Just about every company on the planet can use a good computer programmer. Whether they hire someone in-house or use freelancers, programming is a skill that will always be in demand.

Do you know any of the following programming languages?

  • Java
  • Javascript
  • SQL
  • C
  • C++
  • Python
  • PHP

If so, then you can build a portable, and lucrative, income with the skills you already possess. You can either use one of the micro-job sites to find clients or launch your own business as a Freelance Programmer. If you’re good at what you do, then word-of-mouth may be enough to keep you as busy as you want to be. To ensure that your clients refer you to other companies or provide testimonials for your website, you need to focus on customer service. Focus on the client relationship, stay organized, and ALWAYS deliver your projects on-time!

If, however, you looked at the list above and thought they were written in a foreign language – technically speaking, they are – learning to program can be relatively easy and quick. It is best to focus on one of the programming languages and make it a specialty. After learning some basic programming skills, your abilities will increase with usage and studying the code on websites, apps, and trial and error.

Here are some of the best-rated, FREE, computer programming courses:

 

MIT OpenCourseWare: MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity. There are over 2,400 courses available. Through OCW, educators improve courses and curricula, making their schools more effective; students find additional resources to help them succeed; and independent learners enrich their lives and use the content to tackle some of our world’s most difficult challenges, including sustainable development, climate change, and cancer eradication.

 

 

edX: Founded by Harvard University and MIT in 2012, edX is an online learning destination and MOOC provider, offering high-quality courses from the world’s best universities and institutions to learners everywhere. We were founded by and continue to be governed by colleges and universities. We are the only leading MOOC provider that is both nonprofit and open source. Enroll in the latest computer science courses covering important topics in artificial intelligence, cyber security, software engineering, and big data. Add a portfolio of programming skills or get an overview of the field with Harvard University’s Introduction to Computer Science, a free course that you can start today.

 

 

Coursera: Every course on Coursera is taught by top instructors from the world’s best universities and educational institutions. Courses include recorded video lectures, auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, and community discussion forums. When you complete a course, you’ll receive a shareable electronic Course Certificate. Courses are online and open to everyone. You can learn a new skill in 4-6 weeks. Courses are priced at about $29-$99.

 

 

 

PVTuts: PVTuts (PVT) is a free website devoted to providing concise text and video tutorials in all popular programming languages. The goal of our tutorials is that they only explain what is relevant and practical without any repetition or needless theory, so as to give you a highly efficient learning experience.

 

 

Udacity: Learn in-demand skills, build incredible projects, and gain an industry-valued credential. Take your first step by exploring our schools to find your perfect program. Programming is a critical skill in today’s economy, and there is a shortage of qualified developers. Whether you’re new to coding, adding more skills, or advancing your career, 10 hours a week will prepare you for your ideal developer job.

 

 

 

Udemy: Udemy is a global marketplace for learning and teaching online where students are mastering new skills and achieving their goals by learning from an extensive library of over 80,000 courses taught by expert instructors.

 

 

 

 

 

freeCodeCamp: freeCodeCamp is a donor-supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission: to help people learn to code for free. We accomplish this by creating thousands of videos, articles, and interactive coding lessons – all freely available to the public. We also have thousands of freeCodeCamp study groups around the world.

 

 

 

The Odin Project: The Odin Project provides a free open source coding curriculum that can be taken entirely online. Since it’s inception, it has helped many students get hired as developers and has assisted countless others learn enough programming to work on their own personal projects. The Odin Project is now sponsored by Thinkful, a new type of technology school that provides 1-on-1 learning through its network of industry experts, hiring partners, and online platform to deliver a structured and flexible education. The Odin Project is maintained and continually improved by a team of volunteers, many of whom learned to code with us. This curriculum itself is free and we tried to link to resources that are themselves free so anyone in the world can use them. The Odin Project curriculum is full of projects that will help you build a strong portfolio of work on Github to fill out your resume. We’re committed to connecting students together so they can stay motivated and learn faster.

 

 

Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. We tackle math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Our math missions guide learners from kindergarten to calculus using state-of-the-art, adaptive technology that identifies strengths and learning gaps. We’ve also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content. No ads, no subscriptions. We are a not‑for‑profit because we believe in a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. We rely on our community of thousands of volunteers and donors.

 

 

 

Codecademy: Whether you’re trying to level up your career, build your side project, or simply play around with programming, you’ve found the right place to start. Our online coding tutorials with easy-to-follow instructions, immediate feedback, and a tested curriculum take anyone from non-technical to “I can code.” Our courses are designed to keep you on track, so you learn to code “today” not “someday.” Most of our free courses take fewer than 11 hours. Our global community of coaches, advisors, and graduates means there’s always someone to answer your question.