1.

Learn Computing
Fundamentals: Architecture, Data, and How
Programming Languages Work
The first step in our programming guide focuses on learning computing
fundamentals. Getting a grasp on the basics will be one of the best
investments of your time. Let’s focus on architecture, data, and
programming languages for now.

Architecture:

This refers to the design of a computer system and the way it’s organized.
It includes the hardware (physical computer components), such as the
processor, memory, input/output devices, and logical components, such
as the operating system and software applications.

There are several types of computer architecture, with common examples

being Von Neumann Architecture, Harvard Architecture, Reduced
Instruction Set Computing (RISC) Architecture, and Complex Instruction
Set Computing (CSIC).
Data:

This is the raw information that a computer processes and stores. It can
be in the form of numbers, letters, symbols, images, videos, audio, and
more. Data can be analyzed using data mining, machine learning, and
statistical analysis techniques.

The way that data is stored and processed has a significant impact on its
accessibility, security, and even accuracy. As a programmer, your core
duties will often include storing, organizing, and processing data. Coursera
offers several data science courses for beginners.

Programming Languages:

These are the languages that programmers use to communicate with

computers. They provide a way for humans to write instructions for the
computer to execute.

Different programming languages have different syntax, syntaxes,

structures, and functions, but they all serve the same purpose. Some of
the best programming languages to learn include JavaScript, Python, Java,
and C++.

Each language has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of
language will depend on what you’re building.

2. Understand What the Internet Is and

How It Works
The Internet has become an important part of technology. And it’s the
backbone of many applications and services that are used every day. As
an aspiring programmer, you need to have a basic understanding of how
the Internet works.

Many programming tasks today involve the development of web

applications or services that run on the Internet. As a programmer, you
can make better design and implementation decisions if you understand
the protocols and other technologies that make the Internet work.

3. Don’t Be Afraid of the Command Line:

Learn the Basics
The command line, also known as the terminal, is a text-based interface
for interacting with a computer’s operating system. Unlike a graphical
user interface (GUI), which uses icons and windows to interact with the
operating system.

The command line operates a command-response model. This means a

user runs a command, and the computer returns the output or results of
that command. The available commands vary depending on the operating
system, but it’s always a good choice to start with Unix-based commands.

You can use the command line to perform several tasks, including
managing files and directories, running programs and scripts, and
configuring the operating system. You really need to learn how to use the
command line because you will be using it daily as a programmer.

4. Gain Essential Code Editor Skills

A code editor is a software application you can use to create, edit and
save your programming files. They also offer useful features like syntax
highlighting and autocompletion. Although you should use these features
sparingly when learning to code as a beginner, as they can become a
crutch and actually hinder your learning.

Learning how to use a code editor is a non-negotiable skill for any aspiring
developer, as it can greatly improve your productivity and efficiency as a
programmer. One of the most popular code editors programmers use is
Visual Studio Code.

5. Learn the Fundamentals of HTML & CSS

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
are the two most popular and simple technologies for creating and styling
web pages.

For many, these are a great way to pick up the basics of coding, as
they’re easy to learn and provide visual feedback for your coding efforts.

If you’re not sure what these are, HTML is a markup language used to
describe the structure and content of web pages. It provides a way to
describe how the elements that make up a web page, like the text,
images, etc, should be organized and displayed on the screen.
CSS is a stylesheet language used to describe the visual appearance of a
web page. It provides a way to specify the layout, colors, font styles, and
other visual aspects of the content on a web page. CSS works by
attaching styles to HTML elements to control how they are displayed on
the screen.

Understanding HTML and CSS is important if you are interested in web

development. It equips you with the skills for building and styling web
pages and also provides a foundation for learning more advanced web
development technologies.

6. Study JavaScript, It’s Literally

Everywhere!
JavaScript is a high-level, interpreted programming language. It is one of
the core technologies for the web, alongside HTML and CSS, and it’s
currently used by more than 95% of websites on the Internet. Which is a
lot!

JavaScript allows developers to write code that can manipulate the

contents of a web page, respond to user events such as button clicks and
form submissions, and create complex and interactive web applications.

JavaScript is also used for backend programming and mobile and desktop
application development. Its versatility and ease of use have made it
popular for programming. For example, JavaScript has even been voted
the most popular programming language for 10 years in a row!

7. Learn Python
Python is a high-level and interpreted language popular for various
programming activities, including data analysis and data science, artificial
intelligence, web development, and more. Learning Python can open up
many career options for you.

