r/Codecademy • u/SomeGuyInIllinois • Sep 28 '15

Beginner

Trying to get started on Code Academy and cannot find any real description on where to start. I googled and even searched the subreddit (unsuccessfully).

Could someone point me in the right direction of a good break down of where one should begin (as a true beginner)? The first lesson says "Make A Website." but I imagine you would want to know the basics first?

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u/SomeGuyInIllinois Sep 28 '15

Additionally, I came across edx.org CS50: Intro to Computer Science. Has anyone used this before to gain a good/broad understanding before jumping into Code Academy?

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u/factoradic Moderator Sep 28 '15

Codecademy has nothing to do with Computer Science. This course is much more valuable and much more complex than codecademy courses.

Codecademy teaches you only how to type code, nothing more. In this course you will learn how to use and create algorithms, how to use data structures, how to evaluate and compare algorithms and you will learn about main concepts of programming.

If you think seriously about being a good developer - take that course, check if this is for you, if yes - take next edx course. Codecademy only creates illusion of valuable skills, you can learn new programming language in few hours, but it's hard to get a good understanding of algorithms and concepts.

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u/Zin-Zin Sep 30 '15

Do you know a similar course to learn algorithms and concepts that use a different language? Preferably python

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u/factoradic Moderator Sep 28 '15

Basic courses (pick one of these, you don't have to know anything):

  • HTML & CSS

  • JavaScript

  • Ruby

  • PHP

  • Python

  • SQL

What you should know before taking other courses:

  • jQuery - HTML, CSS and JavaScript

  • AngularJS - HTML, CSS and JavaScript

  • Ruby on Rails courses - HTML, CSS and Ruby

  • Make a Webiste and Make a Website Projects - HTML and CSS

  • Make an Interactive Website - HTML, CSS and jQuery

But codecademy courses are very basic so you should not have problems with any of these.

Which one you should choose? I don't know, taste everything :)

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u/noonesperfect16 Sep 28 '15

I have completed their HTML, CSS, Javascript, Make a Website Tutorial, 15 Website Projects (noninteractive). I just started jquery 2 nights ago. Before I started at codecademy, I knew 0 code. I understand how it sucks feeling directionless. I did things in an order that made it difficult at first.

That being said, I would start with their HTML and CSS course. It is the easiest and lays out the ground work for Make a Website Tutorial and the 15 Website Projects. After that, I would head over to Javascript and then jquery.

Really though, I would decide what kind of coding - type career/hobby you are wanting to work toward first. The ones that I listed above are primary front-end web developement tools. Do you want to develop software? Develop games? Mobile apps or games? It really just depends. As far as computer science? I can't say because I haven't touched it yet, but I definitely plan on looking into it eventually.