2018 is nearly upon us, and if you're like most, you've spent some time considering how you're going to ring the new year in strong. Of course, there are the tried and true resolutions, like shaving off a few pounds or saving up the cash to travel abroad. While these goals are certainly positive (and maybe a tad ambitious), they can fall through the cracks if you're not careful.
That's why we're here to propose another goal that's easy to stick to and can pay off huge dividends down the road: Learning how to code. Here are three reasons why learning how to code is a solid resolution for 2018.
1. Demand for computer programmers is still high
Programming careers aren't quite as easy to land as they were back when the tech boom was in full swing, but that's not to say that companies aren't chomping at the bit to bring on new talent. The truth is there are are a host of different jobs available under the programming umbrella, and while some sectors may be on the decline, others, like mobile app development and data science are still booming.
What's important is that you take the time to learn the tools used by today's most in-demand programming professionals. So, if you're going to capitalize on the demand for mobile app developers, that means understanding core front and back-end development tools, like Swift, C#, and JavaScript.
2. Learning to build something on your own can lead to a side hustle
Okay, so maybe you're not shopping for a full-blown career in tech. That doesn't mean you can't make a profit from learning how to code. With some dedication and a bit of luck, picking up a side programming project can be just as profitable as taking on a new career in coding. Take the mobile gaming sensation Flappy Bird for example. At its peak, this App Store hit generated more than $50,000 of revenue per day and didn't require a team of triple-A gaming devs to create. In fact, with some basic knowledge in Swift and a few days of spare time, you could build your own Flappy Bird clone at home.
The point is that the opportunities are out there to make a profit off your coding knowledge without having to clock into a 9 to 5 career. From creating games to building websites, you can utilize your coding knowledge on your own terms as a freelance programmer.
3. Even a basic understanding of coding could help you get a promotion, raise, or make you more productive by automating parts of your job.
Consider this: Job market analytics firm Burning Glass conducted a report and found that there were as many as 7 million job openings in 2015 in occupations that called for coding knowledge. What's more, they also discovered that nearly half of all jobs that pay more than $58,000 require some coding skills. This means that taking the time to learn how to code can open several doors that lead to higher-paying, advanced positions.
But, even if you're satisfied with your current position, chances are you can make your workload easier by utilizing your coding knowledge to automate certain aspects of your job. If you find yourself mindlessly plugging data into an Excel spreadsheet, you can likely leverage some low-level programming know-how to design a simple script that does it for you.
Now, when it comes to acquiring the skills that allow you to do so, you have a few options. You can resort to a formal programming education (and all the classes and student loans that come with it), or you can take a more novel approach and study at home.
The Pay What You Want: Learn to Code 2018 Bundle can get you started with the fundamentals of coding with today's most popular languages for a price that you get to choose. From building real iPhone apps with Swift to creating Python web apps, this 10 course collection is the perfect resource to get your education off the ground.
Here's how the deal works: Simply pay what you want, and you'll unlock one of the collection's 10 courses instantly. Beat the average price paid, and you'll get the remaining nine at no extra charge.
Whether you want to pick up a new side hustle or dive headfirst into a coding career, this training delivers more than 140 hours of hands on content to take you from programming novice to professional, and it can be yours for a price you choose.
