Are you looking for the Best Coding Platform For Beginners in 2023? Learning to code is an essential skill for anyone looking to make significant progress in life. In today’s technologically advanced world, coding is highly valued and can unlock a plethora of opportunities for those seeking a career in technology.
Fortunately, with the abundance of online resources available, it has never been easier to educate oneself on coding and launch a career as a software engineer. However, the hardest part is often figuring out where to start one’s education. As a complete novice, it can be challenging to determine the best websites for learning to code and whether the skills being acquired will be useful in the future.
Thankfully, there are many online resources available that can help aspiring programmers of all skill levels gain valuable insight into the world of coding. