A Beginner's Guide to Programming

The technological advancement in the IT sector in the past decade has opened many doors for people from different walks of life.

Becoming a part of the IT industry is something many people dream of, but only some can achieve.

Engineers and developers have to learn programming from the basic level during graduation, as a necessity.

However, people aspiring to go into IT sales, design, marketing, consultancy, etc. need to have a basic knowledge of coding basics as well, to understand their fields better.

If you are someone who wants a career in IT but are clueless about where and how to start, this blog is for you!

Kick-start your programming journey

Learning to program from point zero can be a herculean task if you don't have the right resources. It may be overwhelming to many, and frustrating to some, not knowing where to start when it comes to coding and entering the world of computer languages.

Many try to learn coding basics online by purchasing online coding courses or buying books as recommended in blogs for coding for beginners, however, this only ends up intimidating the learns even more.

Best way to learn programming

Instead of piling yourself up with loads of books and courses, you can watch a few programming tutorials and build your small projects on the side.

Programming is all about solving equations in the best possible way to provide the best results. Hence, working on numerous self-initiated projects will strengthen your problem-solving skills, and it makes you adept at spotting errors, using various tools and specific coding hacks to better your skills.

Your first project as a programmer doesn't need to be without errors and problems. Having practical expertise combined with theoretical knowledge will not make you feel disheartened while executing your initial projects as a professional.

5 Steps to learn coding, for beginners

• Choose a computer language

There are a plethora of dynamic programming languages in the industry nowadays, with avant-garde style, attractive benefits, and well-paying career options.

Consider the advantages, aspects, job opportunities as well as drawbacks of the language before you start.

That said, choosing the best programming language for yourself as per your skills, aptitude and interest is key towards mastering coding.

• Learn the fundamentals

Don't skip on the fundamentals for they are the concrete base on which you can create complex programs in the future. Trying to cram all concepts at once is not a good idea.

Give the language time and patience if you wish to master it. Instead, make small programs initially before hopping on to complicated codes but be consistent with your efforts.

Working on small projects will:

- Crystallize your grasp of the programming language.

- Makes you track your progress of learning, to see how far you have come and set your future targets.

- Build your confidence to raise your difficulty levels.

- Help you create a diversified portfolio for better employment opportunities.

Many beginners out of excitement to use technology jump on to complexities from day 1. This more often than not makes them confused and disinterested in the language.

• Data structure and Algorithms

Data structures are an effective way of organising data using computer language. Algorithms as a series of well-defined commands for efficient problem solving and creating programs.

Beginners must learn the basics of data structure and algorithms to strengthen their skills. These equip any coder to expand their horizon while programming, aiding them to create dynamic programs without much ado.

• Write Codes

Writing codes on paper at the initial stage of learning programming not only embed concepts and improves clarity, but also tests the programmer's expertise from time to time.

This is time-consuming but it will improve your understanding of syntax and algorithms in the long run, helping you master the computer language in a comparatively shorter period.

This technique also helps in interviews when coders are required to write code on paper to give solutions to programming errors.

• Learn to Debug

A part of self-learning is to combat errors and learn from them. You will find a lot of errors in your initial programs, and without knowing where you're going wrong, it will be difficult to learn from the mistakes. For this, you can use debuggers or similar tools to fix the bugs in your programs.

The sole purpose of using debugging tools is to help you catch errors and teach you how to fix them. But a mark of a true coder is knowing how to fix errors, so keep practicing!

Being good at debugging will make learning programming languages much easier for you, however, do take notes of your mistakes and keep revising them so that you don't make the same errors again and again.

Importance of basic terminology while programming

We understand how learning the basics of programming can be difficult for beginners. We have for you 5 key terms and basics that every coder should know.

What is programming?

The term 'programming' defines the process of creating a computer program that can be executed to perform a task or achieve the desired result.

The process is used to give the computer-specific commands to perform certain functions.

What is a programming language?

A programming language is a string of understandable words that are used to instruct the computer to perform various tasks and is used to create programs according to the coder's wishes.

There are different kinds of language for computer programming available, each language with its unique syntax, rules, and structure for the coder to learn and master.

Java, HTML, PHP, C++, and Python are the most common programming languages to date.

What is the difference between coding and programming?

Programming is an all-encompassing action of giving computer-specific commands to perform desired functions.

Coding is a part of programming, which deals in simply writing the codes required to execute functions, using the syntax and structure of programming languages.

Coding involves the creation of the "Source Code". A source code is an individual program's code, a set of understandable instructions written by the coder to be compiled by the computer into a binary language to execute the commands written in the source code.

What do front end and backend mean?

All programming tools, and skills are divided into two parts: Front-end and Back-end development.

Front-end deals with designing and creating a simple environment of the program for user experience, while Back-end comprises of controlling the functions of a program using code, linking databases, etc.

What is a syntax?

A syntax is a part of the programming language, defining the basic rules and structure of the language. It focuses on the form and usage of symbols, alphabets, punctuations, and numbers in the programming language.

CONCLUSION

The art of programming is a never-ending learning path even for the most professional coders. It's a journey of a lifetime, and an exciting one at that, for coding enthusiasts. Kickstart your journey by signing up for coding courses online and opening your doors to the wonderful adventures of computer programming ahead!