Hi everyone, I'm one of the many people out there considering coding as a possible career change after almost 16 years in higher education administrative/executive support. I briefly learned some HTML as a teen back in the 90s (S/O GeoCities, Tripod, and Angelfire :D) and while I enjoyed it, I never developed it beyond a summer distraction and it eventually fell off my radar as something to pursue professionally.

I started taking courses on Codecademy in May and felt encouraged after finishing the Learn HTML course and am just over halfway done with the Javascript course. After that, I want to either complete their Full Stack or Front End courses, and/or complete The Odin Project.

I've been researching part-time coding bootcamps as well bc I think I would benefit from the structure, ability to ask an instructor questions, and help with career stuff, but the price tags on most of them give me serious anxiety. Rather than give up completely, I'm trying to press on with more affordable/free resources.

I know it ultimately depends on the willingness to learn and practice (and actually do it, not just manifest it, lol), but are there any users out there who started at a similar beginner level with the same or similar resources and eventually found a full-time developer job? Without having to enroll in a coding bootcamp? Bonus points if you did it while working full-time!

Trying to stay motivated, but also manage my expectations. Bootcamp isn't off the table for me yet, but I need more time to decide on $17K. Thanks for any experiences you're willing to share!

If you would have told me 4 months ago that I would be programming C, Swift and Perl this last week, I wouldn't have believed you. I'm no pro by any means, but here's my story.

About 4 years ago I started the Python course on Codecademy because a colleague suggested learning Python when I mentioned I wanted to learn how to program. Codecademy was very frustrating and I felt lost often. I tried a Coursera course about Python, but it used its own customized library, and I couldn't differentiate "real" Python from the library. I found this confusing and frustrated. I didn't finish the rock, paper scissors project or course. I rarely touched programming for next couple of years, feeling extremely discouraged.

While applying for jobs at the beginning of 2015 I decided I wanted to upgrade my technical skillset. Having worked at help desks in the past, and building my own computers and such for many years, I decided I wanted to learn how to program - seriously this time.

At first this year, I wanted to actually learn how to create websites. I knew HTML from my time on the web, but not CSS. I didn't understand how CSS worked at all. I started Codecademy again. After starting to understand that the frustration I felt while programming Python was somewhat normal when learning, the frustration began to fade, and learning began to set in. I finished the Python course.

From March to July of 2015 I was working a crappy job that I hated. I was hired because "JavaScript" was on my resume. I knew how to do JavaScript Injections and Console.log("Hello, world"); and I put it on my resume. I explained to my employer how much I knew, and they hired me as a JavaScript developer in training. They wanted someone who hadn't learned "bad habits yet". I looked at the code and had no idea what was going on. I was sitting on a help desk answering phones and I was supposed to study the code base at home. Something smelled fishy.

I completed the JavaScript course on Codecademy while taking phone calls at work. The job was getting old.

Unsure of how to REALLY combine JavaScript with HTML and CSS, I swallowed my pride and bought a "HTML5 & CSS3 for Dummies" book by Andy Harris. Boy, did I underestimate what these Dummies books were all about. This book wasn't just HTML5 and CSS3. It was about 1000 pages. It started with HTML5 then CSS3. That was the first 200 pages or less. Next was JavaScript. Then I learned PHP. I completed the Codecademy PHP course. The book told me about this thing I had heard about called "MySQL". I found free web hosting at 000webhost.com and Freehostia.com - Freehostia blew 000webhost away as far as a free service - other than having to have a not .tk or other Freenom domain name on Freehostia. For like $3 I bought a domain name and started writing live PHP in my HTML with CSS. I read this book during my downtime at work and built sites at work as well. I now look to Dummies books every time I want to learn something.

I decided to go back to college. I got CompTIA A+ certified and started school. I learned WordPress at work and built a few sites. When I noticed that WordPress templates were written with PHP, I felt good about having learned PHP already.

I completed the jQuery Codecademy course at the office.

A few more weeks at the crappy help desk and I began to find that it was a waste of time. I could spend my time programming and studying instead, graduate quickly and find a job I love. I discovered The Odin Project. I became Network+ certified. Having talked with my partner, we both decided that if my side of the finances were in order, quitting my full-time job to study programming and graduate was in the cards. I left work one day and never went back.

I continued with school. I had to take a Python programming course. Good thing I already knew Python. I just got Security+ certified and I'm well on my way to graduating. I'm currently finishing my Java course.

I started and am currently working on completing The Odin Project. I completed the Ruby course on Codecademy. I completed the Rails course on Codecademy (not very good, IMO). I watched Codeschool videos to ACTUALLY learn Rails. I watched jQuery videos on Codeschool to further hone my skills. I just built a photo gallery website last month with jQuery that made me $300. It took me about 3 days.

