Want to be a programmer? Here’s how you can start early

We live in a world where technology is integrated into almost everything around us. But underneath the convenience of having everything at our fingertips is an endless ocean of ‘code’, the basic language on which any computer program is built. In such a world, to be a coder is to have the ability to take a look under the hood of the technological world around us and play around with it! 

While the field of programming is still relatively new, today, there are more branches and specialisations available in the field than ever imagined before. We are on the brink of perfecting new technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Quantum Computing – the list is as exciting as it is long! If you are someone who is thrilled by all this, then you don’t have to wait till college to get the ball rolling. There’s a lot you can do to develop your aptitude for coding right away!

What does it take to be a coder?

In a sense, learning a new programming language is like learning a new human language. It requires an analytical mindset, logical thinking and reasoning, along with a fair bit of practice. Professionally speaking, you can choose to specialise in any of the above-mentioned fields or even straddle multiple roles by acquiring a diverse range of coding skills. 

As far as the academic requirements are concerned, it helps to pursue the science stream after 10th through high school. Picking subjects like Computer Science and Computer Applications as your elective subjects will also make your journey to being a coder smoother. For a detailed list of colleges and universities, academic qualifications and other details required, you can check out our Careerscope on What it Takes to be a Software Engineer . 

Future academic choices aside, you can always choose to kickstart your coding experience right now! It’s never too early to start and BYJU’S has got you covered! 

Learn to Code with WhiteHat Jr.

The BYJU’S Family recently welcomed WhiteHat Jr., a platform where young programming enthusiasts can learn coding from the comfort of their own homes. With WhiteHat Jr., you can learn to build exciting games, animations and apps using the fundamentals of coding. 

With WhiteHat Jr., you can get a foundational understanding of logic, structure, sequence, commands and algorithmic thinking – all very important concepts if you want to be an ace coder. 

Confused about where to start? You can choose your starting point and pick between four levels of courses – Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Professional and Applied Tech – available for students aged 6 to 18.

What’s more? You get access to all this and more in a live online classroom where you can learn one-on-one with a Certified Early Childhood Coding expert. In a world where almost everyone is an ardent consumer of technology, WhiteHat Jr. aims at empowering the next generation (that’s you!) to become creators instead of just passive consumers.

Code: the Lingua Franca of the future

Today, knowing how to code, or at least the fundamental concepts behind it, is not just restricted to the skillsets of software developers. From designers to entrepreneurs to freelancers to online content developers – everyone can benefit from a basic understanding of programming. It gives you a better understanding of how all the machines around us work – how do elevators decide if they’re going up or down? How do traffic lights coordinate with each other? At the most basic level, they are all operated by a series of ones-and-zeroes!

As we move towards a future where technology is only bound to continue making exponential advancements, knowing how to code would be like a common tongue that connects people across the interconnected digital world. And it’s never too late to learn a new language!

Also check out this article on a Career in Game Development