Instructions for those who want to become a programmer from scratch

Start your way to the programmer's career is worth to answer the question whether you need programming in general? This question does not apply to those who are learning or studying for a degree close to programming. If you are in school mathematics let us rather than the humanities, if you like to spend a lot of time on the computer, if you want to learn something new, then you programming will do.

Where to begin

There are a few scenarios that result in a person becoming a programmer. The first - parents programmers who taught their children around. These children do not even have to go to the university. The second option - a fashionable profession of a programmer. After high school, I had to choose where to study, and selected fashion trend IT, such as would have liked. And the last option - a hobby that has grown into the job.

If none of the above has happened to you, then you have a choice of four options:

• self-education. This option can be used both independently and in tandem with other methods. The Internet is full
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  sites, books and applicationsThat help to learn different programming languages ​​and technologies. But this is the hardest way for beginners.
• university. If you graduated from school and want to be a programmer, then go to the university. If you do not get an education, then for the crust. It can serve as a bonus for a job. Although some knowledge you too will get. But do not forget to engage in self-learning. By the choice of the university should come very responsibly. Carefully review the training program and choose the best technical universities.
• Mentor. It will be very nice if you can find someone who will agree to help you and guide you in the right direction. He will tell the appropriate books and resources, check your code, will give useful advice. By the way, we already wrote about useful ResourcesWhere you can find a mentor. Mentor can search among friends programmers in the IT-togethers and conferences, on-line forums and so on.
• Specialized practical courses. Try searching in your city courses where you teach to some programming language or technology. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of such courses in Kiev, including free and with subsequent employment.

What language, technology and the direction of pick

When you become a programmer, a year or two will be free to choose any language you like. But when choosing a first programming language novice must take into account the following criteria:

• The presence in the job market. The ultimate goal of the way - to find a job as a programmer. And it will be difficult to do if no one will be looking for developers in your programming language in the job market. Check out sites with vacancies, see who has more looking for, write a dozen languages. And go to the next criterion.
• The low level of entry. If you have to spend a long time learning the language, it can discourage you to programming in general. Read about the languages ​​that you have selected above. Look at the literature that will need to read to learn these languages. And select the ones you read about what they are lighter, or that you will be hard to move. These languages ​​can be PHP, Ruby, Python.
• Pleasure from the process. If you do not like to write code in the language selected, you will not get pleasure from the process, from work and from life. And you need it? Make the right choice.

Also, you have to determine the direction of programming. Mobile, desktop, games, web, low-level programming, and so on. The most popular and relatively light industry - the development of a web, mobile and desktop clients. Under each area can be approached one language and not to approach the other. That is the choice of programming language is also necessary to start from this factor.

In any case, learn web technologies. This HTML markup language and CSS styles JavaScriptThat will make your page dynamic. In the next step learn server-side language (Python, PHP, Ruby, etc.) and suitable web frameworks for him. Examine the database: almost every programmer's job is mentioned.

How to get initial experience

Without experience you do not get a job. Without a job you do not get to experience. The vicious circle of real life. But do not worry, we will get out of it.

Firstly, you do not wait until you read all the books on the programming language selected. Start writing your first line of code after the second chapter of the book. Perform all tasks of the books, reprint examples to understand them. It simple examples and assignments of books of ideas. Create your problem to the studied material. Solve these problems.

Second, you need to find their first projects. This is probably the most difficult option, but working. You'll have to search for orders, carry them to bother with payment. For a beginner it is daunting, but then all the other options seem plovym business. Completed projects can be written in the experience and show your prospective employer. Real projects are a big plus in your resume.

If you know English, register better on English-speaking markets. The market there is more. If you do not know English, learn it. In the meantime, you have access to Russian-language exchange of freelancing. Look for small projects that fit your skill level or slightly above it. Apply a couple of dozen of these tasks. And be prepared to get a lot of rejections. But if one or two applications of shots you will have a chance to get real-world experience.

Another good option to obtain the actual experience is open source. Such projects always need new people, even beginners. You can search the draft bugs or see in the bug tracker, and to propose methods to solve them. Find these designs easily on GitHub or other services for code hosting. Do not hesitate to ask questions there.

The fourth option of gaining experience - help programmers familiar. Ask them to give you a small and simple tasks. If something will not turn out, you will always have someone to turn to. And while you will be involved in a real project.

The last way - their own projects, various Hackathon or working in coworking. Their projects very difficult to start, it is better to look for acquaintances or friends.

Why choose Python

Let's talk more about choosing a first programming language. The first language must be simple and popular in the market. That language is Python. I highly recommend to choose it as the first programming language.

The program code in the Python readable. You do not even need to be a programmer to understand in general terms what is happening in the program. Because of a simple Python syntax, you will need less time to write a program, for example, than in Java. A huge database of libraries, which will save you a lot of effort, time and nerves. Python is a high-level language. So, you do not need to think about the special memory cells and that there place. Python - general-purpose language. And it's so simple that even children can learn it.

In fairness it is worth mentioning that other programming languages. Java It can be a good choice for a beginner. This language is more popular than Python, but also a little more complicated. But the tools to develop a much better developed. One has only to compare Eclipse and IDLE. After Java will be easier to go to work with low-level programming language.

PHP - another very popular language. And I think it is even easier than Python. Very easy to find a mentor or a decision of a problem on the forum. This is because in the world there is a huge number of PHP-programmers at various levels. In PHP, there is no normal imports, there are many ways to solve the same problem. This complicates the training. And PHP imprisoned solely for the web.

Languages C and C # very difficult for a beginner. Ruby - a good choice as a second language, but not the first. JavaScript - a very simple language, but anything good he will not teach. A goal of the first programming language still teach you something right, to set some sort of logic.

What is important is whether English

Important! Do not know? Teach. You know? Improve. Learn to read, write, listen and speak in English. Is focusing on the technical literature. Listen to English-language podcasts. Read English language textbooks on programming.

What you need to know, in addition to the programming language

Of course, in addition to the programming language and English, you need to know something else. But that - depending on the direction you choose. Web programmer must know HTML, CSS, JavaScript. Desktop Software teaches API of the operating system and the various frameworks. Developer of mobile applications teaches frameworks Android, iOS, or Windows Phone.

Everyone needs to learn algorithms. Try to take a course on Coursera or find a suitable book for themselves on algorithms. In addition, the need to know one of the databases, programming patterns, data structures. It should also be acquainted with the code repositories. With at least one. Required knowledge of version control systems. Choose Git, it is the most popular. You need to know the tools that you work with, the operating system and development environment. And the main programming skills - to be able to google. Without it, you will not live.

The last steps

You need to prepare a resume. Not just a job, but a good resume. It is not necessary to write there too much informationBut also do not need to hold back on their skills. Once you are invited to an interview, you should prepare for it. Take a walk through the material, which is listed on your resume. You must be confident in their knowledge. Look at the projects you worked on, remember the technology that you used. And forward - to a brighter future with a new programmer profession.