Coding refers to programming computers, smartphones, devices, and internet-related activities. Coding can lead to work in numerous careers or hobbies. Thanks to digital technology, it has become a crucial part of everyday life, from surfing the Web to watching television with streaming devices or backing up a car. Smartphones, for instance, now play a vital role in people’s lives beyond making phone calls. Through coding and programming languages, people can use their phones for text messaging, banking, shopping, or gaining access to a work environment or website. Becoming a computer programmer or engineer requires the proper training, and coding is at the forefront.
Knowing how to code opens up paths to several different areas of work in virtually every industry and sector. Careers involving skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript include becoming Web Developers, Computer Programmers, Front-End Developers, Product Managers, JavaScript Developers, Software Engineers, and Python Developers. While HTML and CSS are coding languages, they are not considered programming languages like JavaScript. Many of the professions listed require expertise in a programming language, and learning coding languages like HTML or CSS is also vital for a career in web or software development.
What Can You Do with Coding Training?
Coding training provides a variety of skills for working in many industries and occupations. Coding allows Computer Programmers to create websites, algorithms, and programs for everyday use. Coding skills apply to numerous professions, from building websites for businesses to creating video games or developing programming that automates basic tasks.
For anyone considering a career as a Computer Programmer, Web Developer, or Software Developer, there are coding bootcamps and certificate programs that provide immersive training that can help students qualify for entry-level positions within a concise time frame. For example, a coding bootcamp can prepare attendees to work in web development, software development, or data science, among other fields. While some of these jobs require expertise in specific programming languages or concepts, new learners should have an area of focus in mind when enrolling in a bootcamp or certificate program.
Consider the following projects a coder can do:
- Build A Simple website—Students who want to become Web Developers or Web Designers often start by experimenting with building a one-page website. Building a responsive website optimized for desktop and mobile requires essential tools like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Use Python for Web Scraping—The popular Python programming language is essential to data science and many development roles. However, office admins can learn Python basics to extract data from websites, which makes an excellent beginner coding project.
- Create a Currency Converter Application—Currency converters are popular web tools you can find with a basic Google search. However, you can also create a currency converter app using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
Other beginner coding projects include web scraping, building a video game, and creating a simple weather or calendar application.
What Will I Learn in a Coding Class?
Coding is vital to how technology keeps the world going today. Several coding languages help programmers develop websites, apps, and digital software, analyze data, or create machine learning algorithms.
Coding skills can create career paths with options for work in web development, software engineering, and computer science. While some of these specialties apply to several programming languages, new learners should focus on a specific area even if they know multiple languages.
Of course, the knowledge and skills a person gains in a coding class depend on the topic, course provider, and whatever skills a student brings to the class, if any. The following skills and tools are common to many beginner-level coding courses.
HTML
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, an essential building block for websites. Web Designers, Front-End Developers, and Full Stack Developers usually learn HTML alongside CSS (see below) as part of a development or design curriculum. Beginner-level coding classes typically offer training in both HTML and CSS.
CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. Usually paired with HTML, tech pros and those who write about technology may refer to the two as HTML and CSS. However, they are separate tools. Style sheet languages like CSS are crucial for styling content on HTML or XML documents. Web Designers and Developers use CSS to create animated effects, and the tool is typically not taught without HTML training.
Python
Python is essential for Data Analysts and Data Scientists. As one of the most popular computer programming languages worldwide, Python is a preferred tool for software and web app development. Back-end Developers, Python Developers, and Software Engineers are a few tech pros who require Python expertise for day-to-day activities. If you are new to coding, consider Python a top priority and a potentially easy programming language to learn.
JavaScript
JavaScript is essential to front-end development, full-stack development, and web design. Often vying with Python for the number one position, JavaScript is also one of the most popular programming languages worldwide. It’s estimated that 98% of all websites use JavaScript. Developers use it to create slide shows, animations, and other interactive website elements. Look for classes that teach the MERN tech stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js) if you want to learn JavaScript.
How Hard is It to Learn to Code?
New students planning to become Computer Programmers should go into training with realistic goals. With ambitions for working in a challenging and competitive field like computer programming, inflated expectations or unrealistic goals can lead to frustration with learning coding. Juggling training with several programming languages can feel overwhelming and may lead to burnout. However, by focusing on one area subject at a time, a person can develop a better understanding of code and programming languages and apply those skills more efficiently. Immersive bootcamps and certificate programs featuring programming languages take students logically from one skill set to another, building on previous lessons.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Coding?
Establishing a productive practice schedule is essential among the challenges in learning coding. Improving skills with coding and programming languages involves plenty of trial and error to understand which techniques work and which do not. Regular practice and the development of steady habits help students grasp difficult areas and find solutions, which includes seeking advice for discovering the best approaches. New coding students with basic computer literacy can find beginner-level design or development courses that productively build their skills.
