I'm considering taking Codecademy's Java courses (both the beginner and intermediate levels) and their C++ series (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) to refresh my Java skills and learn C++ for an upcoming data structures course for my master's program. I'm hoping to find out if these courses are actually good for building a solid foundation and understanding at an intermediate level.
5 Answers
From what I've read, many people advise against Codecademy. They tend to hold your hand too much with the exercises, which doesn't really prepare you for real-world coding. I started there too and ended up jumping between languages without really mastering any. It's often the tough stuff that teaches you the most.
I've tried a lot of Codecademy's courses and find them decent, but I don't really need a master's level understanding. They're good for getting started, but I'm curious if they dive deep enough for intermediate learners.
Codecademy is great for getting the hang of syntax, but don’t expect it to prepare you fully for concepts in data structures. I recommend going through something more comprehensive like Neetcode 150 for C++ while you learn to grasp memory layout, rather than just focusing on Codecademy’s exercises.
Honestly, free courses are often too basic, and the paid Codecademy stuff isn't really worth the price for their quality. For Java, try the MOOC from the University of Helsinki; it's excellent! For C++, learncpp.com is fantastic. Codecademy isn't on my list for serious learning.
I see, so it sounds like Codecademy is mainly for beginners? I'm looking for a course that really builds up to an intermediate level.