I learned Drupal and built a few sites with it. I learned Joomla and I built a few sites with it. I found Dummies books at the library and burned through them. I picked up a Java book for my current course. Learning a new language was getting easier and easier. Java was different - definitely a challenge, but I welcomed it. I had begun using GitHub. I built some HearthStone mechanics in Ruby. I built an adventure game in Python - twice. OOP seemed difficult, but it was easier now.

I knew Ubuntu, but I wanted to be better with Linux. I watched command line tutorials on YouTube. I watched Perl scripting videos on YouTube. I setup a Rails VM and built a couple of simple Rails apps this week. I learned the basics of the Sinatra framework. I now have a dedicated Apache web server in house.

Now, I'm finishing my Java course final project. Today I did the new Java Codecademy course in probably 15-20 minutes. A couple weeks ago I didn't know how to println in Java.

I started learning C via Derek Banas YouTube videos. I started learning Swift via Derek Banas. I have his Objective-C, C++ and C# tutorials opened.

In the last 4 months I've done more than I think I've done in my entire life - and I've enjoyed it. I study 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week and work part-time either making websites or working on another contract I have picked up. I'm not a master of any of the languages I have learned, but it feels good, man. I want to keep learning, keep getting better. I'm still building the foundations. I've built websites, web applications, small applications and now I'm applying for a Software Engineer Internship.

All of that to say, if I did it - you can. It was four years in the making, but I finally kicked myself in the ass and have done more in four months than I did in those four years. I hope my story has encouraged you, and I hope you are pumped to program. When I don't have the motivation to code, I come to r/learnprogramming and read questions that I don't know how to answer. Then I get excited. I start hacking away, I open tab after tab and I think I need a new keyboard already from all of the Google searches.

Side note/Software suggestions/Productivity hacks:

I use Teamviewer to remote into my home server GUI, Notepad++ to quickly connect to my remote servers and edit/add/remove files, and my new favorite piece of software, Synergy, to allow my PC mouse to drag over to the iMac next to my PC monitors and use my PC keyboard and mouse there to easily develop C or in XCode.

TL;DR: Four years ago, I wished I could program. In four months, I learned several languages and I am learning more and more everyday. If I did it, you can. Take pride in the small victories and kick a little ass each day - even if that ass is your own.

If anyone has read this far, I also have a question:

How can I spot/learn the differences (other than syntax) between languages? I understand scripting languages vs programming languages, I mean how do you learn the different ways, say, Java code is used vs C when building applications? Or is that just preference? Just trying to take it to the next level of understanding. Thanks for the help!

Edit: Wow, this kinda blew up over night. I didn't expect anyone to give a crap about my story, so I am really glad I helped. I will do my best today to go through a reply to everyone. Also, I did read Learn Python the Hard way by Zed Shaw throughout the first few months of this year - this also helped me understand code a lot better. Zed also has a Ruby book, C book, SQL and I think even more all for free online.

Edit2: I've spend the last hour and a half replying to all the comments everyone left. Thank you everyone for your input, suggestions and questions. You've all encouraged me for the day in return and I'm off to study and get some work done. Keep up the hard work!

Edit3: Another great source of motivation for me, since a lot of people asked about how to stay motivated, is I look to works that I like as inspiration. Lately, I've been reading Neuromancer by William Gibson and playing the Shadowrun Returns video game. Both of these science fiction worlds are about hacking and being a computer wizard. Things like the Matrix or even the movie Hackers inspire me to be one those (what I think of as) cool people typing away at a terminal. Live out your scifi fantasy IRL.

Edit4: Just to clarify, some people have asked if I went "back to school" for a graduate program or what. I returned to school to actually get my bachelor's degree. I have yet to graduate from any college. I took courses at other schools but never finished.

I've just started using codeacademy.com. It seems pretty inclusive but I was just wondering if any of you fine folks have experience using it? Or is it a waste of my time, and I need to man up and go to college?

I was wondering what you guys think of Codecademy as a tool for learning how to code. I've completed the Ruby track 100% (projects included) and I'm currently 70% through the Web Fundamentals track. I should also mention I'm a university CS student. Currently, I'm taking an Intermediate C++ class as well as a Unix class (focused on bash scripting).

After completing the Ruby track, I felt like I had a solid grasp on the syntax and usage, but had no idea what people actually use it for. Everything I learned was through their little editor and online compiler; I didn't have a clue how to use Rails (still don't).

Now working through the HTML/CSS track, I feel like I have some applicable knowledge (I've got a Linux machine w/ Apache that I use to apply what I learn).

