Should You Use Codecademy To Learn To Code? Review of Codecademy

I learned the fundamentals of coding via a variety of online tutorials and free courses – there were no interactive lessons back then, just basic how-tos that you could do on your own. When it comes to learning how to code, there are many possibilities nowadays, and Codecademy(opens in a new tab) is one of them.

However, you could wonder if Codecademy is suitable for beginners, if it is worthwhile, and what are the advantages of learning to code using Codecademy. In our Codecademy review, we want to answer those questions and more.

If you've done any research on learning to code, you're probably aware that Codecademy is one of the most popular online coding schools.

Codecademy has a lot of advantages over how I learnt to code in the past, and I would have pounced at the chance to utilise something similar when I was educating myself.

However, this does not imply that Codecademy is appropriate for everyone interested in learning computer science or web development. To that aim, I've compiled a list of three reasons why you should utilise Codecademy, as well as four things to look for if you're serious about learning to code.

TL;DR Should I Enroll in Codecademy to Learn to Code?

Codecademy is a free, user-friendly website with high-quality courses. However, because there is no instructor support, a little sense of community, and no career counselling or job placement assistance, Codecademy may not be the right fit for you.

Here are some of our Codecademy competitors' reviews:

• Check out our Udemy Review.
• Check out our recap of the General Assembly.
• Read our Udacity Nanodegree Review to learn more.
• Skillcrush's Break into Tech Review may be found here.

What are the advantages of using Codecademy to learn to code?

Learning to code with Codecademy has a number of distinct advantages. By providing a free learning experience for beginners, they've helped more than 24 million students learn to code or increase their skill levels.

Here are three reasons why you should use Codecademy to learn coding skills, especially if you're just getting started:

1. ARE THE COSTS OF CODECADEMY WORTH IT? YES, IT'S COMPLETELY FREE.

First and foremost, let's get this out of the way. One of the most significant advantages Codecademy has over many other online coding schools is that they provide free courses while you explore skill paths and create code foundations.

Although there is a Codecademy Pro upgrade, you don't have to join up for a monthly subscription or pay by the class. Access to real-world projects and members-only content is available with Codecademy Pro, which starts at $19.99 per month.

That can be the decisive factor for someone on a tight budget. And because a free course provides a higher return on investment (due to the fact that the investment is only time, not time + money), it's "worth it" if money is your primary concern. Obviously, if you're just getting started with coding and aren't sure if it's right for you, taking some entirely free classes is a great place to start.

2. IS CODECADEMY SUITABLE FOR INITIAL STUDENTS? YES, IN THE SENSE THAT IT DOES ALL OF THE SETUP WORK FOR YOU.

One of the most vexing aspects of learning to code is that the setup work is frequently the most difficult part. As a result, many newcomers will never have an opportunity to compete.

When learning front end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, this isn't the case. But if you've ever tried to tinker with backend languages like PHP, Ruby, or Python, you know what I'm talking about.

To even write a simple "Hello World" app in Ruby on your local computer, you'll have to go through hours of computer setup, including installing Ruby, making sure all the "packages" are correct, reconfiguring folder permissions, getting your server up and running, and, if you're so inclined, figuring out how to connect to your browser...

Imagine spending hours of your day at the computer attempting to decipher weird error messages you've never seen before.

What Codecademy has done well is allow you to learn the syntax of a programming language through an interactive online browser experience. There is no setup time at all.

Yes, you're learning to code with training wheels, but when you're a complete newbie, that's exactly what you need.

3. CODECADEMY INCLUDES MANY LANGUAGES AND TOPICS

Codecademy is known for its abundance, and one of its strongest characteristics is the sheer scope of their services. HTML, CSS, Sass, JavaScript, Rails, AngularJS, ReactJS, Ruby, Command Line, Git, SQL, and Java are among the Codecademy courses now available. Codecademy also offers courses in web design, web development, machine learning, data structures, data science, mobile development (including Android and iOS), and game development.

