Intro to Programming

1

LeetCode

This would be considered the more “traditional” approach, learning languages like C, C++, or Java, which are all super good to know and very powerful, and are used in many cases like computer programs and executable files. Depending on the implications, they can either be and incredibly fun challenge, or just plain confusing, so definitely tread carefully if you view yourself as a beginner. If you study Computer Science at a University like I did, you will likely learn C and Java as part of the curriculum, which is obviously helpful to know, but in full transparency: I have literally not used either language even ONCE since graduating 🤷‍♂️. If this is the route you are interested in, I would create an account at leetcode, and work through the programming challenges and practice problems available, because they have a vast list of resources and explanations for the logic behind the solutions.

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2

Flutter.dev

I’m going to be super honest: building apps aren't easy. I figure I'll just start with that because building apps always seems quite easy from a theoretical view, but depending on the language can be incredibly complex. That being said, in terms of building for fun, there are a couple of different paths you could take: to build apps for Android, you can use either Java or C++, but most devs use Java because its an Object-Oriented Programming language, so data is easier to manage between pages and threads. For iOS, the current standard is the Swift programming langauge, or Apple's new UI framework SwiftUI, but both of these realistically require you to build using a Mac or iPad, because the iOS developer's IDE (integrated development environment, I.E. The software tool used to build software lol) of choice is Xcode / Swift playgrounds. The final way, my preferred way, is to develop using the Dart programming langauge, and Google's Flutter UI framework: I like Flutter alot because it provides an easy way to build apps for either operating system using a third-party language, and has a large library of widgets (UI components) that can be used in development, vastly increasing the breadth of the developer's available tools. That being said, Dart/Flutter isn't any easier than programming in Swift or Java, but more convenient if you plan on deploying to both OS' and don't want to build two separate apps.

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3

Adafruit

Coding Arduino and other microprocessors is fun, and a great way to start learning how to code, but can sometimes be frustrating if (A) you don’t have the right components and have to order parts and wait, or (B) you simply can’t figure out where to start. These small boards are INSANELY powerful and can be used for so many different things, so it’s best to pick a very specific project if you decide to go this route, and buy the pieces just for that. Parts are not super expensive, but will typically have to be soldered, but if this is something you might be interested, then check out Adafruit (https://adafruit.com/ ) which is a great site for both reading through community forums for ideas (or getting help with troubleshooting), as well as actually purchasing materials. Generally speaking: I would start with an Adafruit Metro or Feather, and a Breadboard, as they are pretty inexpensive and are great learning tools.

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