Author: 03.09.2021
The most common myths about learning to code
Learning to code can be a dream of both young people who have not yet taken their first steps on the career path, and the older ones - who have already accumulated some professional experience. Both of them are tempted by the prospect of a well-paid, stable job, done from anywhere in the world. However, not everyone makes this dream come true, thinking that learning programming isn't within their reach. Why? Because there are many myths about the work of a programmer. Fortunately, they do not have much to do with reality. Here are the most common among them.
Myth #1: Learning to code requires advanced mathematical knowledge
It is true that learning to program is usually chosen by people with scientific minds. Perhaps, the reason for this is that the curriculum of computer science schools places a heavy emphasis on all science subjects - including mathematics. In reality, a programmer does not need to perform complex mathematical tasks. Instead, his ability to think logically and analytically is very helpful. So if you think that mathematics is not your strong suit, but logic and data analysis do not cause you difficulties - you can become a programmer.
Myth #2: Learning to code is only for men
It’s hard to say where the source of the belief that men find it easier to learn programming lies. For many years, the IT industry was a male bastion, but it was not because of gender predisposition. Women often gave up a career as programmers due to social pressure and the belief that the work would be too difficult for them. However, this is a thing of the past. Today, women work as programmers and are as successful as men - they take managerial positions, get promoted and excel in the implementation of assigned projects.
Myth #3: Learning to program is for the young
We could debunk this myth with one statement: learning programming is for everyone. How to justify it? Programming does not require any skills or abilities that would be limited by age. Diligence, logical and analytical thinking, willingness to learn and expand knowledge - are these traits only of young people? Of course not. If you already have education and work experience in another field, nothing is stopping you from changing careers. This myth is related to another one:
Myth #4: Learning programming requires a college degree
The belief that a degree is necessary keeps many people from changing industries. However, it is worth knowing that employers expect knowledge and skills. And these can be acquired in several ways. It can be a course focused on a particular programming language, training or boot camp. There are many offers, and you can easily choose one that will perfectly fit your needs. The key to success in learning programming is to maintain your knowledge through practice - from simple exercises to independent projects that can be your portfolio.
Myth #5: Learning to code requires computer science knowledge
Although a programmer is (wrongly) called an IT, he doesn’t need to know anything about server configuration, hard drive construction or graphic card parameters. A programmer deals with coding and usually specializes in one or two programming languages - not all of them. Extended computer science knowledge can help solve technical problems, Yet, it is not necessary for learning to program. Nor is it required in the day-to-day work of a programmer.
Myth #6: You should choose the most cost-effective programming language
Choosing technology can sometimes be the biggest difficulty in starting to code. Which language will be the most profitable? Which one will provide stability? There are, of course, technologies for which the market demand is greater - Java and Javascript, as well as Python, are leading here. Automatically, however, the competition among candidates will also be greater. On the other hand, choosing a less popular programming language gives an advantage over the competition. In any case, the most important thing is the skills you can demonstrate. By being an expert, you will succeed - regardless of the technology you specialize in.
That is the list of the most common myths about learning to program. If any of them were holding you back from entering the world of IT - now you can confidently start making your dreams come true. The sooner you take the first step, the sooner you will find yourself at your destination.
