Programming is an incredibly broad field and there are always more things to learn. There are lots of programming languages used in different contexts, and today you can use them in almost any area.
If you’re thinking of learning how to code so that you can start a new career, try out as a new hobby, or if you simply want to learn more about what it is, you have come to the right place. In this post, we will try to explain in detail what programming is and give you an introduction to some of the most common and popular programming languages.
Learning to code is not something you do overnight, but it’s also not something that is intended for a group of super-intelligent people. Most people can learn to code if they have a genuine interest in it and by simply following this guide.
What is Programming?
Programming is basically about solving problems by creating different instructions. The instructions are written in a programming language such as Java or Python and compiled and then run by a computer, which converts the code into machine code.
With programming, it’s possible to create all sorts of different applications such as mobile apps, computer games and other applications. Everything digital you use is based on some type of code.
A computer does not understand any of these programming languages, but code must first be recompiled into machine code, which consists of ones and zeros. This is also called binary code and is the only language that a processor understands and can execute.
Another common word when talking about programming is an algorithm which can be seen as a recipe and a set of instructions that must be executed in a certain sequence to solve the problem.
Python
Python supports several different programming paradigms, including object-oriented and functional programming. Python is one of the most common programming languages for first-time programmers as it’s relatively simple, has a large standard library and has an easy-to-read program code.
However, you might have difficulties learning this language and encounter some coding challenges along the way. For instance, if you’ve started learning this fun programming language at school, you might require some additional python homework help if you want to improve your coding skillset, learn various core concepts and operations, and become a proficient programmer.
C/C ++
C and C ++ are two of the most fundamental programming languages and have been around since the ‘70s and ‘80s. C is a general, imperative programming language that has influenced almost every popular programming language available today. C ++ can be seen as a natural sequel to C as it’s based on the same syntax, but one of the differences is that C ++ also supports object-oriented programming. C ++ has taken over much of the programming that was previously done in C and is today found in computer games as well as various software and consumer electronics.
An advantage of C ++ are the templates, which allow you to reuse the same code for different data types. A disadvantage, for both C and C ++, is that they are relatively difficult to learn and require more of the user compared to the agile programming languages such as Ruby and Python. However, the reward with C and C ++ is a great understanding of programming, which makes it easier to learn more languages, even the more advanced ones like Java.
Java
Oracle’s language Java is one of the web’s most popular class-based and object-oriented languages, designed to work on as many different platforms as possible without having to change the code. Java is one of the most popular programming languages and is found in applications on and off the web, in various operating systems and on several different types of devices. The language also has a large library with ready-made computer structures and frameworks.
One of the disadvantages is that Java can be difficult to understand and code effectively as it requires the person coding to think like a programmer – logically, analytically and with an understanding of how the computer processes information. But if you succeed in learning Java, you have a good foundation for learning more languages more easily.
Final Thoughts
Programming might seem daunting and confusing to beginners. Start by learning one programming language but don’t stop learning after the first language as the best programmers have a combination of several languages under their belt. We mentioned some of the most popular and commonly-used languages that can be a great starting point for beginners that will make sure other languages will be easier to pick up.
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