Is it possible to learn programming without paying anything?

[Galactic Alignment]

I want to learn computer programming in order to retrain to get a better job, but... Is that even possible without having to money to spend on it? I have a degree already, so don’t have any means to fund a second/different degree in compute science (and honestly, I’m much too old), and those dubious-looking “boot camps” I see advertised are absolutely out of my price range too, even if they weren’t all based on the other side of the country. So, is this even possible?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

You'd have to figure out which "language" you want to learn. There must be quite a few of those, no?

 

[Galactic Alignment]

You'd have to figure out which "language" you want to learn. There must be quite a few of those, no?

I genuinely have no idea how any of them even differ from each other (are they just different ‘brand names’, or different from each other like actual languages are?). I’m just asking if it’s even possible to learn without having literally any money to spend on retraining.

 

[Avro Arrow]

@Galactic Alignment , do you really want to do this again? Seems to me there was quite an extensive thread where you were asking about this very thing around this time last year.

Since that thread is *just* over a year old, and we have a bit of discretion, and it was closed at your request, I am willing to reopen the old thread if you wish to inquire further. If so, please PM me and let me know. Otherwise, I don't see the need to rehash the same thing over again, since it was covered so extensively last time.

 

[Avro Arrow]

After discussion with the OP, I am reopening the thread, and moving it to Science and Technology, in hopes that the inquiry might garner responses from those who may not have seen the original thread in Misc.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I genuinely have no idea how any of them even differ from each other (are they just different ‘brand names’, or different from each other like actual languages are?). I’m just asking if it’s even possible to learn without having literally any money to spend on retraining.

One site lists these as the "top 10" programming languages. I have no doubt different companies created them as the "go to" language, but have no idea what they may have in common.

1. Python
2. JavaScript
3. Java
4. Swift
5. GoLang
6. C#
7. C++
8. Scala
9. Kotlin
10. Ruby
    
    
    I myself never got past the basics of BASIC many, many years ago. I did some HTML about 15 years ago in a learn as I went situation. XML has some similarities and is used for page layout in MAXIMO. I'm more of a "systems guy".
    

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Maybe this will help?

12 Sites That Will Teach You Coding At a Low Cost, Even Free
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250323

Also, this one is $39.00
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/344474

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Maybe this will help?

12 Sites That Will Teach You Coding At a Low Cost, Even Free
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250323

Also, this one is $39.00
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/344474

Thing is, the first one suggests a few sites I’ve tried, like Free Code Academy, and I’ve never been able to follow that when I’ve looked at it. I’m not sure if that means the site is poor, or I just need taught instruction (which I can’t afford).

I also wanted to know from anyone who works in this field, is it even possible to work in it without a computer science degree even if you can have learnt it? (I had ideas of doing computer science at university when I was younger, to get a career in IT, but I didn’t have a pass at maths GCSE, let alone maths A-level, so I had to do something else.)

 

[StarCruiser]

Here's an idea - start with what you want to do with any programming language.

1: For employment?
2: For fun?
3: For a specific project?

Some computer languages are commonly used for certain things. C# and C++ are commonly used to write stand alone software (MS Word, Excel - stuff like that). Java and Javascript are mostly used for small apps or apps running on the internet (and are obnoxiously touchy about compatibility with versions).

Python is a scripting language and is used in the IT industry pretty much just with Linux for a variety of purposes.

Some of these have their own websites where you can download references or even code (samples or complete programs). Others do have some reference sites that are free (or mostly free).

Python - https://www.python.org/

C# - https://www.w3schools.com/cs/

C++ - https://www.cplusplus.com/

Swift - https://swift.org/

Golang - https://golang.org/

Javascript - https://www.w3schools.com/js/

Java - https://www.w3schools.com/java/java_intro.asp

Kotlin - https://kotlinlang.org/

Scala - https://www.scala-lang.org/

Ruby - https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/

All of the home pages for these newer languages have a community of developers/enthusiasts that are able and willing to help "newbies" get going. They also tend to have fairly complete documentation.