My thoughts on Codecademy? I think it's a great supplementary resource for someone who's learning programming. I don't think it should be the /only/ resource one uses to learn to code, because you won't learn the application, only the syntax. However, there are so many resources for learning coding on the web that I find it hard to believe someone would rely on just one.

As previously stated, I'm a CS student. I believe what Codecademy can offer to a person like me is a solid foundation to build on top of through coursework, or side-projects--some way to apply the knowledge. I use it because it's fun, rewarding (they give you points/badges/awards for f'kin everything), and relaxed--and because I believe it will be an excellent way to prepare for my web development class that's coming in a semester or two.

At the very least, it gets me writing code every day--which I think is the absolute best way to learn programming, regardless of language.

Hi

I have been doing the codecademy course on python over the past few days and have made it to the "practice makes perfect" section. For those that don't know, its the section where we test out everything we have learned so far. We are given a probelm or challenge to solve such as reversing a text that is input by a user, finding out if a number is a prime number or calculating a scrabble score.

I cannot do any of them. At all. I don't even know where to begin.

I did fairly well in the learning section and whenever I go on the forums and look at others peoples solutions, I can read the code and understand how it works. However I just cant seem to write it!! I can understand it and read it once it is written, but when it comes to writing it, I have no clue as to where to begin.

I have worked hard to get to where I am and now feel like a complete failure and it sort of feels like my brain just does not function in the way coding needs it to. Has anyone else experienced this? can you push through or am I just not cut out for learning code?

Hi!

I am now on my way through a long process of learning the basics of data science.

I am fully aware that this platform is there to start you off on a tech path and I do not expect to become job ready after this course. It is meant to open my vision towards what it means and gives me the basics. I am already thinking of some lateral moves, but one step at a time...

My question still stands : has anyone here manages to get a job in tech after starting off in Codecademy? I am just super curious. If so, please write down how long it took and what were your general milestones towards getting that job.

I couldn't resist their half price offer, which brought it into my "give it a go what do I have to lose!" budget. I don't have any great plans, at 51 I just want to see what I can learn. So far so good, I followed the first few exercises and although at first I didn't have a clue what was going on, after an hour I had managed to do a few things and was even playing around trying to mix up what I'd learned a bit. I did write programs in Basic on a Z X Spectrum when I was at school, I wrote a program that tested my French vocabulary and also have done websites and fiddled with Javascript and HTML so I guess I'm not starting totally from scratch - though of course the difference between a Z X Spectrum and today's computing power is orders of magnitude different!

I've no idea how this goes from these very simple things to making something like an app/program that actually does something useful, but it looks like it will be interesting to learn, I'm sure I'll be seeing code as I go to sleep over the holidays, event though I should be taking a break (mind you it's so different from my day job that it feels like it could actually be very relaxing and distracting!)

There have been a few people encouraging me on here over the last few months so I thought I'd stop by to say I've finally taken the plunge and got started with my first steps 😀

I feel like I may be running through these lessons and not really gaining useful skills or knowledge. My ultimate goal is to be sufficient enough to take on side projects and eventually make a career out of coding.

I chose Python due to it being the easiest and recommended entry level language. I'm just curious if it's normal to feel like walking through fog while doing these online courses?

The course says I am 29% through the course and that seems quick considering I've only been doing this for about a month now. Anyone else try Codecademy and their Python program?

Edit - Thanks everyone for the advice and support! There are a lot of similar stories and some really good resources you have all provided, going to grind it out for a while and keep tinkering with stuff!

like the title says , I have have done some javascript , and otherstuff , thinks it is really fun and I really got a picture of what programing is , but is it legit?! what does the programers of reddit say? should i switch or take classes?

Currently I'm getting it for $95/year, which I think is a very decent deal. I'm trying to upskill in various areas like cloud, python programming, a few things related to full stack, and maybe get some new data science skills too. Did any one of you here use Codecademy for their career growth/transition? Or did anyone find Codecademy to be helpful/not helpful in any way?

~ thanks

So I decided to get into coding/web development and try to learn (and eventually master) the skills required to be a Front-End developer. I have a passion for graphic design and enjoy the logic-based thinking in programming, so when I gave it a shot, I wasn't too surprised that this type of thinking clicked with me.

I'm currently using Codecademy to learn the foundation required to start making basic things and then teach myself the rest of the way. So far I really enjoy the program and have been learning a ton of stuff. I spend on average about 20 hours a week (for a week so far) doing lessons and trying to apply them on my own.

However, reddit seems to be uniformly opposed to Codecademy for a particular reason, saying that it only teaches you 1% of what a programmer knows, that it teaches you irrelevant things or that it teaches you bad practices.

