7 Ways to Improve Your Coding Skills in 2023
From children’s toys and mobile devices to automobiles and kitchen appliances, digital technology is a vital component of countless products. Each one of these items relies on microchips and code for reliable operation.
Combined with our increased reliance on software, it’s easy to see how coding skills have become essential to many lines of work. While not every career requires coding skills, it’s a discipline making its way into more professions with every passing year.
The writing is on the wall: Whether casually interested or professionally compelled, knowing how to code is useful. With this in mind, let’s take a look at seven ways to improve your coding skills in 2023:
Practice makes perfect
Learning how to code is like learning how to ride a bike or play a musical instrument; it takes lots of practice to get better. As a result, those interested in improving their coding skills in 2023 should keep at it every day through various forms of practice. For instance, use a programming simulator to test your skills without worrying about making mistakes. Once you start to get the hang of it, begin graduating to increasingly complex projects to keep improving over time.
Learn new programming languages
The more programming languages you learn, the more rounded and relevant your coding skills will be over time. With that said, start with the easier options and work your way up. For example, Java and Python are both considered to be ideal for beginners. The same goes for HTML and CSS. From there, you can approach more complex languages like C++ and Prolog.
Attend a coding bootcamp
Coding bootcamps are a way for those with little to no coding experience to rapidly make up for lost time. These programs usually last one to two weeks, with an emphasis on a specific operating system or coding language. For instance, the typical mobile developer bootcamp either covers Android or iOS, with additional coursework focused on mobile testing. Students come out with a deeper understanding of performance tuning, debugging, and framework comprehension.
Read credible articles and blog posts
There are countless online content sources that provide expert insights into computer coding. Top programming blogs include Hacker News and The Daily WTF. Don’t let the weird names fool you; these are valuable sources of information for those interested in improving their coding skills. Other reliable resources in this category include Khan Academy, HTML Dog, and CSS-Tricks.com.
Watch online tutorials
YouTube and other online video-sharing platforms are a goldmine of tutorials covering countless subjects. Many YouTube channels focus entirely on helping beginners learn how to code, and software developers improve their existing skills. With this in mind, consider subscribing to one or more of these channels and watching several videos focused on the specific language and software development processes you’re interested in mastering.
Join online developer communities
Several highly-rated developer communities online allow users to ask questions, search for answers, and provide solutions to those who need them. Perhaps the most popular developer community at the moment is Stack Overflow, followed by GitHub and Reddit. Consider joining one or more of these communities to access expert insights and detailed explanations on how to improve your coding abilities.
Tinker with open-source software
Open-source software is any software designed to allow anyone to see the underlying code and alter it at will. With this in mind, those looking to improve their coding skills should consider tinkering with open-source software. Doing so allows you to get your hooks into the nitty-gritty of code without worrying about making any major mistakes. The worst thing that happens is you end up with unusable software that can be easily deleted and re-installed.
Digital technology is making its way into every facet of modern life. As a result, demand for software development continues to go up. Those interested in improving their coding skills have many options at their disposal, enabling just about anyone to become a developer if they put their mind to it. So what are you waiting for? Get at it and start coding!
Alex Farina is a freelance writer from Ohio. He enjoys writing about design, fashion, nature, and technology.
