Break the cycle, learn faster by doing today!
If you’ve decided to learn how to code, the first step you’re likely to take is to find some good learning resources.
The problem is, with so much abundance of free educational content available online, from YouTube videos to online courses, it is very easy to fall into the trap of “Tutorial Hell”.
Tutorial Hell is when you become stuck in a never-ending cycle of consuming tutorials, without ever actually applying the knowledge you acquire.
In this cycle, although you may feel like you are making progress because you're learning new things, you’ll soon find that you never actually reach your goals because you never put your knowledge into practice.
But I still don’t know anything yet so how do I avoid Tutorial Hell?
One of the best ways to avoid Tutorial Hell from the start is to follow an interactive course.
Interactive courses are a great way to get you writing code from day one! So that you can get hands-on experience in writing syntax and even building projects.
The more code you write, the faster you will grasp concepts and learn.
So without further ado, here are 5 Free Interactive learning platforms that will keep you out of Tutorial Hell:
#1 - Scrimba
First up and one of my favs on this list is Scrimba.
Scrimba offers interactive online coding tutorials and courses. It's a great resource for learning web development and improving coding skills.
One of the unique features of Scrimba is its interactive video coding playground. When you're following a tutorial or taking a course, you can actually code along with the instructor in real time, right in the window where the video tutorial is playing - it’s awesome!
This means you can see the results of your code changes immediately, which can be incredibly helpful when you're learning.
Scrimba offers a wide variety of courses, from beginner-level HTML and CSS to more advanced topics like React and Node.js. Their courses are created by experienced developers and are designed to be engaging and easy to follow.
You can also create your own courses on Scrimba, which is a great way to share your knowledge and help others learn.
Another great thing about Scrimba is that most of the courses are completely free to use. However, if you want to get some additional features, like offline access and code highlighting, or access to extra courses, you can sign up for their Pro plan.
#2 - Codecademy
Next is one of the most popular interactive course platforms with millions of users around the world, Codecademy.
Codecademy has a great interactive coding environment so that when you're following a course, you can write and run code right in your browser. This makes it easy to learn by doing, and you can see the results of your code changes immediately.
In addition to their courses, Codecademy also offers several resources to help you on your coding journey. They have a community forum where you can ask questions and get help from other learners, as well as a blog with articles on a variety of programming topics.
Codecademy also offers a wide range of courses, from HTML and CSS to data science and machine learning. Each course includes a series of lessons, quizzes, and coding exercises to help you learn and reinforce your knowledge.
While a lot of the courses are free, there will be some that require a subscription to Codecademy Plus or Pro plans, which gives you access to additional features like quizzes, projects, and personalised learning plans.
Codecademy also offers a 7-day free trial of their Plus or Pro plans, so you can try them out before committing to a subscription.
#3 - FreeCodeCamp
As its name implies, FreeCodeCamp has been growing to offer one of the largest resources for free course content.
FreeCodeCamp is a non-profit online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses and projects for people interested in learning to code. Their courses are designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of your previous experience with coding.
FreeCodeCamp offers a full curriculum for web development, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, and more. Their courses are divided into bite-sized sections, each with a series of challenges to help you learn and reinforce your knowledge. Along the way, you'll build real-world projects, like a tribute page, a survey form, a weather app, and more - all within an interactive coding playground.
One of the unique features of FreeCodeCamp is its focus on social coding. As you work through the challenges and projects, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with other learners and receive feedback on your work. This can be a great way to stay motivated and get help when you're stuck on a problem.
In addition to its coding curriculum, FreeCodeCamp also has a strong focus on career development. They offer resources and support to help you build a portfolio, create a resume, and prepare for job interviews. They even have a job board where you can find job openings at companies that value the skills you'll learn on FreeCodeCamp.
#4 - Sololearn
Next up is Sololearn. Sololearn has a mission to “make tech skills available to everyone”, hence why it offers access to all of its courses for free.
Sololearn offers courses on a wide range of programming languages, including Python, Java, C++, and more. Each course is divided into short lessons, with coding challenges at the end of each lesson to help you reinforce your knowledge. The challenges are interactive and designed to be fun, which can help keep you motivated as you learn.
In addition to the courses, Sololearn also has a strong focus on social learning. You can connect with other learners and share your progress on the platform. There are also discussion boards where you can ask questions and get help from other learners.
What’s unique is that the platform has a mobile app, making it easy to learn on the go, which is perfect if you’re a busy learner who wants to squeeze in some coding practice during your daily commute or lunch break.
Although free, you may sometimes see some ads. Therefore, if you prefer an ad-free experience you can sign up for one of their Pro plans which gives unlimited access to everything Sololearn has to offer, including its advanced learning tools.
#5 - Grasshopper
Grasshopper is an app that offers interactive coding lessons for beginners who want to learn how to code in JavaScript. The app was created by Google, and it's designed to make learning to code fun and easy.
The Grasshopper app is available online in the browser as well as a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, and it's completely free to use.
The lessons are presented as a series of puzzles and challenges that gradually increase in difficulty as you progress. Each lesson is broken down into bite-sized chunks, with clear explanations and examples to help you understand the concepts.
One of the unique features of Grasshopper is their focus on visual coding. The app uses a block-based coding interface that allows you to drag and drop blocks of code to create programs. This can be especially helpful if you’re a beginner who might be intimidated by traditional coding syntax.
In addition to the coding lessons, Grasshopper also offers a feature called "Code Playground." This is a virtual coding environment where you can practice coding on your own, without following a specific lesson plan. This can be a great way to experiment with JavaScript and build your own projects.
Grasshopper also has a strong focus on community. You can connect with other learners through the app and share your progress. There are also discussion boards where you can ask questions and get help from other learners.
In conclusion, there is no need to get stuck in "Tutorial Hell". You can start applying your coding knowledge by using interactive courses - a great way to get hands-on experience and fast-track your learning.
With the 5 free platforms listed above, you can start writing code from day one and build real-world projects.
Don't be afraid to dive in and start learning by doing today!
From your fellow ever-growing dev,
Cherlock Code
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