Still - you do need to think about what you want to do with any programming language before you jump into one. Also, beware that there is NO shortcut to learning a programming language. Even the simpler languages (like good ol' BASIC) have lots of complexity and you have to watch what you are doing - and be prepared to mess it up big time for awhile.

You will not become a master of any of them just by reading a book or asking a few questions. You have to dig in and get your hands dirty. Play with it, mess up and learn from the mistakes.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Here's an idea - start with what you want to do with any programming language.

1: For employment?
2: For fun?
3: For a specific project?

Some computer languages are commonly used for certain things. C# and C++ are commonly used to write stand alone software (MS Word, Excel - stuff like that). Java and Javascript are mostly used for small apps or apps running on the internet (and are obnoxiously touchy about compatibility with versions).

Python is a scripting language and is used in the IT industry pretty much just with Linux for a variety of purposes.

Some of these have their own websites where you can download references or even code (samples or complete programs). Others do have some reference sites that are free (or mostly free).

Python - https://www.python.org/

C# - https://www.w3schools.com/cs/

C++ - https://www.cplusplus.com/

Swift - https://swift.org/

Golang - https://golang.org/

Javascript - https://www.w3schools.com/js/

Java - https://www.w3schools.com/java/java_intro.asp

Kotlin - https://kotlinlang.org/

Scala - https://www.scala-lang.org/

Ruby - https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/

All of the home pages for these newer languages have a community of developers/enthusiasts that are able and willing to help "newbies" get going. They also tend to have fairly complete documentation.

Still - you do need to think about what you want to do with any programming language before you jump into one. Also, beware that there is NO shortcut to learning a programming language. Even the simpler languages (like good ol' BASIC) have lots of complexity and you have to watch what you are doing - and be prepared to mess it up big time for awhile.

You will not become a master of any of them just by reading a book or asking a few questions. You have to dig in and get your hands dirty. Play with it, mess up and learn from the mistakes.

No, you didn’t read what I wrote and asked, that’s way too advanced for me at the moment.

Basically, I want to learn programming as I want to work in the IT industry.

I am just asking – can I even learn programming to get that work in the IT industry? I don’t have GCSE maths, can’t afford taught instruction or a taught course because I already have a degree, so can’t get actual teaching or the qualifications I might need. I tried Free Code Academy but it was incredibly intimidating and I couldn’t get far into it.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Also, I can see that they have different languages, but how do they differ? EXPLAIN. I don’t know enough about this to be able to look at them on a sheet of paper and see which is ‘better’ or ‘similar’ between languages.

 

[DimesDan]

No, you didn’t read what I wrote and asked, that’s way too advanced for me at the moment.

Basically, I want to learn programming as I want to work in the IT industry.

I am just asking – can I even learn programming to get that work in the IT industry? I don’t have GCSE maths, can’t afford taught instruction or a taught course because I already have a degree, so can’t get actual teaching or the qualifications I might need. I tried Free Code Academy but it was incredibly intimidating and I couldn’t get far into it.

I've taken a year out to concentrate on a Masters, but I've worked in tech roles and gotten away with only knowing rudimentary programming skills of a couple of languages.

 

[Australis]

You do realise you can get an IT job without knowing how to code, yes? It's helpful but not essential.

There's
Systems support and analysis ("have you tried turning it off and on again?")
Network infrastructure ("I'll just plug this cable in" or "I'll go and check the modem")
Website support and development (some of which you have done, but it's probably easier now).

And these are the 'lower end' jobs, vital but requiring minimal coding.

There are also many jobs that are higher up and still don't require coding, but more intense understanding about software suites (eg, MS Office), networking software (eg, Netgear), database systems (SQL) and so on. To just focus on programming now is to limit your options. Use something simpler to get in, and you never know, a company might pay you to train in a language if you show initiative and drive.

Ready to show initiative and drive?

By the way, I don't think any - anyone - here is a "wealthy elite" and can afford to spend pocket change on an IT course. I was poor when I started, and had to pay a loan scheme back over years. The thing was, doing the course put me into a better income bracket which I could afford to pay back. Because you're paying back an existing loan (reading between the lines), it makes it harder but not impossible to apply. When I was at college studying IT, I had to work a job as well as get the minimal assistance, so I was away from home 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. Had to be done.

