What are the most important coding languages to learn?

Deciding that you want to switch to a career in tech and become a coder is the easy part. But choosing which coding language to learn can feel daunting and even overwhelming with so many different courses to choose from. Therefore, before deciding, we recommend that you begin with the 5-day coding challenge to determine whether this is the right career for you.

Hollywood has created a few misconceptions over the years that hooded computer programmers are socially awkward and work alone in dimly lit rooms. But the reality is that a career in coding will involve collaborating in a large team where you will be working towards a common goal with your colleagues. Furthermore, as you progress in your career, you will instantly stand out to recruiters and prospective employers if you understand one or more computing languages.

The top two programming languages based on the number of open full-time jobs are Java and Python. If you were to look under the hood of most Android apps, enterprise software, and web applications, you would find the Java programming language. But Python is the perfect choice for someone with minimal web development experience due to the simplicity of its coding language. But where should you start?

 

 

Good ways to learn code

We stated earlier, the 5-day coding challenge is the perfect place to start. Although there are many free online resources at your disposal, in our experience, the biggest challenge students face when preparing for a new career is motivation and keeping the dreaded imposter syndrome from holding them back. For these reasons, we recommend choosing a package with student support that will act as an accountability partner who will keep you on the right track.

There is no one size fits all approach to learning how to code. Everybody will have a different learning style and limited time or financial constraints. Some will be juggling work and family commitments, so they will be better suited to learning at their own pace with support on-demand for when they need it. Others will prefer a boot-camp approach where they will spend twelve weeks immersed in learning a language followed by the exam to fast-track their way through to the qualification that they need to switch careers.

It’s worth noting that some walk away from a bootcamp with the qualification they need but a nagging feeling that they did not have the time to confidently apply the skills they learned in a busy office. The best option for you will depend on your learning style, skill level, and confidence. 

If you prefer to learn through instructors through lectures and workshops in a physical classroom, followed by coding tasks and projects, a coding bootcamp might be perfect for you. However, if your learning style is better suited to learning through trial and error, teaching yourself to build something in your own time without a formal instructor or classroom, maybe a remote learning course will suit you better.

 

Good online coding courses

One of our favourite online courses is the Code+ Collection, as it will take anyone from a complete novice to a coding pro who is ready for a career in tech. With access to the pioneering learning platform Percipio, you will have unlimited access to over 12,000 books and 10,000 hours of video content. Not to mention, StudentCare™ support throughout your entire journey. 

The course will give you everything you need to learn Python, which is a popular starting point for beginners due to the simplicity of its coding language. The Code+ Collection will also help you progress from Python to Java as you begin to grow in confidence. 

Once again, it’s essential to retire the stereotype of coders being hooded geeks staring at a screen for 12 hours a day in their bedrooms. Instead, your future employers will be looking for someone who has the right soft skills to fit into their team seamlessly as well as the highly sought-after technical qualifications. This is one of the reasons we believe that access to the Soft Skills Collection gives our students the edge over competing candidates.

Upon completing the Code+ Collection, we aim to ensure you are qualified and confident in both the Python and Java coding languages. But employers are also looking for a robust set of soft skills, so in this collection, you will also learn how to communicate your ideas better to make an impact through critical thinking and professional strategies.

Many online coding courses will provide users with technical qualifications to secure a tech role. But the skills in creative thinking, negotiation, managing risk, time management, emotional intelligence, influence, and persuasion in these courses will help you thrive and advance your career in code.

 

What coding language to learn first

Suppose you are new to coding and exploring a career change into tech. In that case, the simplicity of its coding language makes Python the perfect for beginners or people with minimal web development experience. So first, the course will teach you the fundamentals of understanding Python. Then, regardless of your current skill level or knowledge, you will learn how it’s used in everything from web programming and front-end projects to testing strategies and binary trees. 

The average salary of a Python Developer comes in at around £68,000 a year. So, for these reasons alone, it is a perfect opportunity for anyone to start a career in software development by mastering what is widely regarded as the most accessible entry point for beginners.

Not only is it one of the simplest languages to learn, but Python remains a critical language in modern coding, with demand still on the rise. However, the language you choose to learn first might be determined by several other key factors, such as your career plan, the job market for the language, future prospects, and the type of projects that you will build as you learn.

If you are looking for a credit-rated coding bootcamp to kickstart your career, a Diploma in Full Stack Software Development will take you in a slightly different direction. There are no prerequisites, and you’ll be taught the latest industry language to keep you one step ahead of the curve and teach you how to host and showcase your projects on GitHub and other repositories, allowing you to showcase your code to potential employers.

This course is designed to maximise your employability and ensure you’ve got the skills to fill the continuously growing software skills gap. This approach is a little different because you do not just complete the course with a certificate or accreditation but also a professional portfolio that will complement your newly learned career-ready skills to secure your dream.

 

 

Best courses to learn to coding

Last year, the Python programming language had overtaken Java, JavaScript, and C as the most popular computer language. But it’s important to remember that 97.9% of all websites use JavaScript as a client-side programming language. It’s also used in smartphone apps, financial and scientific software, big data calculations, and web applications.

What makes Java stand out is the ability to write once and run anywhere. That’s why you find it written on almost every device and working across multiple platforms. With all this in mind, the Java Novice to Javanista course should be considered by anyone wanting to explore Java’s roots and significant features. 

You will also quickly get to grips with database connectivity and how to build web applications. With an average salary of more than £49,000 a year, it’s not only a good course to learn to code; it could open a new career in tech.

 

What are the most important coding languages to learn?

Which path to mastery you take will depend on where you want to get to. If you are brand new to coding and looking for the easiest entry point, Python is the most obvious choice. It’s a highly sought-after skill by employers, especially in back-end development and data engineering. But despite its easy entry-level, many see it as a slow language that requires much more testing, which many believe makes it impractical for developing mobile apps.

However, it’s best used in web development, graphic user interfaces (GUIs), and general software development. Those who choose this path can also unlock other tech career paths by choosing from many roles, from a web developer, data analyst, and software tester to a data journalist. But this is just one of many options available to you.

While Java is considered by many as being harder to pick up and learn than Python, It’s still relatively beginner friendly. The biggest drawback for those new to coding is that it can take much longer before students are ready to bring their ideas to life by deploying their first project. However, those that persevere will open many more career paths, from back end software development or software engineering to full-stack development to the building of mobile apps and games.

By understanding what career path you want to take and if you wish to take the easier or the more challenging route will help you identify which is the most important coding language for you to learn. But from our conversations with our students, we know that there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter approach and would love to hear more about your unique requirements and any questions you might have.

It’s not a decision you need to make on your own or rush into. So please get in touch with our expert code career consultants, and we’ll help you determine the best path forward to unlock the tech career of your dreams.