There's plenty to keep you occupied for a while, and plenty of opportunity to see if you like this whole coding thing and want to start studying new programming languages or explore different career routes, just like Coursera and edX.

If you're serious about learning to code, there are a few things you should look for in online courses.

When learning to code for the first time, a site that is both free and has a low barrier to entry is ideal. And once you've committed to learning to code, especially if you want to change careers, you'll want to accomplish the following:

1. SEARCH FOR INSTRUCTORS OR MENTORS WHO CAN ASSIST YOU.

Nothing can replace our genuine, live, human instructors and mentors who are available to help you learn to code, as much as we enjoy interactive online courses here at Skillcrush (and the community of fellow students who back up that one-on-one experience).

As you can see from the graphic above, Codeacademy's response to the demand for community is their forums.

If you've ever attempted to teach yourself something like programming, you've probably fallen into challenges that you can't solve right away. When you're in this situation, having a devoted instructor and students who are doing the same courses as you is vital.

Knowing you have support from professors who work in the fields they teach every day and classmates who received the same class email you did that morning creates a sense of community that makes it much easier to keep motivated and on track while learning.

You can even have video chat office hours with your instructor and other students at firms like Skillcrush to obtain answers to your queries or help with pieces where you're stuck.

2. GET OFF THE INTERNET (AND SUFFER ALL THAT ANNOYING SETUP Crap)

Remember all that dreadful setup stuff I mentioned earlier? So, what's this? Being a programmer entails all of this. Sorry!

Even while it's entertaining to code in an interactive course, that's not real life. It will eventually be time to remove the training wheels and learn how to code like a professional developer.

Yes, you'll have to figure out how to install the languages and get them up and running, and no, it won't be easy or enjoyable, but if you have a few pals on your side (see #1), you'll be fine!

3. TEACH YOURSELF TO THINK LIKE A PROGRAMMER.

Being a programmer or developer entails more than just knowing how to write code (the rules for the language the code is written in). You must be able to solve problems with code without having to be shown how to do so!

Knowing the technical details of a coding language is important, but knowing how to apply that code in real-world scenarios is even more important. This is where the rubber meets the road, and practise is required!

Yes, after your time on Codecademy, you'll be able to write properly structured JavaScript, Ruby, and who knows what else, and then it'll be time to put your fancy coding abilities to work on some real-world coding challenges. For example, what is the current time in Russia, or how do you create an interactive quiz?

4. AND TAKE CARE OF THE NON-EXCITING PARTS AS WELL.

Coding may be difficult. It takes practise, it doesn't always work the way you expect it to, and you'll occasionally run across problems and errors that will take some effort to resolve. Being a developer entails this.

You must learn to deal with the difficult parts: debugging your own code when something doesn't work, experimenting with new techniques until they work, or, in the worst-case scenario, scrapping something and starting again with a different approach.

But don't think of this as the difficult part; it's actually the most enjoyable! You will be more successful if you can learn to embrace the discomfort. And deliberately exposing yourself to those types of events will educate you how to deal with the difficult aspects of working as a developer, preventing you from being disheartened and giving up.

The bottom line: Codecademy is a great place to start, but you'll need more if you want to acquire a job.

If you're new to coding, Codecademy is an excellent place to start to acquire a sense of what it is and how it works. It's also a terrific free approach to evaluate if coding is something that interests you as a career option before diving in head first.

Taking advantage of a variety of learning opportunities, such as working on real-world projects, is one way to improve your proficiency faster. Codecademy should be just one of many good resources in your toolbox when you're learning to code. For even more possibilities, check out this list of 64 Free Online Resources to Learn to Code.

Another wonderful, free method to get started learning to code is to enrol in Skillcrush's Free Coding Camp, which will teach you the fundamentals of what a career in technology entails and how to begin speaking like a coder.

And, when you're ready to ditch the training wheels and advance, you can check into paid, instructor-led courses like Skillcrush's Break Into Tech Course.