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This article is about 1,612 characters and takes roughly 5 minutes to read to the end. Written by: Qian Yunwen, Director / PR, tentus inc.
Hello, everyone!
Last time, I introduced a free way to level up on Adobe products.
This time, I'd like to introduce a method for learning programming with Progate. It's not free, but you can study at a very reasonable price!
What Is Progate?
What is Progate?
When you study programming, you normally have to set up various environments for it on your own computer (a code editor, GitHub, and so on), but Progate is said to be a learning site where you can study programming on a website with just a browser like Google.
It supports a smartphone app too.
It's an accessible learning site as a first step into the world of programming.
Before You Start Studying
At this point, becoming a paid member lets you learn all 79 lessons currently available on Progate, everything from basics to practice. Free members can learn 18 basic-level lessons, such as "HTML Beginner" and "Ruby Basics."
What I want to say here is: don't skimp on the paid membership! I think it's really good value.
Learning Steps
If you have no knowledge at all, for your first step try the HTML & CSS course and check how well Progate suits you!
With a free membership you can only learn the basic lessons at first, so become a paid member, try the full HTML & CSS course once, and first check whether you can keep studying the Progate way!
Strictly speaking, HTML & CSS can't be called programming languages, but I recommend them because they're relatively easy to understand as a first step into the world of programming languages.
Also, a web director isn't out to become a programming pro — you're just studying basic knowledge like what programming languages are and which ones are being used — so I also recommend the Web Development Path course in the image below.
Also, depending on the project you may use the latest programming languages beyond the basics, so learn those too!
By the way, in China Python is super popular.
Apparently even elementary school students study it.
Learning Points
- Learn a programming language the way you learn a spoken language
Back when I worked as a Japanese teacher, I often taught students that for any language you first learn the framework — for example, comparing Japanese with Chinese and English, or first teaching what Japanese is. Once you understand the framework, learning grammar and vocabulary next becomes easier.
The same goes for programming languages. Once you learn what HTML & CSS is, and what grammar and language it uses, studying becomes easier!
- You don't need to memorize the code
For a spoken language you memorize grammar and vocabulary, but for a programming language — especially as a web director — you don't need to memorize it.
Of course, it's even more wonderful if you do!
- Make good use of Professor Google
This one goes without saying!
In Closing
Through Progate, I was able to enter the world of programming.
For someone with no experience, it's an especially kind, easy-to-understand learning site.
I heard that a friend who joined a large IT company also went through all the programming courses on Progate during their training.
It's not free, but I think it's a cost-effective expense. I think it's a tool I can recommend not only to web directors but to people aiming to become engineers too.
That said, no matter how easy to understand it is, there are definitely people who find studying painful — so why not start with HTML & CSS first?