Is it possible to learn programming without paying anything?

[Galactic Alignment]

Yes it's possible.

You'd need to do self-learning on the Internet or for small amounts read books, spend time, and be patient.

As for differences in programming languages, most of them are procedural, functional, object-oriented (yes, i know these are technical terms) so it doesn't matter too much which language you choose from a pure learning perspective. From a job market perspective, you might like to choose C++/C#, Java, or Python as these are in-demand as far as I know.

The core of programming is learning to develop the algorithm (or pseudocode) as they say. You can then translate that algorithm into code of a specific language. The algorithm is usually independent of the programming language that you use. So, my suggestion is get some books on algorithms and start reading them.

Now if self-learning is hard, then I think you would need somebody to teach you. I think even the most sophisticated instruction software still can't replace a human being. At least not yet.

I can “self learn” – I have a degree, was even doing a second degree (Masters) when I was forced to drop out. The issue is, programming is very very different to what I’ve done before. I could do research myself in areas I am suited to, have education in, because I’m acclimatised to them. Computer science and programming, I’ve never studied it before, so I need taught instructions to get the basics.

 

[Finn]

I can’t go back to ‘school’, as if you have a degree in the UK, you get no funding for new qualifications due to the ELQ rule, and I don’t have enough savings to hope to pay for any taught courses. I would love to learn again and get new qualifications, but I would need a significant boost in earnings first. I don’t have a degree in computer science or similar, and haven’t worked in any IT/tech jobs.

Dude...your response doesn't really fit my query. I"m not sure why you went on a rant about not having enough money, when I simply said you weren't too old...nothing more.

And you didn't answer my first question (technically two). You seem to be going down the same path as you did in your previous thread. Please take the great advice from others...to heart. Lot of freebies. Please stop dismissing them with reactive posts.

I think you need help....Take care.

P.S. Use the multi-quote feature.

 

[valkyrie013]

I went through some basic programming in school, by the 3rd week my brain went bye bye.. and I went in to it with an open mind.
First is, decide what you want to do:
You want to do coding/programming, is it something that you would enjoy or something you see that could make you money, but might be a slog ( Like me.. I despise programming now.. I'd last a week before I'd put a bullet in my head..)

Decide what you want to code/program.. there are alot of different ways and languages, Do you have a job in mind that you would like to apply for? if so then find out what the job wants in it qualifications, then learn that language.

As for finding the learning, some minor out lay of money may be needed, but not as much as a university degree. You can go to youtube and find some free stuff, but an actual class maybe needed. As above, decide on a language and then do research on what is offered/where. Find out your budget and what you can afford to spend.
Then when you learn the basics.. its going to be just doing it, repetition, going online and learning new things. It'll be an effort to do it, but if your motivated, you can do it!

 

[Qonundrum]

You can learn on your own but training and college WILL put in stuff you're not going to find in manuals. There's more to this than just the "how to create a function that adds one to a counter then displays 'Hello world!' onto the screen".

Industry standards also change, frequently. Today's popular language may not be in tomorrow. Like Visual Basic.

And companies do want relevant college degrees - Every job ad out there seems to state one is necessary so that issue is solved right there and then. It's mandatory. It's why people with arborist, plumbing, and/or computer degrees can't get jobs as heart surgeons. Given the recession last decade when more and more people went back for retraining to get the jobs of tomorrow, it's not exactly a surprise. The other fun part is colleges may or may not be able to stay up to date with newer platforms as well -- due to their workload relative to number of students, or other possibilities. And no student is going to know ahead of time. If for no other reason than rapid paradigm shifts. Though some skills ARE transferable, directly or otherwise. Right there is why anyone who says "Who needs algebra when a calculator does it" misses a point. For many forms of math exist, the procedures can be similar even if syntax isn't. To varying degrees, of course...

 

[rahullak]

I can “self learn” – I have a degree, was even doing a second degree (Masters) when I was forced to drop out. The issue is, programming is very very different to what I’ve done before. I could do research myself in areas I am suited to, have education in, because I’m acclimatised to them. Computer science and programming, I’ve never studied it before, so I need taught instructions to get the basics.

If you want to choose Python, try this site: http://openbookproject.net/thinkcs/python/english3e/

 

[Rincewiend]

I want to learn computer programming in order to retrain to get a better job, but... Is that even possible without having to money to spend on it? I have a degree already, so don’t have any means to fund a second/different degree in compute science (and honestly, I’m much too old), and those dubious-looking “boot camps” I see advertised are absolutely out of my price range too, even if they weren’t all based on the other side of the country. So, is this even possible?

