Because of the demand for web developers and software authors in the labor market, there is a question of how to learn to program. This is a skill that can be applied in several areas at once: writing applications for computers and smartphones, creating websites, etc. Learning to program from scratch is difficult on your own, you may need to invest in it, but later it will pay off.

Personal qualities for self-learning
You can learn to program yourself. The following personal qualities are required for self-learning:

Optimism and love of life. These qualities fuel openness and sensitivity of the person, help to achieve their own, consolidate the willingness to act. Obstacles, questions and problems will arise in the process of self-learning and work. This will push the pessimist away and force him or her to give up the idea of learning programming. The optimist will be inspired by the results of others and will only see the obstacles as steps on the way to mastering the skill.
Flexible thinking. It is not enough to learn programming languages to create a game, application or website. You need to be able to apply them. To solve many problems will require creativity and stress resistance. You will have to switch from one session to another, which will require rapid adaptation. Often you will have to correct errors in code. It’s better to take it as a chance to improve your skill rather than a disaster.
Courage. While learning programming from scratch you will constantly face something unknown. If you are constantly afraid and retreat after the first failure, you won’t be able to master a new skill.
Honesty. You will need to be frank to admit that you do not know something or do not know how. An honest person always correctly analyzes their capabilities and less often gets into uncomfortable situations. A disciple who sincerely believes in the fact that he has already reached the top of his skill, actually stops at one level.
Self-discipline. You will have to regularly learn new information, listen to, read, analyze code, perform tasks, etc. If you study programming too rarely, you won’t be able to learn it at home because you will forget what you have already learned. Frequent lessons will lead to either burning out or overload.

Types of programming that you can learn
The easiest sphere for a beginner is web development. It involves the creation of sites. It can be attributed here:

online retailers,
social networks,
business card pages,
forums, etc.
Some programmers are responsible for the visual component of sites, others are responsible for their functions. Some are capable of performing all the tasks at once. The languages most commonly used to create websites are PHP, JavaScript, Ruby and Python.

The next most difficult stage is mobile development. Writing applications for smartphones is most often done in Swift and Java. If you want to develop games or software for your computer in the future, start with mobile phones. You will understand the general patterns and will make fewer mistakes in the future.

If you are not afraid of difficulties, you can choose to develop software and games for your PC. In this case you will need the languages C++, C, C#.

What to do if you do not know what to choose
When making your choice, consider the difficulty of learning, the amount of materials for home schooling and the demand for the language in the job market. You can check the latter by using job search websites. The number of materials is of secondary importance if you have a mentor.

However, with free self-study you will be more difficult to understand if there are no books and video courses online.

Keep a peek at your language choice to make it easier for you to decide.

What do you need to know
Before you start learning, you need to know which languages are the simplest, why you need compilers, etc.

School knowledge
If you do not know where to start learning programming, refer to the school course. Mathematics and English will be the first choice. It is desirable to master computer science. In some schools, students are taught programming languages right away. Most often it is Pascal. It is long outdated, but suitable for understanding the basics.

Features of education in Russia
In Russia for a long time programming was not taken seriously and was taught only as a secondary science. Of the languages most often used in higher education institutions, Basic. Like Pascal, it is outdated. It is possible to learn the basics with its help, but you should not pay too much attention to Basic and Pascal.

Which programming language to start
The easiest languages to learn are Basic and Pascal. They are suitable for beginners, but in the future you should switch to other development tools.

Working with compilers
A compiler is a program that translates code into a language that a computer can understand. The most popular compilers are Microsoft Visual Studio, Borland C++ and Code::Blocks. Beginners should start with Borland C++.

What is in demand on the market
Web developers and creators of mobile applications are most in demand in the labor market. The first most often have to work with direct customers. Creating a game or PC software is a more labor-intensive task. It is valued above, but there are fewer such jobs.

How to approach the issue of training
For effective learning, you will need not only motivation, but also information sources and a plan.

Setting a goal for the future
It is desirable to set yourself a goal to create a project and gradually move towards it. It doesn’t have to be a game or something big: you can start with small scripts or applications. You won’t be able to create code quickly unless you have the right knowledge. However, as you learn the language, you will start to move forward, and once you have created the first project, you will start the next one.

Evaluating one’s own abilities
Correct assessment of one’s abilities is the main condition for learning. You must understand well what is good and what is better for you to work through.

Systematizing and developing a learning plan
Without a training plan, you will progress more slowly because the classes will be random. Sign how many hours you will spend programming and on which days.

Required sources of information
Training literature, forums, sites with video courses are used as sources of information. Beginners can read books offering to learn programming in 1 day. Such literature will not give a full set of skills, but will help you understand the basics.

Useful tips for a learner
If you decide to learn programming, you need to expand the list of information sources as much as possible and practice as much as possible.

Studying someone else’s code
Studying other people’s code fragments will help you learn the main functions faster and prevent some errors. At the same time, you will add several tricks to your arsenal and will be able to optimize your code.

Writing your own elements
Without practice you won’t be able to master programming quickly, so you should go on to writing your own code items as soon as possible.

Using the debugger
The debugger will help you to see errors in your code, which will save much time. It is desirable to use it all the time. It is necessary not only for beginners but for experienced programmers as well, for they can make an error through carelessness.

Addressing English-speaking sources
On English-language sites you will find information that may not be in the Russian segment of the Internet. This is especially important if you have not found enough educational literature on the selected language.

How to help with the training of a schoolchild
Learning programming means learning by yourself, so the best way to help a student is to buy books or courses. Do not take the first available literature, consult with your child and find out what language he is interested in. If he or she doesn’t know the basics and how to learn programming at home, hire a tutor.

Advantages and disadvantages of how to learn
Each learning method has advantages and disadvantages. Take them into account when choosing the right training option for you.

Self-made work
The main advantage of self-study is that it is free of charge and can be adapted to your schedule. However, this is the most difficult way, as you will have to constantly study and assimilate a lot of information. You will have to make your own curriculum, look for sources of knowledge, etc. You will often encounter mistakes and little useful literature, as you have little experience yet. However, you should not be afraid of learning by yourself, because even if you choose other methods, you will still have to study some information without the help of teachers and tutors.

With the help of a mentor.
The tutor will highlight the most important material, tell you about mistakes and pitfalls, give you the knowledge that is not in the books. This is an effective, but paid method of learning. It will help you save time, but it is worth hiring a mentor only if you are set up to learn programming, otherwise you just lose money.

On courses or at university.
The university will give you higher education and knowledge in mathematical sciences, but you will have to study programming on your own. Programming in higher education institutions lags behind current trends. Courses are a risk. If your teacher has a job to do, he or she will recruit large groups and teach uppercase truths that will do little for you. It is better to prefer mentors with a personal approach.

How to gain experience for employment
It is recommended to work on projects and assignments on stock exchanges to gain first experience. In the future, you can complement your portfolio and make it available to customers and employers.