6 answers
Oscar
Student
2
Questions
Asked
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How can I learn more about making apps video games and coding?
It is very hard for me to understand how to code and don’t know how I can start learning more about it. I would like to do this job but it is hard to learn about.
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6 answers
Joshua Allard, Ph.D.
Data Science & AI, Quantum AI designer developer
40
Answers
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Updated
Joshua’s Answer
Learning to code, create apps, and design video games can be challenging initially, but you can make it an enjoyable and rewarding journey with the right approach and resources. Start by choosing a beginner-friendly programming language like Python or JavaScript, known for their simplicity and versatility. Websites like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and Khan Academy offer interactive tutorials perfect for beginners, allowing you to learn at your own pace while practicing as you go. If you enjoy learning through play, platforms like CodeCombat and Scratch offer a fun, game-like approach to coding.
Once you’re familiar with the basics, it’s essential to learn by doing. Start by building simple projects such as a basic calculator, a to-do list app, or a simple 2D game like "Tic-Tac-Toe." These projects will reinforce your knowledge and give you hands-on experience. Participating in coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Codewars can also help you improve your skills by tackling problems from easy to complex.
Those interested in game development should consider exploring beginner-friendly game engines like Unity (using C#) or Unreal Engine (using Blueprint or C++). These engines provide powerful tools and resources to help you create games, even if you’re new to coding. Following tutorial series on YouTube or enrolling in courses on platforms like Udemy will guide you through making your first game. Additionally, if you have a favorite game, consider getting into modding—games like Minecraft or Skyrim have large communities and abundant resources for learning how to modify the game, which is a great way to learn coding within a context you already enjoy.
Joining a community can provide additional support and motivation. Online forums like Stack Overflow, Reddit (e.g., r/learnprogramming), and Discord servers focused on coding or game development are excellent places to ask questions, share your progress, and learn from others. If possible, finding a more experienced mentor can offer valuable guidance and keep you motivated.
To further enhance your learning, consider using resources like books or eBooks. Titles such as Eloquent JavaScript or Automate the Boring Stuff with Python provide beginners with structured learning and real-world examples. Video courses on Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer comprehensive courses on app development and game design, often designed with beginners in mind.
Regular practice is crucial to improving your coding skills. Even if it’s just for 20-30 minutes a day, consistent practice will help you overcome the initial difficulties and start making progress. When you encounter a problem, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces to make it easier to solve and to better understand how the code works.
Staying motivated and patient is critical. Set small, achievable goals and celebrate your progress, no matter how small it may seem. Remember why you started—whether it’s to build your dream app, create a video game, or pursue a career in tech—and use that as fuel to push through the tough spots. If you’re looking for a more structured and immersive learning experience, coding boot camps or college courses might be worth considering. These programs can provide a solid foundation quickly and may include valuable credentials for your career. Consider creating a portfolio to showcase your work as you build apps and games. This will be invaluable when applying for jobs or internships in the future. Sharing your work on platforms like GitHub allows you to contribute to open-source projects, further enhancing your learning and credibility.
Finally, stay curious and keep exploring. Technology and coding languages are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to remain open to learning new tools, frameworks, and concepts. Remember, everyone finds coding challenging initially, but with persistence, practice, and the right resources, you’ll improve over time. Keep experimenting, building, and learning; soon enough, you’ll find yourself creating apps and games you’re proud of.
Once you’re familiar with the basics, it’s essential to learn by doing. Start by building simple projects such as a basic calculator, a to-do list app, or a simple 2D game like "Tic-Tac-Toe." These projects will reinforce your knowledge and give you hands-on experience. Participating in coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Codewars can also help you improve your skills by tackling problems from easy to complex.
Those interested in game development should consider exploring beginner-friendly game engines like Unity (using C#) or Unreal Engine (using Blueprint or C++). These engines provide powerful tools and resources to help you create games, even if you’re new to coding. Following tutorial series on YouTube or enrolling in courses on platforms like Udemy will guide you through making your first game. Additionally, if you have a favorite game, consider getting into modding—games like Minecraft or Skyrim have large communities and abundant resources for learning how to modify the game, which is a great way to learn coding within a context you already enjoy.
Joining a community can provide additional support and motivation. Online forums like Stack Overflow, Reddit (e.g., r/learnprogramming), and Discord servers focused on coding or game development are excellent places to ask questions, share your progress, and learn from others. If possible, finding a more experienced mentor can offer valuable guidance and keep you motivated.
To further enhance your learning, consider using resources like books or eBooks. Titles such as Eloquent JavaScript or Automate the Boring Stuff with Python provide beginners with structured learning and real-world examples. Video courses on Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer comprehensive courses on app development and game design, often designed with beginners in mind.
Regular practice is crucial to improving your coding skills. Even if it’s just for 20-30 minutes a day, consistent practice will help you overcome the initial difficulties and start making progress. When you encounter a problem, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces to make it easier to solve and to better understand how the code works.
