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Table of Contents

Introduction

Reddit and other internet communities often tout programming as a silver bullet for finding stable, profitable jobs. This belief is likely based in bias. Many software developers use Reddit as their social media platform of choice due to its utility and anonymous nature. But the benefits of learning how to program are undeniable. Programming is not only a relevant and reliable career in its own right, but it can be used to boost productivity in many other jobs. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to learn programming using Reddit.

Reddit Learn Programming - General

Before jumping straight into coding lessons, it can be useful to get a lay of the land. This can be done by creating a list of resources to build your knowledge of what's out there. Furthermore, programming is continuously evolving so knowing how to keep up with the changes in the field is very important.

For keeping up with general programming news, interesting projects, and updates in the field, check out the r/programming subreddit. This is a great option to check every day to stay in the coding loop and inspire you with interesting project ideas.

For programming related questions in any language, check out the r/learnprogramming subreddit. This is especially great for beginners who may have questions about programming in general or specific languages and tools.

Learn Programming Reddit - Specific Language Basics

The first step in any programmer’s journey is to learn a programming language. There are a multitude of programming languages available to choose from, each with its own benefits and downsides. Here are a few of the most popular options:

Python: This general-purpose programming language is often used in data science, web development, machine learning, and automation. Its flexibility and ease of use has made it one of the most popular programming languages for beginners and experienced developers alike. The r/learnpython subreddit provides assistance and tips for new developers.

JavaScript: This scripting language is the most frequently-used programming language in the world, and for good reason. Nearly every website uses JavaScript to produce engaging, interactive content. The recent popularity of Node.js has also brought JavaScript into the backend, allowing developers to use JavaScript for all aspects of web development. We recommend the r/LearnJavascript for finding tips and asking questions.

HTML and CSS: While not strictly programming languages, HTML and CSS are essential for any frontend developer. HTML is a file format for describing the content of websites, while CSS specifies styling and formatting. Combined, they allow developers to create visually stunning websites. And with the birth of Electron and similar frameworks, HTML and CSS can be used in websites and desktop applications alike. The r/HTML subreddit is an excellent resources for learning HTML.

Java: This programming language has become a mainstay of software development. Java’s strictly-typed, compiled nature makes it more difficult to learn than the other options mentioned here, but those that learn it will be able to transfer that knowledge to other languages with those features, such as Rust and C++. It is the language of choice for Android app development and can also be used for web servers and desktop applications. The r/learnjava subreddit provides help to both beginners and experienced developers.

Start a Project

After learning the basics of a programming language, you will learn a lot by applying that knowledge to a project. This will give you a way to reinforce what you know in a way that is relevant to your own life.

Work with spreadsheets often? Create a program to automatically gather data from a website or API and insert it into your spreadsheets.

Enjoy browsing Reddit? Write a script to email you the top posts of the subreddits you follow every morning.

Play video games? Try making your own using LWJGL (Java), Phaser (JavaScript), Pygame (Python), or another game engine of your choosing.

Of course, these are not the only projects you can choose from. Anything you can think of can be made - but sometimes, thinking of an idea is the hardest part. If you run out of ideas, the r/dailyprogrammer, r/AppIdeas, or r/gameideas subreddits can provide inspiration.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed some ways to use Reddit to learn programming. Of course, Reddit won't form the core of your coding journey, but learning which subreddits to follow can definitely help make the process easier.

If you're interested in learning the basics of coding and software development, check out our Coding Essentials Guidebook for Developers.

Thanks and happy coding! We hope you enjoyed this article! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to jacob@initialcommit.io.

Final Notes