Coding is shorthand for the part of programming that includes tasks as diverse as creating, testing, and revising computer code. While coding has historically required programming skills like SQL and Visual Studio Code, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing are revolutionizing the coding world. Learning to code remains essential for tech professionals like Web and Software Developers, Software Engineers, and Web Designers. Read on to learn more about coding in the 21st century.
What Can You Do with Coding Training?
Coding skills are crucial for computer programming roles, from JavaScript development to Python for data science. However, what you can do with coding training depends on the type and length of the course, what tools and skills it includes, and whether it applies to design, development, or data analysis. Consider the following projects you can do with coding training.
- Browser Extension—Many beginner-level projects have little real-world application, but creating a new extension can be intensely practical. An extension is a type of plug-in that enhances browser functionality. Because Google Chrome is so popular, it's an excellent place to start.
- URL Shortener—Most web users are familiar with URL shortening tools like Bitly, Ow.ly, or TinyURL. Coding beginners can build a URL shortener using languages like Python or JavaScript. A URL shortener makes a practical addition to a portfolio highlighting web apps.
- Portfolio website—Many tech bootcamps and certificate programs are portfolio-centered, so attendees create professional-level project portfolios to show HR managers and recruiters. Portfolio sites are essential for Web Designers, Web Developers, and Software Developers.
What Will I Learn in a Coding Class?
Coding classes include everything from short programming seminars to immersive bootcamps. Subjects range from HTML and CSS to Visual Studio Code and Git/GitHub. Consider how the following skills can apply to classes for coding beginners.
HTML
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is among the likeliest topics for coding beginners, whether in a one-day workshop or a full-length certificate program. Coding pros who use HTML with editors like Visual Studio (vs. Code to design and develop webpages include Front-End Developers, Full-Stack Developers, and Software Engineers.
CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, and it separates the content and formatting of a webpage designed or created with HTML. Coding pros typically combine HTML and CSS with JavaScript for structure, styling, and adding interactive elements to a website.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a primary building block of the World Wide Web, with an estimated 98% of all websites using it. Designers and development pros code JavaScript for animation, multimedia, and other interactive web elements. If your coding training does not include JavaScript, consider putting it at the top of your priority list next.
MERN
MERN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js. This well-known tech stack is responsible for front-end, back-end, and database applications. MERN and MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js) are popular collections of JavaScript-based frameworks, databases, and runtime environments. Many coding classes include the MERN stack.
Critical Thinking
Although you may not specifically learn it in coding classes, critical thinking is one of the most essential soft skills for coding and programming careers. Tech professionals often collaborate on projects with Web Designers, Product Managers, or other team members. Consider polishing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills before you take on a new technical role or one with more responsibility.
How Hard is It to Learn Coding?
The degree of difficulty in learning to code depends on several factors. First, a beginner’s experience level can range from zero to intermediate if they have learned other related skills. Second, becoming familiar with a skill is different from becoming an expert. Third, an in-depth bootcamp or certificate program requires more commitment and willingness to gain expertise than a short workshop or seminar. Consider this path to learn coding within a broader development, data science, or design program.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Coding?
The most challenging parts of learning to code typically depend on the student’s computer literacy, skill set, and technical aptitude. Many children today learn coding, so it is not a question of age or experience. One essential factor is whether a new coder learns through a strategic training method like a bootcamp or certificate program. For example, a beginner-level coder can learn HTML and CSS in the same course, seeing how they work together while creating a portfolio project. This method can be much easier than taking a single class since each training module builds on the previous one.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Coding?
Coding bootcamps or certificate programs usually run for around three to four months full-time or as long as a year on a full-time basis. These targeted, immersive courses provide training in multiple languages like HTML, CSS, Python, and JavaScript. While you can get comfortable experimenting with coding in a few months, learning coding professionally typically takes about six months to a year.
Should I Learn Coding in Person or Online?
Although some people prefer to learn in the traditional classroom setting, the number of coding beginners who choose live online courses for their coding training increases yearly. However, personal preference does not always dictate these decisions. Consider the advantages and drawbacks of the following training methods:
- In-Person—Among the most popular methods to learn coding, in-person courses offer unique advantages. Bootcamps and certificate programs held in traditional classrooms often provide units on multiple programming languages. In-person training allows real-time participation between students and instructors, an engagement level no other method can exceed. Its only potential disadvantage is commuting and finding a parking space.
- Live Online—Today’s workforce spends more time online than ever before. It is not surprising, then, that training in a virtual classroom is more popular than ever. Live online courses offer engagement similar to in-person training, and many students prefer the convenience of learning from home or office. If learning online has a disadvantage, it is the need to avoid distractions not found in a face-to-face classroom.
- On-Demand—On-demand training, or asynchronous learning, consists of pre-recorded instructional videos. Some on-demand courses include additional supplementary materials or a help chatbot for after-hours questions. The main advantages of on-demand videos are their cost and the ability to watch at any hour. However, this method offers lower engagement than in-person or live online training. Consider on-demand training as an introduction or backup plan if work or other commitments prevent live training from being an option.
Can I Learn Coding Free Online?
