If I can become a developer you can too. Here’s the 6 best resources I use.

I am occasionally asked, "How did you get started as a developer? What is a good website? Any valuable resources? Is it simple" Because my profession as a developer is constantly evolving, as are the available resources, my responses to these questions vary frequently.

During the past 13 years, I have transitioned from reading books ("...for Dummies", O'Reilly-published books, etc.) to browsing the Internet to adopting a "learn by doing" strategy. You'll often hear me mention this because the majority of the resources I utilise employ this strategy. Even if this may not be the greatest way for certain people to learn, how can anyone become a better developer without getting their hands dirty?

With so much knowledge available, I propose these seven resources to absolute beginners as a starting point. These important services assisted me in becoming the developer I am today.

Code Academy

Code Academy was one of the first learning tools I utilised when I wanted to improve my skills. I picked this mode of education because I desired something beyond books. At the time, they offered a guided programme called "A Year of Code" that permitted customers to enrol in weekly sessions for an entire year. The course would progress from understanding the basics through JS, CSS, HTML, and other advanced topics. You would then be able to construct a website and a web application at the end of the year.

Courses at Code Academy are now organised into profession and skill routes. Data Science, computer science, react, sql, python, etc., are examples of current and trending topics that they emphasised. They do an excellent job of updating the content when circumstances change and introducing new industry-related issues. Each lesson is brief, self-paced, and easily digestible, utilising a "learn by doing" methodology.

Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available, and include quizzes, community boards, and capstone projects. As aspiring developers, the projects are wonderful additions to the membership because they allow members to create their portfolios.

Udemy

I desired additional information on a few of the topics covered by Code Academy and Treehouse. Udemy became a low-cost resource for advanced topics. The primary distinction between Udemy and its competitors is that Udemy's content is video. People from diverse backgrounds and instructional methods develop content. Each topic employs a "learn by doing" methodology, however it is the user's responsibility to have the appropriate tools to finish the courses (authors usually have a setup and tools section). Not every session is brief and straightforward, so if time is of the essence, be aware that some lessons can last for hours. For instance, the 56-hour cloud computing course I paid included tests and downloaded content.

Additionally, it is up to the user to decide which lesson to purchase, as multiple authors may generate content on the same topic. Therefore, read the reviews and the course outline.

With hundreds of potential topics, it may be difficult to choose a path, but I would recommend building a path that develops on a certain skill you may have learned on another platform.

YouTube

Wow, YouTube. The frontier of content. I just offer YouTube because that may be the only alternative that is free. There are so many options available that it is tough for some users to navigate when they are attempting to learn without falling down the notorious rabbit hole. The content may be of poor quality, out of date, or simply awful!!!

How can you locate the finest lessons on a subject? Typically, the best-performing authors have a curated channel. Typically, you will find well-produced content and playlists with courses related to a particular topic. If you're fortunate, you'll recognise an excellent channel because new, high-quality content is constantly added. I purchased a RasPi and pondered, "Who can teach me how to use this device?" After conducting some research, I discovered AdaFruit's YouTube account.

There are numerous channels that provide excellent content, so take your time picking which one to follow. Avoid falling down the YouTube rabbit hole.

Frontend Masters

Unfortunately, I discovered Frontend Masters through a sponsored ad. With that being stated I'm pleased I did. Their curriculum delves into more advanced frameworks, frontend/backend design and architecture, databases, etc. issues. Essentially the entire stack. Among the many subjects covered are React, Vue, GraphQL, and Node.js.

Similar to the previously stated service, Frontend Masters's content employs a "learn by doing" methodology. They do a fantastic job of maintaining relevance by updating previous articles and introducing new content approximately once each month. Each session is taught by a seasoned industry specialist with a history of employment at major corporations such as Google and Microsoft.

While much of the content is in-depth on a variety of topics, it's expected that the user isn't a complete beginner, so it's best to have prior knowledge or expertise with the fundamentals before delving in. Frontend Masters is my favourite resource since it keeps me abreast of the most recent developments. Comparable platforms provide comparable pricing, but this one is well worth its weight in gold.

Cloud Guru

Despite the fact that it may not be significant to others, I find it enjoyable to comprehend the various resources utilised to power a project in the "Cloud," and you should try to appreciate it as well. They mostly cover all DevOps-related issues, such as Linux, Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS.

Understanding the Cloud is a vital ability for any corporation that wishes to conduct business on the web. The "learn by doing" method is well-executed and straightforward in their films.

Several of Cloud Guru's initiatives need a distinctive architecture. For both monthly and annual memberships, pricing falls within a narrow range.

Medium

I believe this to be self-explanatory. There are several articles on any topic you might want. I avoid stories that require more than seven minutes to read. The reason for this is that it is often overly technical and laden with filler. Some of the best articles are composed using a "learn-by-doing" method that takes approximately five minutes. Therefore, Medium is OK.

One final thing before departing: Being a great developer needs commitment and perseverance. Try anything and have no fear of making mistakes.