Specialization)
Functional programming (also known as FP) is the process of building software by composing and applying certain mathematical functions. Lisp, Python, and Clojure are examples of functional programming languages.
This course offered by EPFL allows you to write functional code to manipulate data. You’ll learn Big Data analysis with Scala, Spark, Apache Spark. It's a great step if you're planning to become a coder.
Introduction to Programming in C
C is a low-level language that is great for coding algorithms and solving complex problems with limited resources.
This course from Duke University will include programming fundamentals, pointers, arrays, and recursion. You’ll also be introduced to compiling, debugging and memory management techniques.
Ready To Launch Your New Coding Career?
Hopefully you now have a good understanding of the different specializations available, and what a coder does. If you’re interested in learning code and eventually becoming a software engineer, we’ve got even more insight into the world of coding, and what it takes to start your career.
A full-stack developer plays an essential role in web development. You need to understand a range of different technologies to build stunning websites from scratch. Technical positions like this are highly sought-after and provide excellent career opportunities.
If you’re ready to take the next step, enroll in our web development training course. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to secure a highly paid position in the tech industry.
FAQs:
How much do online courses cost?
The cost of an online course ranges from only a few hundred dollars, to thousands. Decide on your budget, how quickly you want to learn to code, and the course features that are most important to you to narrow down your options.
What's the difference between an online course and a bootcamp?
These terms can be used interchangeably, but a "bootcamp" typically refers to a structured program that lasts several months. A course could be a shorter, bite-sized module or lesson.
Will taking a course get me a job?
If you take an online course and develop a portfolio, then yes: the skills you learn could easily get you a great web development job.
Learn to Code with Thinkful
Take the proven path to a high-income career with professional mentorship and support, flexible ways to pay, and real-world, project-based learning.