Register at Humble Bundle, they very often have digital book bundles for cheap, including IT ones...
Right now they have a C# & .NET Core by Packt bundle...
RRP $1,403 but you can buy it for around $15...
And Definitive Guides to All Things Programming by O'Reilly, RRP $717 but you can buy it for around $14 as well...
They've had other programming bundles as well...

 

[Galactic Alignment]

You can learn on your own but training and college WILL put in stuff you're not going to find in manuals. There's more to this than just the "how to create a function that adds one to a counter then displays 'Hello world!' onto the screen".

Industry standards also change, frequently. Today's popular language may not be in tomorrow. Like Visual Basic.

And companies do want relevant college degrees - Every job ad out there seems to state one is necessary so that issue is solved right there and then. It's mandatory. It's why people with arborist, plumbing, and/or computer degrees can't get jobs as heart surgeons. Given the recession last decade when more and more people went back for retraining to get the jobs of tomorrow, it's not exactly a surprise. The other fun part is colleges may or may not be able to stay up to date with newer platforms as well -- due to their workload relative to number of students, or other possibilities. And no student is going to know ahead of time. If for no other reason than rapid paradigm shifts. Though some skills ARE transferable, directly or otherwise. Right there is why anyone who says "Who needs algebra when a calculator does it" misses a point. For many forms of math exist, the procedures can be similar even if syntax isn't. To varying degrees, of course...

Are you basically saying, don’t bother? I literally can’t ever get another university (not college) degree because of the ELQ rules due to already having a degree. I won’t ever be able to afford to do another degree without having a very high earning job, like one where I can save upwards of tens of thousands of pounds a year.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

Register at Humble Bundle, they very often have digital book bundles for cheap, including IT ones...
Right now they have a C# & .NET Core by Packt bundle...
RRP $1,403 but you can buy it for around $15...
And Definitive Guides to All Things Programming by O'Reilly, RRP $717 but you can buy it for around $14 as well...
They've had other programming bundles as well...

I’m only affording to eat every other day at the moment. So that’s out of my price range. I’m dubious about some of the stuff like that, as in, it’s not going to be beginners-friendly.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

I went through some basic programming in school, by the 3rd week my brain went bye bye.. and I went in to it with an open mind.
First is, decide what you want to do:
You want to do coding/programming, is it something that you would enjoy or something you see that could make you money, but might be a slog ( Like me.. I despise programming now.. I'd last a week before I'd put a bullet in my head..)

Decide what you want to code/program.. there are alot of different ways and languages, Do you have a job in mind that you would like to apply for? if so then find out what the job wants in it qualifications, then learn that language.

As for finding the learning, some minor out lay of money may be needed, but not as much as a university degree. You can go to youtube and find some free stuff, but an actual class maybe needed. As above, decide on a language and then do research on what is offered/where. Find out your budget and what you can afford to spend.
Then when you learn the basics.. its going to be just doing it, repetition, going online and learning new things. It'll be an effort to do it, but if your motivated, you can do it!

I can’t afford to take any courses, degree or otherwise, due to the ELQ rules because I’ve already got a degree and A-levels. Honestly. I can barely afford to eat at the moment, actually saving up thousands of pounds for classes is out of the question. I’d be happy with my existing situation not to need to retrain if I could save up that sort of money.

 

[Finn]

^Enough! Those people have been incredibly patient and nice to you, both in this thread and the last one. You were provided with free ways to learn, and some that you have to pay a bit (not really that much). If you can't afford to eat daily, get help. Worry about a new career later. Take care of yourself....NOW

Just stop. You clearly don't want to do anything in the IT field. Do what you truly care and love. And, you need to use the multi-quote feature.



I also noticed you didn't reply to my last response to you. Why? You seem to be avoiding the real issue(s) regarding why you aren't in a place you want to be in life....

 

[DimesDan]

I also noticed you didn't reply to my last response to you. Why? You seem to be avoiding the real issue(s) regarding why you aren't in a place you want to be in life....

They also didn't answer me, but after the thread and the merry-go-round it was, I'm not surprised.

was even doing a second degree (Masters) when I was forced to drop out.

Was that this academic year or before? I'm just curious as I suggested a Post Grad last year and you weren't happy with that suggestion.

