I want to learn programming but I don't know where to start.
I'm 25 and I work in retail. I'm tired of it and I want to learn to code so I can get a remote job. I have zero experience. Should I learn Python or JavaScript? FreeCodeCamp, Udemy, or a bootcamp? I can study 2 hours a day after work. What's the best path?
1 Answer(s)
Great question — and the fact that you can study 2 hours/day means you can land a junior dev job in 6-9 months. Here's the exact path I'd take:
1. Start with Python. It's the most beginner-friendly language and teaches you programming fundamentals. Spend 4-6 weeks on basics (variables, loops, functions, data structures). Use freeCodeCamp's Python course — it's free and excellent.
2. Then learn JavaScript. This is what you'll actually use for web development (the most in-demand remote skill). Spend 8-12 weeks on JS + HTML/CSS. Use The Odin Project (free) — it's better than most bootcamps.
3. Build projects. After basics, build 3-5 real projects: a to-do app, a weather app, a portfolio website. This is what gets you hired — not certificates.
What NOT to do: Don't buy a $15,000 bootcamp. Don't watch 100 hours of tutorials without building anything. Don't learn 5 languages at once.
Stick to Python → JavaScript → projects. Apply to jobs after 6 months even if you feel \"not ready.\" You'll never feel ready.