Do you ever see those fancy websites that you just wish you could make? Have no idea where to start? Well, look no further because Codecademy is here for you! But wait, what is this academy you speak of?
Codecademy.com is a website that helps newbie coders how to make their own website, through various types of code. The site currently offers several coding lessons from the following: Javascript, HTML/CSS, PHP, Python, Ruby, and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
While the first three types are primarily used on a daily basis for any website, Python, Ruby, and APIs are focused more on web apps (which I will not be getting into).
I myself have only focused on learning HTML/CSS currently, as I have a basic understanding of this type of code already. A friend told me to check out the website to further my understanding of HTML and CSS.
And let me tell you, Codecademy makes learning code easy, practical, and and straight to the point. (Great for people like me that don’t all like the fluff). My current dealings within my area of ‘study’ on Codecademy does not make any of those fancy websites that I see scattering the web, but boy, it had helped me remember what I have forgotten from over two or three years of not using code.
But you are probably thinking ‘That’s great for you, Brittany, but how does Codecademy work?’ and I do not blame you.
Essentially, Codecademy teaches you in sections.
Here’s a quick layout of what the HTML/CSS class (and its sections) looks like:
1. Introduction to HTML
2. HTML Structure: Using Lists
3. HTML Structure: Tables, Divs, and Spans
4. Introduction to CSS
5. CSS Classes and IDs
6. CSS Element Positioning
Each section has its own set of steps that you will need to follow. You can skip around some, but for beginners, I would recommend following the steps on the left side of the screen accordingly.
Now, here’s where the nice part comes in with the site. After each step you take, then you press a save and submit button on the bottom.
Here is the point where one of two things will happen. The site will either give you a green check mark and congratulate you on doing things correctly. Or the button will go red and you may cry out in frustration. However, this should not be too big of a deal.
If you mess up, the site will tell you where you may have messed up on. It helps you instead of forcing you to go through lines of text to just see where you went wrong. And having over 100, or even 1000 lines of code, would make anyone want to destroy a computer. (Computer Science majors, I give you major kudos for doing this every semester and when you go into careers.)
Pretty easy so far, right?
What else I like about Codecademy is that they have points, streaks, and achievements. Points are earned through going through lessons for the days. Streaks essentially allow you to see how many days you have logged on in a row. (For me, it got reset to zero because I have not logged in. Darn.)
Achievements (and the badges that come with them) made me super excited when I first saw them. Hey, I am a gamer, cut me some slack. These are awarded for either going through lessons, how many days you have been on, and a myriad of other ideas. I currently have a grand total of five achievements. So, so many.
If you have not tried out Codecademy and you want to make simple, yet effective websites, I recommend giving it a go.
Brittany Klyczek
Deputy Editor in Chief