 

[Australis]

I didn't know what the ELQ rule was, so I googled it. First answer.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5293420

Can anyone help me out. I'm a bit confused about doing a second degree/the ELQ rule. I know that you can't get funding from sfe if you've already completed a degree on the same level. But there are some exceptions, such as part time engineering degrees, nhs funded degrees etc. Are any other science subject exempt from this rule or is it only engeneering/maths. Also when they say a subject is exempt from the ELQ rule do they mean they don't have to pay a higher fee (im getting the impression some universities make you make you pay a higher fee for a second degree) or that they will get funding for the second degree from sfe? I'm thinking about maybe doing a second degree in Zoology.

And first answer.

You need to check the course code of the Zoology course, you could be eligible to receive support for a second qualification if studying for a part time Honours Degree, Joint Honours Degree or Integrated Masters Degree in one of the following.

• Engineering (H)
• Computer Science (I)
• Technologies (J)

• Subjects Allied to Medicine (B)
• Biological Sciences (C)
• Veterinary Sciences, Agricultural & Related Subjects (D)
• Physical Sciences (F)
• Mathematical Sciences (G)

You will notice the Computer Science degree in the middle.

You should read through this PDF. Note there are alot of opther topics in there that might be a better fit for you:
https://www.heinfo.slc.co.uk/media/9910/quick-guide-elq-exceptions.pdf

Also, if you are only eating "every other day" I'm guessing you aren't working and must be able to qualify for hardship allowance/govt support of some kind. I think it's more crucial to sort that first before getting into a career you don't know if you're suited for.

As I said before, you might need to think a little further about what you really want to do.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

They also didn't answer me, but after the thread and the merry-go-round it was, I'm not surprised.



Was that this academic year or before? I'm just curious as I suggested a Post Grad last year and you weren't happy with that suggestion.

15 years ago. Post grad was much cheaper then. No an option now.

 

[Australis]

By the way, you still haven't said what your original degree was in. Maybe you can tie them together, use the old one to springboard into an IT one. Just a thought.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

I didn't know what the ELQ rule was, so I googled it. First answer.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5293420


And first answer.

You will notice the Computer Science degree in the middle.

You should read through this PDF. Note there are alot of opther topics in there that might be a better fit for you:
https://www.heinfo.slc.co.uk/media/9910/quick-guide-elq-exceptions.pdf

Also, if you are only eating "every other day" I'm guessing you aren't working and must be able to qualify for hardship allowance/govt support of some kind. I think it's more crucial to sort that first before getting into a career you don't know if you're suited for.

As I said before, you might need to think a little further about what you really want to do.

Get benefits, you’re saying? Maybe I already am because there’s a global recession, and that’s why I can’t afford to eat? Benefits leave you starving. They are far lower amount of money than even a minimum wage job.

I would not be able to afford to take another full time degree even if I had the right A-levels to take a science degree. The loan would not cover living expenses as it did a long time ago, and if you take a degree at 18-21 you at least have yours parents to give financial support. I have no savings so cannot afford further study.

 

[Galactic Alignment]

By the way, you still haven't said what your original degree was in. Maybe you can tie them together, use the old one to springboard into an IT one. Just a thought.

It wasn’t in computer science or any other STEM subject.( I don’t even have passes at GCSE maths or science.) It’s i. an academic subject, one which has no crossover with computer science or IT, and hasn’t been any use getting work other than as a generic degree.

 

[Finn]

 

[Galactic Alignment]

^Enough! Those people have been incredibly patient and nice to you, both in this thread and the last one. You were provided with free ways to learn, and some that you have to pay a bit (not really that much). If you can't afford to eat daily, get help. Worry about a new career later. Take care of yourself....NOW

Just stop. You clearly don't want to do anything in the IT field. Do what you truly care and love. And, you need to use the multi-quote feature.



I also noticed you didn't reply to my last response to you. Why? You seem to be avoiding the real issue(s) regarding why you aren't in a place you want to be in life....

I want to work in IT... if I could get all the training paid for me, I would do it straight away. IT sounds ideal, secure well paid work, pandemic proof, can be done if you have physical disability, you can do it as you age and get unable to do manual work, you can afford to live; all good.

 

[Finn]

You still don’t sound like someone who truly wants to be into IT

 

[Galactic Alignment]

You still don’t sound like someone who truly wants to be into IT

You’re being Classist, right? I’m too poor to study IT this late into adulthood, so I’m obviously to stupid to learn anything. Poor = stupid. Do you vote Conservative?