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Code?
Finding a career in technology requires skills and knowledge in coding and programming languages. Many Computer Programmers have a four-year college degree in computer science, but not all programming jobs require a degree.
Depending on a person’s ambitions and aptitude, coding and programming languages can be learned in a shorter timeframe than needed for a college education. Coding-centered training varies in length, from 1-day seminars to multi-month certificate programs. It can also be helpful to consult with someone who works with coding languages who is willing to help another person learn the skills.
Learning HTML typically takes only a few weeks. For some new learners, CSS may be more difficult and take longer to pick up, which can run several months for self-taught students. However, a single bootcamp like the Web Development with HTML & CSS course from Noble Desktop provides training in both and takes only 18 hours. Students who enroll in full-time certificate programs can start as beginners and qualify for entry-level positions in a few months.
Should I Learn Coding In-Person or Online?
While every training method has advantages and drawbacks, the difference between learning in-person or live by teleconferencing is insignificant to students who have grown up with the internet and smartphones. Consider the three most common types of training programs:
- In-Person Training
- Live Online Programs
- On-Demand Learning
Individuals don’t need to have a college degree to acquire coding skills. Many in-person and virtual learning bootcamps and certificate programs train people without formal training or coding experience. These methods offer a convenient way for people to learn coding and programming languages for creating websites and apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Some people might prefer learning inside classrooms and feel more comfortable with an instructor engaging with the class. However, others may choose virtual learning to take advantage of being able to train at home while getting the same quality of instruction that they would get from sitting inside a classroom without having to travel.
Whichever method a person chooses, either can fulfill the goal of learning coding. Additionally, some students opt for on-demand classes that allow them to learn at their own pace and on their own time. While recorded videos have the lowest level of engagement of all the options, this method can be helpful if you have a non-traditional work schedule or family obligations that take a great deal of time during the day.
Can I Learn Coding Free Online?
Noble Desktop offers free seminars for design and coding, including their Intro to Front-end Web Development seminar, which provides tips on coding websites through lessons focused on various coding languages and web technologies. Other coding-related webinars include How toGet Started in Web Design, Intro to JavaScript, Intro to Python Fundamentals, Get Started in Data Science, and Designing for Mobile.
While these are all helpful introductions, developing professional-level skills requires more than free online videos or articles. After reviewing relevant seminars, consider enrolling in a bootcamp or certificate program that features coding or includes it within a broader design or development curriculum.
What Should I Learn Alongside Coding?
What you learn alongside coding depends on your current skill set, career goals, and schedule. For anyone with training in coding, learning related skills such as web development, web design, or machine learning can be beneficial. Training in compatible skills can enhance career options for work in numerous industries. Combining skills in coding and programming languages with various areas of web development or digital media creates opportunities to find work in tech.
Coding skills can provide a foundation for a career in web development, software engineering, or data science. If you plan to learn coding for general computer programming purposes, you might find all the training you need in an immersive bootcamp or certificate. However, if you know your coding career will demand additional skills, consider researching typical job requirements for relevant positions.
Career options and some of their required skills can include:
- Computer Programmer—coding and programming
- Data Scientist—Python, SQL, MongoDB
- Data Analyst—Python, SQL, Tableau
- Full Stack Developer—HTML and CSS, JavaScript, MERN tech stack
- Python Developer—Django REST, MySQL, Git/GitHub
- Software Engineer—web applications, websites, and software
Industries That Use Coding in Boston
With renowned sports franchises like the NBA Celtics and NHL Bruins, top institutes of higher learning like Harvard University, Boston College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston is a top destination for tech professionals. It remains one of the most established cities in the US for research and development related to computer technology, helping to create a fertile environment that facilitates advanced methods with coding and computer-related concepts. Boston offers coding and programming training that helps new tech pros find work in web development, web design, or software engineering.
Boston’s job growth has climbed above the national average and should continue to grow. Top industries for finding work related to coding and computer programming include:
- Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI)
- Biotech
- Government
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
- Transportation
- Utilities
Boston offers a wide range of opportunities for job seekers, with an unemployment rate that sits below the national average despite being a densely populated city.
Computer Programmers, Web Developers, and Software Engineers can find work with major corporations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, or government agencies in Boston. Large companies like Amazon, Wells Fargo, and Apple look for highly-trained workers with coding skills to help maintain their online dominance.
Similarly, small businesses in Boston hire Computer Programmers as full-time employees or independent contractors through IT staffing agencies.
Coding Job Titles and Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for computer programming-related occupations should grow by around 14 percent between 2022 and 2032. Becoming a Computer Programmer involves creating websites and apps using knowledge of coding and programming languages. Coding websites requires HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the front-end, which users see on their computer or mobile browsers.
