Hey everyone! I'm an incoming 9th grader, and I'm really interested in learning programming as a hobby. I've dabbled in HTML and CSS, but it's been a while since I've worked with them. I'm looking for suggestions on both what to learn and how to go about learning it. I'm not aiming for a job right now; I just want to have some fun with coding. I've heard some buzz about CS50 and The Odin Project, but I'm wary of getting lost in YouTube tutorial spirals. I've also considered starting with Python to grasp the fundamentals. Any advice or resources would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
The Harvard CS50 is a fantastic free resource available on YouTube. If you're interested in Python, they also have a free Python course that's excellent. The Odin Project is pretty popular too! Just decide what you want to focus on, as that will help avoid getting stuck in tutorial hell. If web development interests you, maybe start with JavaScript! The most important thing is to have fun with it all and try challenges like Codewars once you're a bit comfortable!
If I could give my younger self advice, I'd suggest sticking with one tech stack and see it through a few projects. I recommend C# and .NET because they're versatile and have a supportive community. It helps you think critically and learn how to read documentation. Starting with CS50 is great, but try to find what genuinely interests you—that way, you'll enjoy the process!
Solid advice here!
CS50 is a solid choice for getting your fundamentals down. Go through the course and you'll learn a lot. After that, just build projects as you learn—that's the best way to grow!
Would you say I should start with CS50x or CS50p?
I started programming way back in 1968, so trust me when I say you're making a great choice! One crucial tip: learn to touch type; it's super helpful for your coding journey. If you can swing it, get a Raspberry Pi and some basic electronics to experiment with. Programming that alongside the Odin Project can be a blast, plus you'll get hands-on learning!
Thanks so much for the advice! Which resource would you recommend the most?