While you can learn coding basics from free online resources like videos or articles, developing professional-level coding skills is never free. Consider using free articles or videos to get oriented to coding as an introduction to computer programming languages, libraries, and frameworks, or other tools like Visual Studio (vs. Code, Git/GitHub, and databases. Check out resources like the Noble Desktop YouTube channel and the Learn Hub. Once you know which tools you need and at what level of expertise, you will know which bootcamp or certificate program will provide the training that best meets your goals and budget.
What Should I Learn Alongside Coding?
The skills and tools you must learn alongside coding depend on your career goals, current skill set, and whether you have industry-specific knowledge to apply to your next position. For example, a web development role might require WordPress experience, whereas a data analytics position might demand expertise with a visualization platform like Power BI or Tableau. Check out the Learn Hub from Noble Desktop for more information on tools and skills to know beyond coding.
Industries That Use Coding
With its proximity to New York and New Jersey, Connecticut is an ideal spot for tech workers who don’t mind commuting or want to drive from a suburban town to a city for work. Major metropolitan areas here include Hartford and New Haven, but its affluent Gold Coast includes Fairfield, Greenwich, and other destinations for execs and celebrities. Consider the following top industries for coding jobs in the Constitution State:
Banking, Financial Services & Insurance
Long known as the Insurance Capital of the World, Hartford is home to many large insurance companies. This subsector is part of the banking, financial services, and insurance industry (BFSI). Corporate headquarters in Connecticut include Aetna, Cigna, and The Hartford, to name a few. Coding is essential for development and data science pros in the BFSI sector.
Advanced Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry has long been a Connecticut staple, with names like Pratt & Whitney and Stanley Works familiar among residents. Before its merger with Raytheon, United Technologies was the largest manufacturing employer here. Coding websites for manufacturing companies can be a primary development role.
Aerospace & Defense
Connecticut has been a hub for aerospace and defense for decades. Top names include the Naval Submarine Base New London, Sikorsky Aircraft, and General Dynamics Electric Boat. Cybersecurity and financial systems analysis are among the many jobs requiring coding skills in this sector.
Educational Services, Healthcare & Social Assistance
Connecticut has one of the best public education systems in the country, and this subsector is part of the educational services, healthcare, and social assistance supersector. Coding roles range from Full Stack Web Developer to Software Engineer.
Coding Job Titles and Salaries
Every sector and industry requires tech workers with coding skills, so it can be daunting to determine which is the best. Consider the following positions and average salaries in Connecticut, as reported on Indeed or Glassdoor.
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmers continue to be in-demand, whether in an insurance company or a university. In Connecticut, a Computer Programmer can anticipate earning an average annual salary of around $65,000, comparable to the national average.
Software Engineer
Many Computer Programmers go on to become Developers or Software Engineers. One good reason is that the annual salary for a Software Engineer in Connecticut exceeds six figures, running about $102,000 on average.
Full Stack Developer
While front-end development defines the user side, back-end development is the server or client-side, and the combination of both is called full-stack. These skilled tech pros earn around $143,000 in average annual salaries in Connecticut. Look for full-stack development positions everywhere, from healthcare to brokerage firms.
JavaScript Developer
JavaScript Developers are among the highest-paid development pros, with an average annual salary in Connecticut that runs about $163,000, not including other compensation like bonuses or profit sharing. Responsibilities for JavaScript Developers range from developing web applications to testing coding.
Coding Classes Near Me
Noble Desktop offers numerous bootcamps and certificate programs for coding novices. Most are available in-person at their state-of-the-art Manhattan headquarters or live online via teleconferencing. Their Software Engineering Certificate program features immersive HTML, CSS, and Python training. You’ll also learn the MERN tech stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js), application programming interfaces (APIs), and other server environments and interactivity to web applications. Participants master coding websites while developing the skills to become Front-End Developers, Python Developers, or Software Engineers.
The University of Connecticut hosts in-person coding bootcamps at its Storrs campus. The beginner-friendly UConn Coding Boot Camp covers topics like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, to name a few. Check course listings for more details.
New Haven’s Holberton School offers Connecticut residents multiple computer programming and coding courses. Their Foundation of Computer Science & Software Engineering includes subjects like Python, C, Unix, JavaScript, and SQL. The 36-week program also features job readiness training for students planning to enter the workforce upon graduation.
Another respected course provider, New Horizons, provides many options for coding beginners, from Python programming to SQL databases. Their Data Wrangling with Python class features intensive data analysis training, including Python libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.
General Assembly provides multiple coding classes, including immersive bootcamps. The beginner-friendly Software Engineering Bootcamp teaches attendees to code full-stack web applications. Topics include JavaScript, Python, and APIs.
Coding Corporate Training
Noble Desktop provides tailored corporate and on-site coding training for organizations. The expert Noble instructors can conduct on-site sessions, ensuring your team learns coding in a personalized and convenient environment. Additionally, organizations can purchase bulk seats for Noble’s open enrollment classes at a discounted rate, allowing for cost-effective, comprehensive training for multiple team members. Topics include HTML and CSS, Python, JavaScript, Flexbox, Grid, Bootstrap, and Git/GitHub.
Whether you prefer on-site instruction or participation in Noble Desktop’s regular courses, they can customize the training to suit your organizational needs. Elevate your team’s proficiency with corporate and on-site coding training. For no-obligation inquiries and to discuss your specific requirements, contact Noble Desktop today.