Q&A for How to Start Learning Computer Programming

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

How do I know if programming is right for me?

Stephen Cognetta, MBA
Computer Engineer
Stephen Cognetta is the co-founder and CEO of Exponent, a learning platform that helps people prepare for and ace their tech interviews. Stephen specializes in coaching for product management, software engineering, product marketing, management, technical project management, and data science interviews. Stephen holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Princeton University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, and an MBA from Stanford University. Prior to founding Exponent, Stephen worked as a Product Manager for Google and co-founded HackMentalHealth.

Stephen Cognetta, MBA

Computer Engineer

Expert Answer

Well, why are you considering it? What is it about programming that appeals to you? If you're interested in programming and you're passionate about technology and you enjoy building things, programming may be right for you.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
Question

Where do programmers work?

Stephen Cognetta, MBA
Computer Engineer
Stephen Cognetta is the co-founder and CEO of Exponent, a learning platform that helps people prepare for and ace their tech interviews. Stephen specializes in coaching for product management, software engineering, product marketing, management, technical project management, and data science interviews. Stephen holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Princeton University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, and an MBA from Stanford University. Prior to founding Exponent, Stephen worked as a Product Manager for Google and co-founded HackMentalHealth.

Stephen Cognetta, MBA

Computer Engineer

Expert Answer

The really interesting thing about programming is that you find a need for this kind of work in every industry. Think about how many companies have an app, rely on data, or require software. You find programmers and software engineers basically everywhere these days!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 12
Question

What kind of programming books are good for beginners?

Community Answer

Check out "For Kids" books, like Python for Kids. Even if you're not a kid, the books are still useful for beginners as they explain things with extreme clarity and simplicity.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 42 Helpful 317
Question

What programming language should I learn first?

Community Answer

There is no one right language to start with, so pick something that appeals to you. Some good options that are widely used and useful to know include Ruby, Python, JavaScript, and C++.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 45 Helpful 269
Question

What is the first step to lean programming?

Rachel wikiHowEditor

Community Answer

Find a language you want to learn. Some easy ones include Javascript and HTML.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 61
Question

Where can I find free coding practice problems?

Community Answer

Check out sites like TopCoder, Google Code Jam, CodingBat, and Codecademy.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 53 Helpful 290
Question

How can I practice programming languages?

Community Answer

The best way to practice programming is to write a computer program. No flashcards or note-taking is necessary, just do it. You may make mistakes, but that's how you learn!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 30 Helpful 178
Question

Are there any free classes for computer programming?

Community Answer

Yes! Codeacademy is a popular online option. Khanacademy is another option. If you want something more advanced, try MIT Opencourseware. Be aware that none of the above options grant you degrees or diplomas!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 27 Helpful 167
Question

I am a high school student. Can you recommend a programming language for me to learn?

Community Answer

Learn Python or Java. Many universities and colleges teach these languages, so learning them is a great preparation for Computer Science and Software Engineering programs! There are also a lot of jobs out there that require Python and/or Java developers!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 33 Helpful 161
Question

How can I motivate myself in programming?

Community Answer

Try to think about the process as if it were a championship. If you were in some kind of sports, for example in boxing, you know that to beat your opponent and to be the best requires hard training and dedication. The same applies here - you want to be better than the other programmers to get recognition, the best jobs, etc.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 20 Helpful 106
Question

I am confused about where to start learning? I'd like to have practical training.

Community Answer

Just take your time and take it slowly. You might like to use codecademy or the Khan academy --- these are useful websites with many tutorials for you to learn from.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 39 Helpful 180
Question

How can I study computer languages if I'm a 13 -year-old boy?

Community Answer

SoloLearn.com is a great place to start where you can learn many programming languages.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 13 Helpful 65
Question

I am a beginner in computer programming, and I am a student in high school. Which computer language is best for me?

Imran5555

Community Answer

There is no direct answer to that, but as a beginner, you should start with a language that is easy to learn, like Java or Python.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 12
Question

Can I start learning programming first with BASIC? Will it help me?

Community Answer

Basic is outdated. Basic still works, yes, but you should learn something more modern, like C#, C++, Python, C, Java, etc. Today, most companies would require a modern language, and thus, BASIC is only doable as a hobby and not as a career.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 11
Question

What is the first step for me to be a programmer?

Community Answer

Look for books (or YouTube videos) that teach you beginner languages like: Javascript, Python or another language called Visual Basic. Then practice a lot with your learning, making programs that work or that push your understanding further.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 18 Helpful 68
Question

I am new to the computer, so what should I start with to become good at computer engineering?

Community Answer

Start learning language C. There are companies online where you can learn it for free.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 20
Question

How can I make a computer program using Windows 8?

Community Answer

Most IDEs will be available for Windows 8. Choose an IDE (e.g. Eclipse for Java, VisualStudio for C/C++) and search WikiHow for instructions on creating a program in that particular IDE.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 22 Helpful 73
Question

Which language is easiest to learn?

Community Answer

Html is the easiest, as it is simple coding and causes no difficulties for beginners.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 17
Question

Do you need a laptop to program?

Community Answer

You need a computer. Either a laptop or a desktop is fine. You can write the code on paper and transcribe it later if you don't have easy access to a computer.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 15
Question

Do I have to do the "Hello World" program?

Community Answer

No, but it's a useful, easy step to begin with, so why not?

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 14
Question

How many bits makes a byte, and how many bytes makes a meg?

Community Answer

There are 8 bits (1's or 0's) in a byte. There are 1000 bytes in a kilobyte and 1000 kilobytes in a megabyte so there is 1 Million bytes in a Megabyte. There can be 1000 bytes or 1024 bytes in a kilobyte, depending on if you're using megabytes or mibibytes.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 26
Question

What is the best free website for learning coding?

Community Answer

Codecademy offers a wide variety of languages to learn and uses interactive tasks to engage its audience, allowing you to put your coding to practice while learning.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
Question

I am just twelve years old, what programming language should I use?

Community Answer

Block programming is probably the best for you. If you want something harder, try Python.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4
Question

What are some free learning websites from where to start programming?

Banana Head

Top Answerer

KhanAcademy, CodeAcademy, and CodeCombat are some of my favorites! If you're looking for a specific language's website, some places such as python.org or php.net are good for specific languages. W3Schools is a website just focused on individual languages, and they have test, certifications, and examples. I would recommend W3Schools to start with.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question

Will it be useful if I use the programming skills I will learn to become a White hat hacker?

Community Answer

Yes, because you need programming skills to program virus protection programs.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question

How long it takes to be a good programmer?

Community Answer

It depends on a lot of factors, including your learning speed, interest level, willingness to learn, etc.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question

Which programming language is more relevant in engineering sector (e.g used to program robots, car engines, etc.)?

Living Concrete

Top Answerer

Generally, this is called "embedded software," and it is typically programmed in C or C++.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Question

How do I get my computer to accept coding?

Community Answer

You need to use a text editor like sublime text or notepad, then make a file inside the text editor call, e.g index.(chosen language inside). Once you created the file, write in some code and save, then double click the file you saved. If the file was HTML, this should work. If you're working with PHP, this can be harder same with JavaScript and css you will have to link them to a HTML file, but you should start with HTML. .

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6
Question

Why are we learning programming? To what does it apply?

Imran5555

Community Answer

There are many job opportunities in the field. From programming you can become a software engineer and earn lots and lots of money. But of course, it takes hard work and determination to be successful.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4
Question

Do I need any software on my windows 10 before I start coding?

Joshua

Community Answer

Yes, but you might not need to install or download anything. You need a text editor like Notepad. If you have Notepad++, you can use that also.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2