Staying motivated and patient is critical. Set small, achievable goals and celebrate your progress, no matter how small it may seem. Remember why you started—whether it’s to build your dream app, create a video game, or pursue a career in tech—and use that as fuel to push through the tough spots. If you’re looking for a more structured and immersive learning experience, coding boot camps or college courses might be worth considering. These programs can provide a solid foundation quickly and may include valuable credentials for your career. Consider creating a portfolio to showcase your work as you build apps and games. This will be invaluable when applying for jobs or internships in the future. Sharing your work on platforms like GitHub allows you to contribute to open-source projects, further enhancing your learning and credibility.
Finally, stay curious and keep exploring. Technology and coding languages are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to remain open to learning new tools, frameworks, and concepts. Remember, everyone finds coding challenging initially, but with persistence, practice, and the right resources, you’ll improve over time. Keep experimenting, building, and learning; soon enough, you’ll find yourself creating apps and games you’re proud of.
Oli Lindon
Product Management
4
Answers
Lawrence, Kansas
Updated
Oli’s Answer
Hello Oscar! Learning to code can significantly enhance your game development skills, but it's not always a must-have! My journey began with the Unreal Engine, which features a fast-prototyping system known as "blueprints". This is essentially a visual scripting language, akin to connecting blocks with wires to various inputs and outputs. This coding-free approach even enabled us to launch some VR games! I suggest you kick-start your journey with a beginner's tutorial project from Unreal Engine. Spend some time watching instructional videos to understand the process, and then dive in and start tweaking things!
Robert Fernandez
Business Owner / CEO - Web Consulting Firm
20
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Robert’s Answer
There are various ways in which you can learn how to make apps, video games and coding (in general). The first thing to understand is that the coding languages and frameworks in which apps, video games (software) and websites are very different. So it's very difficult to learn how to be proficient in all 3 (or more). Typically, a programmer focuses on one specific type of programming, which also includes all the languages that are associated with it.
After learning how to code a specific type, some developers may learn other types of programmer, but it's a very difficult to become "a master of all traits." I would recommend focusing on the type of coding that you prefer the most (apps, video games, software, web, etc.) and become proficient in that one.
In so far as resources for learning how to code, there are a variety of online resources that can guide you. There are actual classes you can take (at a local or online university), bootcamp academies, and a plethora of websites that contain lots of helpful information towards becoming a skilled developer. But again, your first step should be figuring out which type of programming most interests you.
After learning how to code a specific type, some developers may learn other types of programmer, but it's a very difficult to become "a master of all traits." I would recommend focusing on the type of coding that you prefer the most (apps, video games, software, web, etc.) and become proficient in that one.
In so far as resources for learning how to code, there are a variety of online resources that can guide you. There are actual classes you can take (at a local or online university), bootcamp academies, and a plethora of websites that contain lots of helpful information towards becoming a skilled developer. But again, your first step should be figuring out which type of programming most interests you.
Efraín Escobar
Cloud Engineer
12
Answers
Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Updated
Efraín’s Answer
Hi Oscar,
I recommend starting with an academy. Universities offer many courses like MOOCs on platforms such as Khan Academy, Coursera, and MIT Open Course. These will give you the theoretical foundation. After that, you can attend workshops hosted by many programmers or academies on YouTube, which will provide you with practical experience.
It's crucial to learn how to use Git and GitHub. This will allow you to build your portfolio, which you can showcase to potential employers or recruiters.
Regards,
Efrain
I recommend starting with an academy. Universities offer many courses like MOOCs on platforms such as Khan Academy, Coursera, and MIT Open Course. These will give you the theoretical foundation. After that, you can attend workshops hosted by many programmers or academies on YouTube, which will provide you with practical experience.
It's crucial to learn how to use Git and GitHub. This will allow you to build your portfolio, which you can showcase to potential employers or recruiters.
Regards,
Efrain
Thank you so much for the advice.
Oscar
Annie Zhao
Software Engineer
3
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Annie’s Answer
If you're just starting to learn how to code, a fun introduction is playing the video game Human Resource Machine. Every level is a small puzzle that you need to solve using coding blocks. It's not a real programming language, but it mimics real coding logic.
I also dabbled a little in Scratch, which also uses coding blocks.
I also dabbled a little in Scratch, which also uses coding blocks.
Ebru Odok
Software Engineer
6
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ebru’s Answer
Hey! It can be super overwhelming to start, so I'd recommend doing an online course for beginners. I would recommend choosing python as your starting language. Some places to look for courses are khan academy, coursera, etc. To learn the fundamentals, I'd actually look at UC berkeley's introductory course "CS 61A" https://cs61a.org/ which has lectures, slides, homework assignments, and project code you can even do yourself. Take things at your own pace. There are tons of resources online to help you, but that should be a good start.
After the beginner course and kind of learning fundamentals, I'd recommend following tutorials for apps to get you started. I think apple has a tutorial for swift (iOS app coding language) that is free.
After the beginner course and kind of learning fundamentals, I'd recommend following tutorials for apps to get you started. I think apple has a tutorial for swift (iOS app coding language) that is free.