A Beginner’s Guide To Coding

Everything you need to know (in a way you can understand).

Karlie Kloss does it. Ashton Kutcher is an advocate for it. And even primary school kids are learning it. But what exactly is coding and why does it matter? Still struggling to get our minds around it, we decided to consult the experts.

So, what exactly is coding?

The best way to think of computer code is as a set of rules comprised of both words and numbers. When they’re put in the correct sequence, it gives an instruction to your computer. Clear as mud? We asked Zoe Nagara and Monique Brasher from General Assembly, an educational organisation that specialises in teaching skills across data, design, tech and business, to put it more simply: “Coding is basically how we tell computers and other machines or devices what to do. Think of coding as a set of detailed instructions. These instructions are written in languages (programming languages) that the device can understand.”

Why is coding important?

Coding is behind practically everything. That app you just used? It was created through coding. That website you just visited? Yep, coding. Even that microwave you just heated your lunch up in? Coding. In our increasingly digital world, coding touches almost every part of it. “Think of all the things you do during your day that are powered by all sorts of technology, coding makes it possible,” say Nagara and Brasher, adding that you don’t have to be planning a career in computer programming to see the benefits of understanding code. “Learning how to code is important as these are skills that are fundamentally about logic, reasoning and problem solving. Exposure to and education in coding can help make us all better at being more adaptive, analytical and pragmatic, no matter what career we pursue.” 

How easy is it to learn?

Even if you’re not the most technologically savvy person, you can still learn how to code. “Learning anything new takes time and effort, and with coding, it’s no different,” the General Assembly girls say. “To start, think of a project like a website or online résumé to work towards. Setting aside a couple of hours per day to practise this new skill, it would probably take two to four weeks to learn the skills necessary to create a basic website. More advanced projects – like creating a smartphone app – would take a lot more dedication. We’d say, you get out of it what you put it into it­ – and like any new skills, practice and application really go a long way.”

Interested in learning how to code?

Start a course: General Assembly runs courses online and in-person, spanning just a few hours or a full day, at campuses in Melbourne and Sydney.

Check out online resources: There are plenty of online tutorials created for first-time coders and many are free – try Codecademy, Treehouse or General Assembly’s own free courses. “If you just want to get your feet wet, our Dash online tutorial will help you gain the skills necessary to build a website from scratch.”

Learn the lingo: Read up on the differences between front-end and back-end web development and familiarise yourself with some of the most common phrases and frameworks such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Try troubleshooting: Debugging is a big part of web development, even for experienced programmers. Stack Overflow is a fantastic Q&A resource.

Join the community: Most big cities have meet-ups, user groups and hackathons where you can meet and learn from other practitioners – and beginners are always welcome.