The Spark: Revolutionizing Creativity
Ever wanted to make a new idea come to life? This is your answer!
Have you ever built a coffee maker or even a sleeping bed using an instruction manual? If you have, then you are well on your way to become a programmer.
Coding is like using a company's product and referring to their instruction manuals to understand how to put it all together. But, here's the catch: You need to have interest.
I have had many friends at University and other places tell me that they feel like they are forced into the tech industry and are searching for jobs that meaningless to them. In all of these cases, people loathe programming because they lack the interest. But, good news: This does not have to be you.
How can programming benefit me?
Technology has come a long way and it is time for you to start joining the revolution. There are many ways that programming can uniquely benefit you. Some of these include:
Following Instructions - Helps develop your attention to detail as you follow the documentations meticulously.
Conversation Starter - Bring up a past project or, even, a current one whilst struggling to converse with people will help you become an engaging person.
Confidence - Attempting and solving a problem will help create a positive mindset and will enable you to take risks.
Critical Thinking - Finding new ways to work the same problems will make you stand out when it comes to approaching problems.
Problem Solving - As you are given new problems to solve constantly, you will start to develop a general understanding of how to approach and tackle difficult problems that will come your way.
Associations - Sharing your goals and progress with others on online communities like Reddit, Arc, Stack Overflow, and GitHub can be a good source for new ideas that you can use and can also provide support and opportunities for collaboration and learning.
As you can tell, most, if not all, of these attributes of programming can teach you how to tackle crucial problems in the real-world.
Remember: It does not have to be hard to get started as long as you take things slow. And, yes, this is a good first step to get started!
What language should I begin with?
Well, Good! Hopefully, now, you have gained the interest and see the benefits of programming. But, what coding language is the best to start with?
Personally, I believe either learning Java or Python as your first language would be a better pick out of all of the options out there. The reason why both of these are considered the best starter options in my book is because these languages conceal the complex processes of what goes on underneath the hood—Python more so than Java.
What do I need to get started with coding?
The basic tools that are required to embark on this journey would be the following:
If you are just starting and have never ventured this space, there are plenty of beginner level courses in Java and Python. Choose your language and find free courses online on websites like: Coursera, Udemy, etc.
A computer (Linux/PC/Mac) with access to the internet and the ability to download crucial files.
An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) where you can code and troubleshoot for errors.
(Recommended) A GitHub Portfolio where you can store your code on the cloud for free instead of storing on your computer. This will make sure things are all in one place and you can use any computer to access the code that you have written. You can find a lot of tutorials on how to use GitHub on YouTube which are really helpful.
And the Quest begins...
"A spark is the first step towards a goal." - Anonymous
When you start creating your own products and publishing them out for the world to see, you will gain a sense of accomplishment.
It's time to get started on your new journey!