How to start coding as a beginner
Posted by vedanttt06@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Just finished 12th and currently on vacation. I want to make this time productive and start learning coding from scratch, but I literally know nothing about programming right now. Can anyone guide me with a proper roadmap on how to begin my coding journey, what to learn first, and how to stay consistent?
pouldycheed@reddit
honestly just pick python and start building something you actually care about even if it's tiny. like if you're into games make a guessing game, if you're into money stuff make a budget calculator. the mistake most beginners make is tutorial hopping forever without ever touching a real project.
cs50 on edx is free and genuinely the best starting point I've seen for complete beginners. do the first two weeks then immediately try to break away and build something on your own. getting stuck and googling your way out is literally how you learn faster than any roadmap will teach you
vedanttt06@reddit (OP)
But I’m not familiar with coding
kobaratega@reddit
People here are not giving you beginner advice, which is strange.
There's a very complete and free bootcamp for beginner coders on https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn
It's tiny steps and you will learn a lot. You can code for months with that curriculum. I hope that helps 😄
desrtfx@reddit
What are you even talking about?
CS50 is absolutely for beginners. Automate the boring stuf is for beginners, Head First books are for beginners.
desrtfx@reddit
Did you think this through? Every beginner is not familiar with coding. You have to start somewhere.
Were you familiar with reading when you learnt to read? Were you familiar with writing when you learnt to write? Were you familiar with calculating when you learnt math? Did the unfamiliarity stop you?
Smallzfry@reddit
I recommend starting with Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart, the book is available to read on his website for free. It's designed for people who don't know anything about coding and want to write small functional programs or scripts that they'll actually use. It walks readers through basic concepts and setup, so you don't even need to know what tools to use.
The CS50 course mentioned above is a good interactive option as well. If you prefer more guided coursework rather than learning from a book, then you can't really go wrong with this choice.
Whatever you do though, avoid AI while you're learning. Yes, it can be a good learning tool, but you're going to be much better off in the long run if you don't consult it for advice. That includes basics like syntax questions (learn to check the official reference material so you can fact-check AI later) or even just generating ideas. Your foundations and creativity will be much better off if you can go through an introductory book or course first.
DragonfruitPrize3500@reddit
Hey op i recommend seeing videos on learning how to code, theres different branches on what languages you'll be using. The ones that helped me pick are these videos.
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-_ezD9Swz4 (coding sloth)
2. https://youtu.be/66tfvFeALBQ (fireship)
The only thing i downloaded is Vs code or visual studio code its what the other comment said.
Also a good skillset to any learning to have is what they usually tell you is.
Learn how to learn.
thats all op goodluck.
-endlessundoing-@reddit
Get VS Code. Free software with the color coded words built in. Then just look up how to do things. Also the online lessons usually have a built in writing feature. I'll also recommend freecodecamp.org
WorriedGiraffe2793@reddit
imo this is terrible advice
don't learn the fundamentals on your own
once you get the hang of it, yeah, start building something on your own but before that it's going to be super frustrating for 90% of people
spazure@reddit
And this is exactly why I recommend Hacking with Swift, as there are knowledge check sections where he gives you a project to do to actually struggle and make your own (small) projects along the way. Learners aren't just blindly copying tutorials the whole time and assuming the knowledge is making it all the way into long-term memory.
dovvv@reddit
I started with Arduino's and C++. What I see repeated often as answers to questions like these is "figure out a project you want to do and thenearm how to do it". I wanted to build an Arduino project that interfaced with my cars electronics to visualise data. I had no idea about code either when I started, but piece by piece I made it work and learnt a whole lot about coding generally in the process. My advice is find something you want to build, and figure out how to use code to do it. Then do it better.
WorriedGiraffe2793@reddit
Buy one of the Head First books. Maybe Python or maybe JavaScript. I'm sure your parents will pay it for you.
These are super well structured for absolute beginners with the best pedagogy practices in mind.
Trust me, you won't find a better course online to teach you the fundamentals.
spazure@reddit
If you have a Mac or an iPad, you can download Swift Playground.
It's literally a video game with a bunch of pre-written scripts to teach you how to code from the very beginning, assuming zero understanding of programming whatsoever.
By the end, you'll have the basics to read and understand documentation, then move on to starting your own projects. There's also a completely free Hacking with Swift course that is equal parts entertaining and educational.
Not many people are going to recommend Swift as it's a niche language, but it's 1) super easy to learn and 2) C-based, so the concepts you learn with it can easily be applied to most other languages you're likely to encounter as a beginner
yksvaan@reddit
Learn to program, no point wondering how to do it, just start.
ElvisDumbledore@reddit
Thor from Pirate Software had great advice, imo.
throwawayglitch7@reddit
pick one language like python and finish a project instead of watching endless tutorials. you’ll learn more in three days of building than three weeks of planning.
BeginningOne8195@reddit
Start with one language (Python or C++), learn the basics, and write small programs every day. Don't worry about DSA, AI, or web development yet. Build a strong foundation first.
The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to learn everything at once. Consistency for 2 months will help you more than the perfect roadmap. 👍
Inevitable-Trash-767@reddit
Start simple and avoid trying to learn everything at once. Most beginners fail because they jump between too many languages, tutorials, and frameworks.
A good roadmap:
Learn basic computer/programming thinking
Variables
Web development =HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Automation/AI = Python
Mobile apps = Kotlin or Flutter later
Games = Unity/C#
Do not spend months watching tutorials only.
Examples:
Calculator
To-do app
Personal website
Weather app
Notes app
Projects teach faster than videos.
Very important for real-world coding.
YouTube
freeCodeCamp
MDN Docs
W3Schools (good for basics)
Stack Overflow when stuck
Even 1–2 hours daily is enough if you do it continuously.
Big mistake beginners make:
Watching tutorials without building
Switching languages every week
Comparing themselves to advanced developers
Coding feels confusing at first for everyone. The key is repetition and building real things.
If I were starting from zero today:
I would learn:
HTML - CSS - JavaScript - React - backend basics - databases.
Puzzleheaded_Ad_4478@reddit
Get this book. It's nice for beginners who don't know how to code at all. Head First Learn To Code by Eric Freeman.
Then build your favorite small projects on the side with the knowledge you gather in the learning process.
Longjumping_Ad3447@reddit
Code in place
JohnBrownsErection@reddit
Check this shit out because I'm about to blow your mind
https://www.reddit.com/r/learnprogramming/comments/61oly8/new_read_me_first/
Playful-Sock3547@reddit
if i were starting from zero after 12th, i would honestly keep it simple and not overthink the roadmap. pick one language first, python is usually the easiest for beginners, and spend the first few weeks learning basics like variables loops functions conditions and simple problem solving. after that start building tiny projects as early as possible because coding only really clicks when you make things. stuff like a calculator to do app number guessing game or simple website is way better than watching endless tutorials. also do not compare yourself to people building crazy apps in 3 months, consistency matters way more than speed. even 1–2 focused hours daily for a few months will put you ahead of most people who keep restarting tutorials.
DrillaKay@reddit
Look at the FAQ. Learn HTML then python making something fun.
Great_Trainer@reddit
Make a video game. Or a silly AI project. Just build something cool, and leave the roadmap to a certificate or college program.
It doesn’t matter if you finish your project or give up in a few days really. I have found that even if I got halfway I still learned stuff that helped me later down the road. Typically making a game is the rite of passage lol, but you can do anything really.
Great_Trainer@reddit
I know that sounds tough when you know notjhing from scratch but the key is to pick a direction any really and then google “how to do X for beginners” and follow along. Don’t worry about what language.
Mortomes@reddit
There is an FAQ in the sidebar.