Finally, ask yourself this: is IT what you really want to do? What is your passion? Could you make a living from that? I'm writing at the moment; I am not making a living from it (right now) but I am a LOT happier as a person. Just a thought.

 

[Crazyewok]

Also, I can see that they have different languages, but how do they differ? EXPLAIN. I don’t know enough about this to be able to look at them on a sheet of paper and see which is ‘better’ or ‘similar’ between languages.

If you cant even decide on your own what language is best used or even know what the codes are....well I think programming might be a little to advanced for you at this point.

I would try working on your search engine and research skills.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Coding and programming are not the same thing. Anyone can learn to code. Learning to write programs takes endless hours of working practice. And it requires a very deliberate way of thinking and processing information. You need to be able to describe how to cook a box of pasta down to every last detail. And I mean every last detail. But if you have the discipline to put the hours in, you can pretty much learn to do it for free. And with a decent enough portfolio can find good-paying freelance work fairly regularly without any kind of formal training.

IT-support jobs aren't nearly as rigorous but you are going to need a formal education of some kind to get any kind of decent work. No company is going to trust their network security on someone who learned how to admin on the interwebz.

 

[rahullak]

Yes it's possible.

You'd need to do self-learning on the Internet or for small amounts read books, spend time, and be patient.

As for differences in programming languages, most of them are procedural, functional, object-oriented (yes, i know these are technical terms) so it doesn't matter too much which language you choose from a pure learning perspective. From a job market perspective, you might like to choose C++/C#, Java, or Python as these are in-demand as far as I know.

The core of programming is learning to develop the algorithm (or pseudocode) as they say. You can then translate that algorithm into code of a specific language. The algorithm is usually independent of the programming language that you use. So, my suggestion is get some books on algorithms and start reading them.

Now if self-learning is hard, then I think you would need somebody to teach you. I think even the most sophisticated instruction software still can't replace a human being. At least not yet.

 

[Finn]

What's your degree, and bulk of your working experience?

And I don't think you are too old. I know some 50-something folks who went back to school for a new career, and some of them had no money.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

What's your degree, and bulk of your working experience?

And I don't think you are too old. I know some 50-something folks who went back to school for a new career, and some of them had no money.

I can’t go back to ‘school’, as if you have a degree in the UK, you get no funding for new qualifications due to the ELQ rule, and I don’t have enough savings to hope to pay for any taught courses. I would love to learn again and get new qualifications, but I would need a significant boost in earnings first. I don’t have a degree in computer science or similar, and haven’t worked in any IT/tech jobs.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

If you cant even decide on your own what language is best used or even know what the codes are....well I think programming might be a little to advanced for you at this point.

I would try working on your search engine and research skills.

Don’t be so rude and patronising! I’ve been using the internet since 1995, used early search engines – I remember the really primitive stuff like Gopher! I’ve gotten a degree and had to search for journal articles, books, etc. Please do not bother me any more with your smug bullying.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Coding and programming are not the same thing. Anyone can learn to code. Learning to write programs takes endless hours of working practice. And it requires a very deliberate way of thinking and processing information. You need to be able to describe how to cook a box of pasta down to every last detail. And I mean every last detail. But if you have the discipline to put the hours in, you can pretty much learn to do it for free. And with a decent enough portfolio can find good-paying freelance work fairly regularly without any kind of formal training.

IT-support jobs aren't nearly as rigorous but you are going to need a formal education of some kind to get any kind of decent work. No company is going to trust their network security on someone who learned how to admin on the interwebz.

Well, I can’t afford to take any new qualifications, due to the ELQ rules. If I was earning enough to get new training and qualifications, I would be earning enough already and be happy with my income!

By “freelance”, you mean what Americans call self employment, right? I will not be self employed. I need a solid, reliable income. I don’t have luxurious savings. Self employed people have been left to rot by the government during the pandemic as they aren’t getting support that employed people are.