Overall, Python is a beginner-friendly language that is popular due to its

simplicity and readability. It also provides a clear and concise syntax,
making it easy to learn.

Another reason Python is great for beginners is its large and active
community. This has led to the development of many powerful libraries
and tools that make it even easier to use. Finding high-quality learning
resources to learn programming online with Python is also easy.

If you are an aspiring programmer, learning Python will be worth the time
and effort. Not sure where to start? Udemy has an exceptionally-
popular Python course worth checking out.

8. Broaden Your Horizons by Learning Java

Another programming language you can consider is Java. It’s a high-level,
object-oriented programming (OOP) language often used to build
enterprise-level applications. Java’s popularity is often attributed to its
robustness, scalability, and security.

Apart from enterprise applications, Java is also used for developing

Android mobile applications, games, and scientific computing. It’s also
popular for backend web development.

Unlike JavaScript and Python, Java is a compiled language. This means

Java code is compiled into an intermediate form called bytecode, which is
then executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM acts as an
interpreter, reading the bytecode and executing the corresponding
machine code on the computer.

Simply put, if you’re serious about programming, Java is a great choice!

9. Learn & Use Git

Git is a distributed version control system. It’s used to manage and track
changes to software projects. It’s a valuable skill to learn as a developer,
as it’s one of the most widely used tools for software development teams.

The basic idea behind Git is to allow multiple developers to work on a

project simultaneously while maintaining a record of all the changes that
are made to the project over time.

This record, called a repository, is stored on a central server or on multiple

servers in a distributed setup. This allows developers to see a complete
history of the project, including who made what changes and when.

Git also provides several tools to help manage conflicts arising when
many developers work on the same project. For example, you can create
a branch and work on different parts of the project in parallel without
affecting the main branch. You can later merge your changes to the main
branch when it has been approved.

If you want to contribute to open-source projects, you must learn how to

use Git, as it is the tool most open-source projects use for version control.
So again, keep it simple, learn, and use Git!

10. Learn SQL & How To Use Databases

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the go-to language to process data
from relational databases. If you’re unsure what these are, they’re an
effective way to organize data into tables with a relational model to
describe relationships between them.

In a nutshell, SQL is used for interacting with databases by sending

statements to a database, and these are then executed by the relational
database management system (RDBMS).

There are a variety of RDBMS available, including popular open-source

systems like MySQL and PostgreSQL, as well as commercial systems like
Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. Regardless of the RDBMS, SQL is the
standard language used to interact with the database, making it an
essential skill for any aspiring programmer to learn.

To learn SQL, start with the basics, like creating tables and inserting and
retrieving data. If you like it, move on to advanced topics, like complex
queries, joins, and managing transactions.

11. Dive Into Popular Web Frameworks &

MVC
Web frameworks are collections of libraries and tools designed to make
building and maintaining web applications easier. They provide a structure
and a set of conventions for developing applications. They also often
include features like routing, templating, and database integration, among
others.

A popular Python web framework is Django, which includes many built-in

tools for tasks such as authentication, URL routing, form handling, etc.
Express is another popular web framework for JavaScript, and this is built
on top of [Link], a JavaScript runtime environment. It’s a minimalist
framework designed to be flexible, scalable, and often used for building
fast and efficient web applications.

Model-View-Controller (MVC) is a design pattern that separates application

logic into distinct components, making it easier to maintain and update
the code.

The Model component handles the data and business logic of the
application. The View component displays the data to the user. And the
Controller component handles user input and coordinates the interaction
between the Model and View components.

MVC is widely used in web development and many web frameworks,

including Django and Express. Understanding MVC and how it is
implemented in popular web frameworks is an important aspect of web
development, and it can help you, as an aspiring programmer, build more
maintainable and scalable web applications.

12. Use Package Managers

A Package is a collection of code bundled together to make it easy to
reuse in other projects. Package managers are tools that make it easier to
manage packages. Sounds simple enough, right?

These tools provide a library where you can find and install packages and
manage dependencies between packages.

One of the most popular package managers is npm, the Node Package
Manager, which manages packages for [Link] applications. This provides
a command-line interface to install packages, manage dependencies, and
even create and publish your own packages.

Another popular choice is PIP which you can use to download packages
from the Python libraries list.

Learning how to use packages and package managers is an important

aspect of software development, as it makes it easier to reuse code and
manage dependencies between different parts of your project.
Whether you are building a simple script or a complex application,
understanding how to use them will help you build more maintainable and
scalable software faster.