So you have decided to start learning programming languages; that’s great! But let me be clear that programming is not rocket science (unless you’re coding for NASA), but it challenges you at every level, from logical to critical thinking and problem-solving, it tests your patience and perseverance, even dedication, discipline, and effort.
Learning to code is like trying to impress your crush. At first, it feels impossible—you overthink, don’t know what to say, and sometimes feel embarrassed. But then you start figuring things out, you learn what works, and you put in a little effort, and then finally your crush replying “Heyy😊”, victory always feels sweet, Right?
Coding is similar to it; you just need to change your perspective. You start with a blank screen, think of one logic—or, oops, overthink a logic—and sometimes things work, and sometimes they don’t, like you write some code and run, and you get errors. Hhhh……. As I said, it challenges you and test you. So you have to keep trying again and again and again and then finally the moment comes when your program runs without errors, and then a feeling hits you that “I did it!”.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Choose your programming language.
Imagine you want to open a Gol gappa (pani puri or water balls) stall. Would you buy a dosa batter machine? No, right? Similarly, pick the language that matches your goal.
There are many programming languages, but you have to choose one that align with your goal and vibe. For Example –
- Want to Predict Future. Go with Python or Machine Learning or Deep Learning. Python is perfect for beginners, and you can create almost all types of programs using Python.
- Planning to Build Creative Websites. Go with HTML, CSS and JavaScript; they are perfect for building websites, especially for frontend design.
- Want to Create App. Go with Java or Kotlin; they are perfect for creating apps.
Each programming language, each technology, and each framework has its own vibe or use cases, so you have to choose what suits you best.
Step 2: Plan Your Roadmap
Starting to learn coding without a roadmap will be difficult and confusing. It’s just like trying to find a new place without using a map—you might get lost! If you just jump in without planning, you will end up feeling stuck and frustrated. You might waste time learning random things and feel like you’re not getting anywhere. Here’s what you should do instead:
- Make a simple plan first.
- Take your big goal and break it into smaller, easier pieces.
- Start with the easy stuff.
- Learn one thing at a time.
- Find good websites or books to learn from.
- Practice what you learn.
Don’t forget to try making small fun things like a simple game or a basic design. This helps you use what you’ve learned and makes learning more fun!
Step 3: Master the Basics
As you have learned alphabet before writing sentences or poetry, spend time on the fundamentals before moving on to coding. Below is the most recommended way to learn the basics of any programming language.
- Syntax: The rules of the language.
- Data Types: Numbers, strings, and more.
- Variables: Think of them as tiffin boxes where you store data.
- Operators: Addition, comparison, and logical operations (especially associativity and precedence).
- Control Flow: If-else, loops (most important).
For example, in Python:
name = "Aditi"
if name == "Aditi":
print("Hello, Aditi! Let's code together!")Practicing the basics builds your confidence and gives you a feel for the language; if you are not enjoying it, move to another one but complete these fundamentals first.
Step 4: Practice, Practice, Practice
Just reading about exercise or watching workout videos won’t make you stronger. Similarly, you can read all the coding books and watch tutorials, but nothing works unless you practice writing code.
1. Start Solving Simple Problems
Remember when you first learned to ride a bicycle? You didn’t attempt a stunt on day one. Start with simple coding problems like:
- Printing your name.
- Adding two numbers.
- Checking if a number is even or odd.
Each problem you solve is like a step toward becoming a programming pro. Use platforms like HackerRank or Arlarse to practice fundamentals.
2. Learn to Optimize
Once you are comfortable solving problems, the next step is to optimize your solutions. Imagine you’re cooking biryani. Would you waste an entire gas cylinder for one pot? No, you’d find efficient ways to cook.
In coding, optimization means writing programs that:
- Use less memory.
- Run faster.
This step makes your code professional-grade and ready for real-world applications.
3. Build Projects
Now it’s time to achieve your dream. Start building small projects:
- Create a calculator app.
- Design a simple portfolio website.
- Build a chatbot that answers movie-related questions.
Building projects helps connect your learning and real-world applications. Plus, you will feel super proud when you share your work with friends and family.
When you write code, you will make mistakes, and that’s okay! Each mistake helps you learn something new. Think of errors as helpful teachers. The more errors you fix, the more confident you will feel, and you will solve problems more quickly.
Practice turns confusion into clarity, mistakes into experience, and small wins into big achievements.
Step 5: Consistency
When you code a little bit every day, even if it is just for 30 minutes, your brain gets better at understanding how things work. It’s way better than trying to learn everything at once or coding only when you feel like it. The cool thing about being consistent is that small daily efforts add up – like saving coins in a piggy bank. Soon, things that seemed super hard at first start feeling easier, and you will be surprised at how much you can do!
Step 6: Celebrate every wins
Every time you make progress in coding, no matter how small, it’s a reason to celebrate. Every coder has one thing in common wins, big and small, deserve a party.
Remember, coding is a series of small victories. Each little success builds your confidence and brings you closer to becoming a coding master. So, don’t wait until you build a huge project, celebrate every line of code you write, every error you fix, and every “aha!” moment.
Conclusion
Learning to code is not just about becoming a developer, it is about becoming a problem-solver, a creative thinker, and a creator. you will face challenges, make mistakes, and have lots of “oops” moments. But Every step you take brings you closer to becoming a great coder!
Once a legend said, Baba Ranchhod das
Don’t run after success. Run after excellence. Success will follow.