Skill with coding and programming languages can lead to finding work in several career areas, including working as a Computer Programmer, Front-end Developer, or Software Engineer. Learning coding and programming languages can provide the foundation for a challenging and high-paying career, especially by focusing on a specific programming language like JavaScript, Python, or SQL.
In Boston, a Computer Programmer can make between $62,000 and $98,000 a year. A Front-end Developer can earn an annual income from $120,000 to $205,000 in Boston. Similar work as a JavaScript Developer can bring in a salary between $137,000 and $199,000 a year for work using JavaScript to create websites and apps by implementing front-end and back-end coding. Coding skills can also prepare someone to work as a Software Engineer, using knowledge in user design programming languages to earn an annual income ranging from $117,000 to $167,000. Mobile Developers can make from $123,000 to $214,000 yearly using coding and programming skills to ensure that smartphones operate smoothly.
Coding Classes Near Me
Anyone considering a career as a Computer Programmer, Software Engineer, or Web Developer must learn coding. Coding knowledge and experience can lead to work in web development, app development, data science, software development, or digital media. While these areas include a variety of programming languages, new learners should focus on a specific programming language first to gain expertise. Consider some of the following courses that feature coding or include it as part of a broader curriculum:
This certificate program trains you in coding for creating the front-end of websites, which is what users see on their web browsers. Coding skills facilitate Front-End Developers in building them. Through this certificate program, you can use HTML to mark up webpages, CSS for styling, JavaScript for adding interactivity and animation, and Git for tracking code changes and collaborating with other Web Developers.
This program includes 1-on-1 mentoring where industry experts can review your resume and portfolio and an opportunity to retake the course for free within one year.
General Assembly: Front-end Development Course
This course provides students a foundational education for building responsive websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
This Front-end Web Development Course has been designed to help beginners dive right into learning code. Students will be taught HTML and CSS, the building blocks for building websites, and JavaScript for making webpages interactive. Lessons focus on exploring topics like responsive design, APIs, and version control with Git and GitHub.
New Horizons: Python 3 Essentials
The immersive five-day Python 3 Essentials course from New Horizons is available for Boston students who can commute to nearby Waltham. The program includes beginner and intermediate-level Python concepts, including dictionaries, functions, and sequences. Although there are no prerequisites, New Horizons suggests applicants have some previous computer programming experience.
The comprehensive Software Engineering Certificate program from Noble Desktop trains participants for a career as a Full Stack Developer or Software Engineer. Topics include front-end web development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and back-end web development with Python, Django, and Node.js. Upon completing the course, you will be able to use HTML and CSS with JavaScript to develop software and web content that can adjust to a variety of screen sizes. This program provides a digital certificate of completion, 1-on-1 mentoring where industry experts can review your portfolio and resume, and the opportunity to retake the course for free within one year.
Ledet Training: Open Source HTML & CSS 101
Ledet Training offers Boston-area tech training at their location in nearby Billerica. The Open Source HTML & CSS 101 class is a three-day intensive that teaches basic web development with HTML5 and CSS. Students learn how to lay out webpages, use design elements, and create data collection forms. Although there are no prerequisites, applicants should know basic web terminology.
Launch Academy: Software Engineering Immersive
Launch Academy offers its Software Engineering Immersive on a full-time or part-time basis. The program covers coding fundamentals, an independent and collaborative software engineering curriculum, and a portfolio presentation to interested employers. Check course listings for more details.
The Python for Data Science Bootcamp introduces students to Python fundamentals, structuring programs, data analysis and visualization, and arrays and dataframes. You'll learn essential Python tools like Matplotlib, NumPy, Pandas, and scikit-learn as you prepare a professional-level portfolio. You can also save by taking the Python for Data Science Bootcamp as part of the AI & Data Science Certificate, Data Science Certificate, or Data Analytics Certificate.
Certstaffix Training: Introduction to Python Programming
Certstaffix Training offers instructor-led classes live online or at your company location. Their Introduction to Python Programming course provides Python basics for those new to this essential computer programming language. Topics include functions, modules, strings, variables, and many more.
Coding Corporate Training
Have you considered upgrading your staff’s coding skills? Noble Desktop offers corporate coding training. This instruction can be conducted onsite at your company’s location or live online through a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. You also have the option to purchase vouchers for Noble Desktop’s public enrollment coding courses.
If you want your employees to have greater flexibility on where and when they get their coding training, Noble Desktop also offers discounted vouchers for its open-enrollment group classes. Employers get discounts on courses when purchasing in bulk. Topics include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, to name a few.
Ready to level up your in-house web development team through training for skills in coding? Contact Noble Desktop for more information or to discuss a free consultation.