1. Consider the Question 'Why?'

What makes you want to get into programming? Composing a list of questions to ask yourself, then answering them will help you to focus your energies in the right place. Some questions to consider might be:

• What sort of programming do you want to do?

• What do you hope to do with the new information that you learn?

• Where can you find the right place to educate yourself?

2. Evaluate the Different Fields of Programming

There are a lot of roles that a computer programmer might take on and each has its own place within the cyberworld. Choosing a field will lead you to a particular language and particular tasks associated therein. Some of the major fields of programming include:

• Data scientist: usually found in academia, their job is to analyze and manipulate scientific data.

• Software programmer: they create software, like low code development platforms, based on somebody's design or idea.

• Web developer: front-end web developers write code that informs the look of the website and how its content is presented. Back-end web developers write programs that provide the framework that the website runs on.

• Database administrator: they take large amounts of company data to organize, analyze and secure it.

3. Learn the Language

Each specific programming role has its own language that must be learned. If you try to enter a field using the wrong language, you won't get far. Some popular programming languages include:

• javascr1pt: used in front-end web design, back-end web app development, robotics and game development

• Java: Known as the ideal beginner's code, it is incredibly versatile and used for loads of programming tasks.

• Solidity: this cutting-edge programming is used within the burgeoning cryptocurrency and blockchain fields.

• Python: versatile and widespread, Python is involved in many programming fields, like software development. It is also utilized in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

4. Practice Your Burgeoning Skills

As the expression goes, if you want to get good at something, do it for 10,000 hours. Once you establish which field you'd like to enter and why, you can download a code editor and begin writing programs. The following are some widely-used practice techniques:

• Try different ways to do the same thing

• Read codes written by somebody else

• Practice online

• Take an online course

While you are practicing, be sure to focus on the fundamentals. Learning anything requires time and patience and learning computer programming is no different. You might feel like you have to cover a lot of ground fast but in this case the goal is very much the journey itself. 

5. Create Your Portfolio

As you continue to develop, begin to create a portfolio of your work. This isn't just something for you to be proud of, it's something you can show to potential employers down the road. Aim to include some disparity among your work that can showcase your dynamic skills.

Computer programming is a massive field and it is part of the future. Honing in on a particular element will help to define your goals and set you on your programming path. At that point, by practicing and developing a portfolio, you'll be creating your programming persona and learning what you need to enter the field of computer programming.

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