Overview

If you have zero programming knowledge, completing this Nanodegree will give you the basic understanding and skills you need to get started in the world of programming.

This Nanodegree equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills that all programmers use whether they program mobile apps, create web pages, or analyze data. You won’t just learn to code, you will learn what it means to "think like a programmer" and you'll have your own web page and a portfolio of programs you've built to prove it.

Successful completion of this program will enhance your skills, broaden your opportunities, and lay the groundwork for a future in technology. It is not a career-track degree, but for beginners, it is a critical step forward

Loving the experience and want to get credit? Need help or want to connect with a community of your peers? Consider enrolling in the Intro to Programming Nanodegree program!

Wherever you are on your journey, stay Udacious and never, ever stop learning.

Why Take This Course?

Programming can be hard. The language is often complex, and the skills are rarefied. For a novice, it can be difficult to know where to start. These challenges often stand in the way for many people. Our mission is to change this. We want to make the world of programming accessible, understandable, and beneficial. All successful programmers share a common body of knowledge. This degree will teach you those same skills.

Completion of this Nanodegree will empower you to make an informed choice about your future. You may decide to pursue a whole new careeer in tech. Your newfound technical literacy may open up promotional opportunities in your current role. You may embark on long-imagined personal project. Regardless of the direction you take, your programming knowledge will allow you to communicate effectively, build efficiently, and think creatively.

Syllabus

Hands-on Projects and Supporting Content

This Nanodegree consists of a series of 5 stages. In each one, you will learn new concepts, explore different opportunities to apply them, and check your understanding with quizzes. After each stage, you will complete a project checkpoint, where you apply your new skills, then submit your work for valuable feedback on your progress.

Stage 1: Make Your Web Page

You will learn the basics of how the internet works and how documents written in a language called HTML form the backbone of the Web. In the project checkpoint at the end you'll write HTML and CSS (another language) to make your web page look professional.

Stage 2: Build a Mad Libs Game

This is where you'll learn how to program. You'll learn a programming language called Python and you'll use it to write instructions that the computer can understand and execute. After this stage you will have incredible power: you will be able to automate almost any repetitive task that can be done on a computer. In the project checkpoint you will write a program in Python to build a reverse Mad Libs game.

Stage 3: Create a Movie Website

In this stage, you will learn an entirely new approach to programming (and thinking) called Object Oriented Programming and how to use this approach to build impressive programs by simply reusing or modifying computer code that others have already written. In the project checkpoint you will create a simple movies webpage with images and trailers.*

Stage 4: Discover Your Path

In this stage, you'll be taking apart the Project Compass web app and examining the features that different types of developers contribute. With a solid understanding of these different roles, you will be ready to choose one to dive into in the next stage. In this *checkpoint*, you will have an opportunity to reflect on which type of developer you are most interested in exploring in the next stage, and then discuss your plans with your peers.

Stage 5: Choose Your Path

Choose one of the five paths (Front-End, Back-End, Data Analyst, iOS, or Android) and complete the course and project of your choosing. Get a real sense of the kind of work that each of these developers do daily. All of the projects come straight from other Udacity courses or Nanodegree programs. If you choose to enroll in the Nanodegree related to your path, you will have a great jumpstart with credit for completing your chosen project!