All these negative comments (not just on reddit) make me feel like Codecademy is a waste of time if I want to break into the world of web development.

When I began this, I never expected Codecademy to teach me everything I should know, but instead that I will teach myself more advanced things as I begin to apply the skills I've learned there, such as proper practices, how to prevent/find errors in my code, and how to organize it in a practical space saving way that will allow other programmers to understand where I left off in my code etc etc. I also have a few mentors who are computer programmers that are willing to help me and give me tips.

I KNOW the process of me becoming a developer is a long, but rewarding process, and I'm willing to put the legwork for a couple of years in order to be as good as I can. Also, I think my graduate degree and location, as well as design background can give me an edge once I get a lot better at web-dev.

Which goes to my question and also TL;DR:

TL;DR: Is Codecademy really that bad, or are those people expecting too much from it? I'm aware that the process of becoming a novice to expert coder is long and that Im going to have to teach myself a lot that Codecademy doesn't (which I came into this assuming). Am I doing myself a disservice by chosing Codecademy?

Hey folks! We are some members of Team Codecademy.

We've been hard at work over the past few months building new courses such as Learn C++, Learn Statistics with Python, and the Codecademy Go mobile app. We have a lot more in store for you in 2019, including a hardware course with Adafruit and courses in C#, R, PHP, and Phaser.js.

We thought some of you might have questions about Codecademy and programming in general, or ideas about what you'd like to learn next. Feel free to ask us anything.

Answering questions today:

• Zach Sims, Co-founder & CEO (u/zachcodes)

• Josh Goldberg, Engineering (u/its-a-me-joshua) I work a lot in JavaScript and TypeScript, both for Codecademy and in open source projects.

• Sonny Li, Curriculum (u/sonnynomnom) I co-authored Learn C++, SQL, ML, and I'm currently working on a hardware course with Adafruit :o

• Khayyam Saleem, Curriculum (u/ham_from_codecademy) I help fix bugs in Codecademy content when they crop up, and outside of work, I study Computer Science at my university.

• Michael Hoffman, Engineering (u/michael_codecademy) I help build Codecademy using Ruby and Javascript. I’m trying to improve my React skills and to learn Go.

• Allyn Faenza, Product (u/allyncodecademy) I work in Customer Support. I email with learners to recommend courses, give advice, and advocate for product improvements.

• Alexus Strong, Marketing (u/alexus_codecademy) I wear a few hats on our marketing team and am here to answer your questions about Rampart.

• Kyla Brown, Curriculum (u/kylacodes) I work with the team to plan awesome projects and content for learners. Ask me about new courses, Codecademy Go, and how to grow from a code newbie to an expert!

• Daniella Kisza, Product (u/daniella_codecademy) Hey, all! I lead Codecademy’s learner support teams, from the people that help millions of coders with quick answers to their most common programming questions, to our Code Coaches who meet regularly with learners to fast track them toward achieving their personal goals.

• Jake Hiller, Engineering (u/jake_codecademy) I help build Codecademy focusing mainly on our Learning Environment. I started my career as a Graphic Designer and transitioned from there into front-end engineering.

• Alberto Camacho, Design (u/alberto_codecademy) I help design Codecademy as a part of the product design team. Ask me about design, working with engineers, memes, and how coding can help you as a designer.

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/rTlO0pO

We'll be online and answering questions for the entire workday.

Oh also, we're hiring!

EDIT: Thank you so much for all of the thoughtful questions. Our team is starting to trickle out of the office for the weekend so the answers may start to slow down from here, but we'll do our best to answer as many remaining questions as we can. Have a great weekend!

I am looking to make a career change from Sales to becoming a Full Stack Engineer. I need to work to support my family while taking classes.

I looked into Flatiron School which seems like a great program, however I don't feel comfortable making the $18,000 commitment.I recently learned about CodeAcademy, and they have a Full Stack career path on their premium plan. Does anyone have experience with this program? How was it? Were you able to build out a strong portfolio to get hired as a Full Stack Engineer?

Thanks in advance!

I’ve been trying to learn programming for a while. I was finding that most free resources were extremely difficult in getting the bigger pictures across and how things tied together. I finally broke down and bought the pro version of Codecademy. I started the backend engineering track and I feel like I’m actually learning a lot and making progress, understanding concepts. I feel like it gives me direction and ties concepts together on how things function together. The supplemental resources that they point you to help a lot.

I see Codecademy get a lot of hate on here and the majority of the reason is it’s too expensive, but I don’t really hear a lot about the content quality here.

Am I wasting my time with Codecademy, or is the pro version a start?