Learning to code can be as rewarding as it is profitable, but acquiring this skill can be expensive. Between books, courses, and bootcamps it’s not hard for your education to end up costing thousands and thousands of dollars.
But it doesn’t have to. Free versions exist, and we’ve compiled a list of the best ones to get you started. As coding encompasses everything from web development to bash scripting to machine learning, there’s no way to include a list of all the free resources out there. This article focuses on a selection of free resources for the most common beginner goals.
If there’s something specific that you don’t see here, Google the phrase ‘learn {x} for free’ and you’re sure to turn up a billion different resources.
Free Books To Learn Coding
Books are still an outstanding way to get started learning to code. Even in an age of endless online courses, podcasts, and Youtube videos, there’s still a charm and a usefulness to the printed word which makes it well-suited to picking up new skills.
Just make sure you’re actively reading and writing code as you read. It’s important that you make regular time to code. Such an important skill can’t be cultivated and maintained in one-off sessions here and there; it’s something that you need to do routinely so, develop a routine and stick to it and you’ll be learning in no time.
For programming in Python, A Byte Of Python and Think Python are available for free online. A Byte Of Python is particularly aimed at people extremely new to coding, while Think Python aims to teach general programming and computer science through the Python language.
If you’d like to build websites, check out Learn to Code HTML & CSS, a hybrid book/course that you can use for free. Aspiring web developers will eventually need to grapple with Ruby, so if you’re also new to programming, check out Learn to Program, a programming introduction focused on Ruby.
The same goes for Javascript, which you can learn in small chunks by reading Javascript In Ten Minutes.
Free Courses To Learn Coding
Perhaps you learn better with a structured course. Many, many people have gotten their coding start in one of Codecademy’s free offerings. This was actually one of the places I went when I first got interested in programming. Their HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Ruby courses are very good for the novice.
The Odin Project compiles resources from various places into a free curriculum for those looking to break into web development. They offer Ruby on Rails, Javascript, and Front End tracks.
Most of the major learning platforms (Coursera, Udemy, Udacity) have at least some free courses for everything from Front End Development to Machine Learning. At various times I’ve used all of these resources.
Free Bootcamps To Learn Coding
Though bootcamps tend to be fairly pricey, there are free or more affordable options available. This is one of the great advantages to having such a dynamic space for innovating in education. Free web development bootcamp options include 42 and the Flatirons School Access Lab.
If you’re working on a PhD you can learn data science through the Insight Data Science bootcamps. This funded postdoctoral position helps qualified professionals transition into industry from academia.
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