Have you ever considered being a programmer? Perhaps you have but you got thinking you don’t have the time or the smarts to learn computer programming or coding as some people call it. Thinking that way is probably due to inadequate information. You can actually learn to be a programmer right in your bedroom. And without any previous programming knowledge too. This fact should immediately paint a non-complex picture about programming: anybody can be a programmer. No matter your age or status. It is just a matter of how badly you want it. So you just finished secondary school waiting for admission and you have lots of time? Or you just graduated, searching for a job while wondering what you really want for yourself? Or you have a job but lots of free time doing nothing? Or you got laid off from your job, and you are now wondering what to do with your life? Or you just want to learn a new skill because you are just restless? If you fall into any of those categories, programming is just the thing for you. You might be thinking you need mad maths skills to be one. Actually, if you know how to read and write and have tons patience, you can be a programmer. Of course, you need to have Internet access and time on your hands. So why do you need to learn computer programming? Computer programming or coding rules today’s world. Some of the biggest names in the world of business and technology are programmers. The people making serious money while having fun the most are certainly computer programmers. This digital age we are in is based on the jobs programmers do. Almost every aspect of life is dependent on computers or microchips. One of the best things about programming is you don’t have to study it in a formal school environment to get a high paying job. Employees are really not interested in where you studied and how long you studied. They have one question for you. ‘Can you do this? ‘ If your answer is a yes. Then you get a simple command, ‘Show us.’ That is all. The reason is simple, more and more businesses are seeing the need to go digital. At the same time, the fluid and dynamic digital environment demand they need programmers to keep that part of their operations up to date. However, even learning basic computer programming can get you good gigs from people who need freelance programmers to do a job. You can easily create apps or softwares customized to the specific needs of individuals businesses and organizations. With your basic knowledge of computer programing, The possibilities for you are limitless. The next question is how to go about being learning computer programming. Computer programming languages Computer programming has several aspects or what is known as languages. People who work in research institutes like CERN are at the top of the food chain of coders. Obviously, since you are just starting out, what you need to learn are the foundations of the ecosystem. Master these, you can branch out in any direction you wish. Like earlier stated, with patience, your limits are set by how far you want to go. Let’s look at five computer programming languages that can get you started as a programmer 1. Python In the world of coding, Python is arguably the easiest programming language to learn. Developed in the 80s, it is an open source tool that can be used alone or in conjunction with other languages. It is used mostly in the development of Web applications, video games, desktop user interfaces, and softwares. However, Python is not so great for the development of mobile-based applications because the language is considered too slow. Notwithstanding that, popular Web-based services such as Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify were created using Python. 2. C and C++ Both of them are great introductory programming languages for beginners. Learning C naturally leads C++ just like eating is the consequence of hunger. Both languages have impacted greatly on the development of other programming languages. Therefore, it is usual to see them both as the natural stepping stone to more complex programming fields. Google , Amazon Kindle, Linus, and OpenGL were all created using either C or C++. 3. JavaScript JavaScript (some people tend to confuse this with Java) as the name implies is a scripting language that is also easy to learn for beginners. This programming language is the fundamental basis of all Web browsers. So playing around with the script shouldn’t be a problem as it is already there in your Web browser. Some of the biggest softwares like PayPal and YouTube have a bit of this programming language as part of their framework. However, JavaScript is more popularly used in creating websites, all sorts of widgets, and Web analytics programs. 4. Ruby Created in the 90s, Ruby has a strong reputation as one of the best languages to learn for beginners. Apart from the fact that it is easy to learn, it also has a wide range of practical applications. The official website has a 20-minute guide that would familiarize you with the basics of the language. With the knowledge of ruby at your fingertips, you can branch into websites development, softwares and apps for the web, and create user interfaces for desktop computers. Some popular web-based services like Hulu, GROUPON, and Airbnb are based on ruby. 5. PHP PHP is a scripting language primarily created for the web; but like any good beginner programming language, it can be used in several aspects of computer programming. With PHP, you can create plugins for WordPress, develop websites and databases. Facebook and WordPress are just of the popular Web services developed using PHP. The above five programming languages are the easiest to learn for beginners. After mastering them (this should take you about 4 months tops) you can move up a level up to languages like Java (the most popular programming language in the world), Objective C, C#, etc. Since you now have a knowledge of the basics, going a step further up the chain would not be a steep learning curve. Where to learn computer programming for free Knowing where to study computer programming free of charge is the easiest part of becoming a programmer. There are so many online resources teaching people how to be programmers Some of the best include 1. CodeAcademy 2. Coursera 3. EdX 4. Udemy 5. AGupieWare 6. GitHub (to get great books on programming) 7. MIT Open Courseware (for more advanced courses) 8. Code Avengers 9. Khan Academy So if you want to be the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page, you can use the next few months to give yourself the foundation. Actually, most of them started out like that too. They had just passion, dream, and a computer that is probably not even as sophisticated as the one you are using now.