I want to learn to code

[Tessa Benzie]

Hey All

I'm interested in learning how to code - at least the basics. Not even sure which language to start in but my current role is working alongside C# developers

Any of you got any thoughts on the easiest/best place to begin?

I figure there'll be some kind of online resources to walk me through it but where to begin?

Thanks

Tessa

[David Robinson]

Python is a nice easy scripting language that will do most things you
want in the testing space. If on linux or unix some bash scripting is
also very helpful.

There is plenty of python tutorials out there ans sample code. If you
google python and what you want to do there is most probably an
example to get you 90% of the way there at least. The python
documentation is also well written.

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[olivernz]

Hey Tessa,

In the testing space I suggest to start with Ruby. There are some great Ruby for testers books out there. Like:

http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Scripting-Ruby-Teams-Testers/dp/0977616614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367290371&sr=8-1&keywords=ruby+programming+testing

http://www.amazon.com/The-RSpec-Book-Behaviour-Development/dp/1934356379/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367290371&sr=8-2&keywords=ruby+programming+testing

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cucumber-Book-Behaviour-Driven-Development/dp/1934356808/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1367290371&sr=8-3&keywords=ruby+programming+testing

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Programming-Ruby-19-Dave-Thomas/9781934356081

There is nothing that dictates you need to use the same language as the developers do. You can and then leverage off CI/CD but that is a small advantage in the scheme of things. So start with something a bit simpler like Ruby. The books help but there's enough out there on the web to get you going too. Try a start here before you spend money:

http://watir.com/

http://raveendran.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/selenium-webdriver-basics-ruby/

http://cukes.info/  (advanced)

Hope that helps a bit. 

Maybe I should do a weekend 1d intro to this stuff. I think there's heaps of people out there that want to get into it. 

Cheers

Oliver

[Oliver Erlewein]

David,

I agree that Python is a good (and better language than Ruby) language to learn but it has little relevance in the testing world. Ruby has sort of become the default. So I'd always advise learning that. 

I totally support the Linux Scripting side of things. That is my No.1 tool for test data and doing the tricky things. Doesn't need to be a full Linux distro. You can easily start with cygwin and continue from there. Doco is abundant on the internet (which sometimes is more of a hindrance than a boon). But definitely put that on your list too Tessa. Focus on learnng commands like grep, cut, sed, awk. Those are the work horses for testers.

Cheers Oliver

[Katrina Edgar]

Hi Tessa,

What do you want to do with your new coding skills? Be able to read source control diffs? Be able to code automated check using a particular test tool? Be able to think from a development perspective when scoping test activities? Something else?

There are a lot of options, my feeling is that there's not much point in learning to code just for the sake of learning to code. If you pick up Ruby or Python, but neither are applicable in your work environment, then maybe they're not the right choice. I know that the skills I'm not using on a day-to-day basis quickly atrophy. There's some argument to be made the general principles are applicable regardless of language, but even so.

Thanks,
Katrina

[Aaron Hodder]

There's Codecademy here: http://www.codecademy.com/learn  There's options there to learn Python and Ruby.

 

I've tried to learn Python several times, but since I don't use it, it atrophies really quickly.

[Farid Vaswani]

Yep I'd recommend Codcademy as well. Quite hands-on, interactive learning tool. 

Farid Vaswani

[David Greenlees]

I would personally echo a few of the other messages you have received... make sure you pick one that you will likely use a lot.

I've struggled big time with this stuff over the past 12 months because I don't do any coding at work, and therefore always lose interest really quickly (personal trait I know).  But it seems a very common theme... if you don't use it, you'll lose it.

I have heard wonderful things about Code Academy, so check them out.  I started (on several occasions), but have never stuck it out long enough to provide a review.

Push Oliver to come up with an intro course like he mentioned!  If I was in NZ, I'd go.  ;0)

DG 

[Andrew Robins]

Hi Oliver,

We use a lot of python because we drive a lot of instruments and do a bit of signal processing etc.

Just depends on what you need to accomplish.

Cheers

Andrew

Test Manager, Tait Radio Communications

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[Richard Robinson]

I tried Codecademy, but it takes time. I have learned languages best when on-project. I would recommend taking what you have in front of you, and trying to contribute to that. 

You probably do some automation on your project/team at the moment? I would cuddle-up to this process, and see how you can contribute. That way you are doing something every day towards programming, coding, automation.

Cheers

Richard

[Oliver Erlewein]

Hi,

Yes, sorry forgot to say that. Rich has already made the point above. Learning programming without a (relatively simple) goal is next to impossible. It's not like learning a language from scratch. You just don't sit down and learn it. It's learning by doing. If you decide to draw a picture you also don't start with a blank piece of paper but an idea of what you want to draw. And you don't start by imagining a Rembrandt eter ;-)

And if you "just" want "Programming for testers", you'll need about 1-5% of what a language has to offer. So actually the coding part of the language is the least of your worries. You need to understand basic coding principles and a few commands and structures. Most of your time you will spend in specialised libraries/APIs that do what you want. In this case things like Selenium/Web Driver and Watir.

CHeers Oliver

[Rob]

Hi Tessa,

Keep an eye out for free online courses from Coursera, Udacity etc. They often run programming courses aimed at novice coders. Coursera currently have a 9 week Python intro course running, but it's two weeks in. Udacity are offering an Introduction to Programming (Java) which starts in June:

https://www.coursera.org/course/interactivepython

https://www.udacity.com/course/cs046?utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=april

I did the Python course a few months ago and found it a lot of fun. It's a lot easier to maintain your interest when you're learning in a virtual classroom than if you're just sitting at home trying to learn from a book. That said, the Head First series of books are excellent and engaging. 

As to the choice of which language to start with, my personal recommendation would be Ruby. However, it's worth finding out what automation tools (if any) your team uses. Ruby underpins some popular automation frameworks such as Cucumber, Calabash, Watir etc. But if your team has a built a Selenium framework in C#, then that would probably be a better choice. A coding language you are not using regularly is a coding language you'll quickly forget. I've written test code in Java, C#, VBScript and Python over the years but the language I know best right now is the one I'm using every day at work - Ruby. 

[Tessa Benzie]

Wow thanks everyone for the awesome feedback.

Definitely some food for thought in there, and some excellent points, well made - too many to respond to individually but please know that I've taken it all on board and you've definitely helped shape my direction.

I've started the online tutorials through codecademy, which a couple of you suggested.

Thanks all

Tessa.