Behind the interfaces of our favorite apps and websites lies a hidden world of code, lines of text that shape our experiences. Writing code, otherwise known as programming, comes in many different languages which all have the ability to bring our applications to life. The most used programming languages among developers worldwide are JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, which are collectively used to build web applications (Statista).
While many developers opt for website builders because of their convenience, they also come with limitations. If you’re seeking unrestricted creativity and creation, then programming is the best path for you. Now the question is, where do I even start? Here are my go-to free tools and resources for beginners, compiled into a starter kit for new developers.
Visual Studio Code
To start, you need a coding editor and Visual Studio Code (also known as VS Code) is a great option. Not only is it free, it runs on all common operating systems and is fully customizable. It also comes with built-in features like syntax highlighting, bracket-matching, auto-indentation, and much more. All of this makes it easy for developers to write and navigate their code. On top of this, Visual Studio Code goes beyond the basics with built-in tools like IntelliSense which is a code-completion aid that helps increase productivity. It includes features such as function definitions, library imports, and more. Overall, Visual Studio Code has remained the standard for developers due to it’s extensive built-in support and customizability.
GitHub
Whether you’re working on a solo project or collaborating with a team, GitHub is a must-have developer platform. It’s a trusted digital workspace that over 100 million developers and over 4 million organizations utilize (GitHub). Also, it’s free forever and allows you to host unlimited public and private repositories. While there are two other paid options, this is for teams and enterprises that need advanced features.
Git, the version control system that GitHub uses, is a necessity for all developers. This allows you to track your project history. “As developers make changes to the project, any earlier version of the project can be recovered at any time” (GitHub Docs). When you’re programming and something breaks, this can be a lifesaver. It’s also particularly useful when collaborating with others as it allows developers to review project history and find out which changes were made, who made them, when they were made, and the reasons behind them.
MDN Web Docs
Previously known as Mozilla Developer Network, MDN Web Docs is a free open-source resource for developers by developers. Under the “References” section, you can access detailed web technology documentation ranging from languages to developer tools. Their guiding principle of “independent and unbiased – across browsers and technologies” has made them the go-to repository of information and learning for developers (MDN).
In addition to their documentation, MDN Web Docs provides an extensive set of learning resources for beginning developers and students. The “Guides” section is their learning area which provides step-by-step tutorials on the fundamentals of web development. They’ve even recently added a new “Curriculum” section which offers a free and self-paced learning experience for beginners. This curriculum provides a structured guide and includes best practices, tooling, web standards and semantics, styling, and scripting.
Stack Overflow
Every developer, no matter their experience level, has stumbled onto Stack Overflow. It’s quite simple, a person asks a detailed coding question and gets answers from other developers. They make it easy to find that one-line solution to the problem you’ve been beating yourself up over for hours. One of the greatest things about Stack Overflow is that most of the time you don’t even have to wait for a solution because your question has already been asked and answered.
What sets Stack Overflow apart is its reputation system in which users earn trust and unlock privileges based on the validity of their contributions. This helps users easily know who to trust and has made the platform a trusted resource as a whole. Overall, with over 15 years of high-quality knowledge shared, Stack Overflow continues to redefine the way developers collaborate and learn.
Takeaways
Getting started in programming doesn’t have to be scary. My hope is that this developer starter kit helps you start your developer journey with ease. Visual Studio Code is your flexible coding editor while GitHub equips you with a version control system for all your projects. When you are in need of some help, MDN Web Docs has got you covered. Last but not least, Stack Overflow is always there for you when you forget how to center a div. Overall, programming will undoubtedly present challenges, but with these free resources at your disposal, support is just a click away.