When you’re on a mission to become a coder or to improve your coding skills, the most important thing is that you’re determined. If you are, the next crucial decision you have to make is what resources you should use to build your skills and knowledge. One thing’s for sure- you need to make your education diverse and include different books, courses, and online resources into the process. That’s why we’ve decided to help you choose.

Choosing the right books and resources can be a challenge since there are so many of them. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a list of 12 best books and online resources for coders in 2021. Let’s take a look.

1. Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Harold Abelson, Gerald Jay Sussman, with Julie Sussman

It’s always a good idea to start from the basics. If you’re new to coding and you want a solid foundation to build your knowledge on, this book is a great choice.

Here’s why:

• it was written by the faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at MIT
• it covers most of the major programming systems
• it’s elaborate and dense

It’s a great resource for getting started, so be prepared to invest some serious brain energy into reading and learning from this book. It can be a great resource for writing essays and papers for your academic assignment on programming. If you need additional writing help, check out Get Good Grade writing service.

2. Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold

This book is a perfect guide to really understanding coding and seeing it for what it is. So many coders who know how to code don’t know to explain what it is and how it works.

This book breaks it down into simple examples and explains the secret of the inner processes of computers and smart machines. The book is both informative and educational.

3. Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction by Steve McConnell

This book is one of the most popular practical guides to programming. It covers the basics that all coders need to learn and understand:

• coding
• debugging
• design
• testing
• building projects

It’s a must-read for any coder, no matter their level of expertise.

4. Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving by V. Anton Spraul

Who says that coding has nothing to do with creativity? This book explains and challenges you to practice thinking outside of the box and apply creative ideas to your programming and coding projects.

It’s a book different from any other coding books since it focuses on a skill not usually associated with programming. It’ll teach you how to solve problems creatively and become a better coder.

5. The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers by Robert C. Martin

This is another elaborate and informative coding manual for professionals trying to grow and develop their skills. The book mainly focuses on providing practical advice on all the major coding techniques, tools, and disciplines.

The book also covers how a true coder should behave, think, and work.

6. Eloquent JavaScript by Marijn Haverbeke

JavaScript is one of the most widely used programming languages that all coders should learn about and learn how to use. The book Eloquent JavaScript is perfect for teaching you how to build full-scale applications of various types. The skills you acquire will help you boost your CV and list new skills that potential employers will love seeing.

The book teaches you how to write clean, effective code.

7. Effective Java by Joshua Bloch

The book Effective Java is the perfect resource for learning Java techniques, practices, and subtleties of the language. It’s a comprehensive guide that provides all the information you need about:

• objects
• classes
• libraries
• methods
• serialization

It’s a valuable resource for those of you interested in mastering Java and wanting to learn all there is to know.

8. Eloquent Ruby by Russ Olsen

Your coding practice and learning journey need to be diverse and wide. Learning different programming languages should be one of your priorities. And, the book Eloquent Ruby is a perfect opportunity to start exploring this programming language.

Eloquent Ruby is a book that will help you gain fluency in Ruby and learn how to write great code using this language. The author, Russ Olsen, uses his rich experience in internalizing the Ruby culture and teaching Ruby to other programmers to help the readers of this book learn everything about the secrets, elegance, and expressiveness of this language.

9.     Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming by Eric Matthes

Python Crash Course is the world’s best-selling guide to the Python programming language. It can help you write Python coursework assignments and master the language.

The book is divided into two parts:

• The first part covers basic programming concepts, such as variables, lists, classes, and loops, and practice writing clean code. It comes with exercises for each topic.
• The second part covers three projects for putting your theoretical knowledge into practice.

The book will teach you how to use Pygame, Matplotlib, Plotly, and Django, make 2D games, create and customize apps, and solve potential problems.

10.  Codeacademy’s Free Course: How to Make a Website

Learning from a book is the best way to gather knowledge and build a firm foundation for your future coding projects. But, practicing this on actual projects will bring you the experience you need to grow.

Codeacademy offers a free course that teaches you:

• HTML
• CSS
• Bootstrap

You’ll learn how to build a website and get the chance to apply the skills you’ve previously acquired.

11.  Udemy’s Course: Coding for Beginners 1: You Can Learn to Code!

Udemy is a learning platform perfect for self-taught coders such as yourself. When it comes to coding, they offer a variety of courses that you can check out by yourself. The course we chose is Coding for Begginers1: You Can Learn to Code!

Here’s what you need to know:

• the course is one of their bestsellers
• more than 15.000 students already bought is
• it currently costs $129
• it covers different programming languages inducing Scratch, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, C#, and Go

The course is 8-hours long and offers 34 lectures about the coding basics, programming languages, projects, and concepts. You can even put this course as a reference in your CV.

12.  Udacity’s Free Course: Intro to HTML and CSS

Udacity is another platform for coding learners that offers a wide variety of free and paid courses. The course we chose for you to get started with this platform is Intro to HTML and CSS.

According to the course description, you’ll learn “the fundamentals of web development, along with best practices and professional problem-solving techniques using Developer Tools .“

The course is for beginners, so check out their other courses if you feel like you need something more challenging or demanding.

13.  The Best Programming Book To Advance Your Skills

A book The Self-Taught Programmer by Cory Althoff will be the best choice for those who have a genuine desire to learn. It guides you through the most complex concepts in programming in an accessible way as if you are talking to an old friend who cares to teach you. Just think about Steve Wozniak, who is also a self-taught programmer, to boost your confidence a little! It also has alternative Python learning approaches along with the tips and tricks to pass your first technical job interview with excellence. 

What makes this book even more special is that you can also join The Self-Taught Programmer course at Udemy. It is a great chance to become a professional programmer who thinks outside the box and knows how to implement Python 3, Object-oriented programming, and master the Computer Science fundamentals when dealing with data structures and algorithms. What makes it unique is that it also focuses on practical implementation and teaches confidence as you land your serious programming job or get ready for an interview as a Data Scientist.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to code on your own would be a difficult task if there weren’t for the amazing books and resources you can find online. With the right learning materials and enough practice, you’ll be able to master the programming languages you choose and become a skilled, professional coder. Hopefully, the resources we’ve shared above will suit your needs and coding goals. Use them to acquire new skills and the knowledge you need.