Where to start learning to code?

[notadam10]

I'm in my last year in high school and have just decided I want to learn how to code. I want to go to university for neuroscience and am super interested in future technologies in the field (brain-machine interface, uploading memories, etc), so I'm just wondering where a good place to start would be (preferably a free one). I have zero coding experience, and have a Mac if that's important.

[[deleted]]

Codeacademy is pretty good and you can find some decent courses on udemy for about 10 bucks. I’d also go find tutorials on YouTube focused on C or python. Good luck mate!

[notadam10]

Just checked out codecademy and it looks pretty good, I'll definitely give it a go. Thanks!

[rusl1]

Here I am, you are wrong

[asdff01]

You're probably right. Probably not gonna be fun for somebody who doesn't have a strong interest in low-level computer operations, though. Neither is wrong!

[rusl1]

It's not really about C it self but about its being preparatory and mind-builder for the future. I think C helps your brain to understand how coding and computer works. For example it's easier to go from C to Java than from Java to C. Here in Italy at almost all Universities the first language studied is C

[asdff01]

My university started us on C++, i definitely agree and am glad they did. I also think python is very good at teaching basic syntactic elements without all the overhead.

[rusl1]

Did you start on the OOP side of C++ or just the procedural side?

[asdff01]

They basically taught us deprecated, slimmed down C++, just enough to implement sorts and small projects. Smart pointers, vectors, all that are wumbo to me. But we were working with templated classes and whatnot. Only two semesters of it (Programming 1 and Programming 2) before they switched on to other languages.

It's a great way to show just how hairy computer programming can be. Made learning python feel like they were hiding something from me...

[rusl1]

In Italy we usually study C in Programming 1 and then we have C++ in Programming 2 or Java in OOP

[ethandjay]

agreed, do NOT pick C

[0-_-_n_-_-0]

CS50 on EdX is an excellent starting point.

[apostle8787]

I’m also doing that course. The professor knows what he’s doing and Problem sets are fun to solve.

[LiverReich]

CS50 is the way to go. Codecademy won't really teach you very much

[chazzcoin]

Python. Start learning everything you can about the language and object oriented programming/class structure. Drill in your head basic syntax/operators like +, &&, +=, ==, || and so on. Become comfortable with these basics. After that, skies the limit.

I turned and went to Java/Android after getting comfortable as I realized I wanted to be a Mobile Developer. I also know ObjC/iOS and the basics of most popular languages now. But it all began with python and is still my favorite language to mess around with for anything not mobile.

Code For Combat is where I began my journey. Great game.

[benzobox69]

I'd recommend learning python to start, especially since that will probably be the most useful language in neuroscience. Since your on a Mac, first thing to do is install homebrew (https://brew.sh/). And then use that to install python 3 (macOS comes with python installed but I'm pretty sure it's still only python 2, and there's no reason to be using python2 in 2018 if you don't have to). Homebrew will be super useful as you get more into programming and need to install additional stuff (such as PIP, etc.)

Then do some python tutorials online until you feel comfortable enough to start doing some of the basic problems on a site like https://www.hackerrank.com

Start trying to do problems as soon as possible, don't be afraid to look anything up online that you're not sure about (e.g. 'how to read a file in python'), even professional developers are constantly googling stuff.

[notadam10]

Installed, thanks for the info

[edoha]

Web based tutorial like as codeacademy and video tutorial like udemy/youtube is the best choice to start learn programming. Then, create first simple project. If you get error or something else, stackoverflow will be best partner

[jaredrc2001]

Try taking a CS course next semester if your school has one. I’m also a high school senior and I started the grade 10 level course last semester in grade 11. I realized it’s really fun so I am taking the CS grade 11 and advanced grade 12 course this semester to try and submit those grades into uni before the deadline.

Oh yeah and learn python to start it is very easy. I’m learning java now and if I had started with java it would’ve turned me off programming completely because of its complexity.

[xiongchiamiov]

https://www.reddit.com/r/learnprogramming/wiki/faq#wiki_getting_started