Opportunities to expand your education on your own time via online resources are only growing by the day. For individuals looking to make career shifts, pad their resumes, and learn new coding skills, Codecademy.com presents a practical pathway. But is Codecademy good for beginners? And if so, how far does the teaching go?
While Codecademy offers beginner-friendly lessons and is good at teaching beginner syntax, it is not great for newbies who want to learn to program beyond the basic syntax level.
Continue reading along to learn more about whether Codecademy is good for beginners. We’ll discuss some of the specific basic skills you can learn via Codecademy’s online syntax courses, the courses that are best for newbies, and what these opportunities can do for a beginner coding resume. Let’s dive in!
Is Codecademy good for beginner programmers?
You aren’t so much taught actual programming skills at Codecademy as you are taught how to use the syntax of a coding language.
Therefore, most programmers do not consider Codecademy to be a good choice for beginners wanting to learn the ins and outs of programming. The basics on this platform won’t quite expand your knowledge as far as how to make a script.
What you really miss out on with Codecademy are the courses that cover comprehensive standard practices, as well as a deeper understanding of the concepts of a language.
Is Codecademy good for learning beginner syntax?
Fortunately, if you’re a beginner coder and an understanding of language syntax is what you’re looking for, then Codecademy is probably a good choice for you. The learning platform has a relatively low learning curve, which is great if you want to start from scratch, so to speak.
Codecademy has plenty of resources to help users learn the syntax of a new coding language. Examples include the Python Syntax Course – a 14-part course that relies on memory-driven quizzes to cement your knowledge of the language’s syntax.
Codecademy courses like this one – which is also available for other coding languages like Java – cover the basics like strings, variables, and numbers.
In fact, Codecademy is so geared towards beginner coders that many users have described the platform as a “hand-holding” platform. It doesn’t offer many challenging exercises beyond the very basics. So, certificate-holders should be prepared to supplement Codecademy courses with more intensive courses elsewhere if they want to dive into programming.
Other Beginner-Friendly Skills You Can Learn
Codecademy also presents students with the opportunity to complete portfolio Projects while taking language syntax courses. This might entail the completion of a tip calculator, for example.
Having this tangible project up your sleeve gives you something useful to add to your resume or CV if you intend on seeking out an entry-level coding job.
Is Codecademy worth putting on a resume?
Codecademy certificates are worth putting on an entry-level coding resume or resume for a coding internship, but not on a resume for a full-fledged programming job.
The skills you take away from Codecademy are simply not going to provide you with the credentials that programming companies look for in candidates.
That said, any relevant coding experience you can include on your resume, including certifications from Codecademy courses, could help your chances of employment. But you should be aware of the fact that Codecademy certifications aren’t going to be accredited, which is something that potential employers might be specifically looking for.
It’s also worth noting that certain Codecademy course certificates are only included with paid plans on the platform.
What are some Codecademy beginner-friendly courses?
Most of the Codecademy courses are heavily guided and geared towards beginners. But some specific ones are worth looking into if you are new to the world of coding in general.
Learn C++
This is a Codecademy 13-lesson course rated as beginner-friendly. It’s an ideal course for those interested in the database, game, and software-related fields, as it teaches you a versatile programming language.
What’s more, is that you don’t need any prerequisites to start the course online.
Learn Java
This 16-lesson beginner course comes with a certificate if you have a paid plan. It teaches you a common programming language that can be applied to mobile app development, web development, and software careers.
It’s a great way for beginners in the field to learn some very basic concepts of the language, all within just 25 hours.
Learn HTML
HTML is a good place to start if you’re unfamiliar with code. It’s a basic webpage-building language, and with the Learn HTML course, you can achieve basic knowledge in just 6 lessons.
It may be even more enticing for beginners to learn that it takes less than 10 hours to complete the course, which teaches page structure, data table presentation, and clean HTML writing.
Learn JavaScript
If you want to learn how to create interactivity on websites, then you should start to learn how JavaScript works. This language learning course is beginner-friendly and takes just around 20 hours to finish.
Students of this course learn basic language concepts, as well as the ability to read and write JavaScript.
What should I learn first on Codecademy?
If you are unsure of what type of coding course you should begin with at Codecademy, you can utilise the site’s programming personality quiz. This tool is designed to find out which coding languages and courses naturally suit your interests.
Otherwise, one of the best courses to start with in general is a beginner-friendly coding language course. These typically include varying levels, with languages like SQL and Python.
But one option with relatively few levels (4) and commitment required is the beginner-friendly Learn SQL course. It’s the standard data management language, so it’s a good place to start. A similar course is offered for those wanting to learn CSS, for a total of 8 lessons.
How long do beginners have to work on Codecademy each week?
The beginner-friendly courses at Codecademy usually entail about 5-15 hours of time dedication per week. This amounts to roughly 1-3 hours per day if you’re setting aside time Monday-Friday.
Some courses have up to 20 or more lessons, while others have just a few. Some courses can take up to 25 hours to complete, while others take longer. Depending on your background knowledge going into the courses, as well as the intensity of the course, the time you spend each week could vary.
This is why many people looking to make a career change and slowly shift into coding, then eventually programming, will turn to Codecademy. With a relatively low impact on one’s daily life or work schedule, you can achieve the basics of language syntax independently.
Final Thoughts – Is Codecademy Good for Beginners?
Is Codecademy good for beginners in the coding/programming world? Many people who want to dive into the world of coding and programming are unsure of where to start.
Codecademy is a decent choice for beginners who want to achieve a fundamental understanding of different coding languages and their syntax. However, it’s not the most comprehensive, and it won’t accommodate those looking to learn actual programming.
If you’re on a budget and want to start from scratch, Codecademy’s free, beginner-friendly courses, which often take around 20 hours or fewer to complete, are ideal.
Resources
Nathan Britten, the founder and editor of Developer Pitstop, is a self-taught software engineer with nearly five years of experience in front-end technologies. Nathan created the site to provide simple, straightforward knowledge to those interested in technology, helping them navigate the industry and better understand their day-to-day roles.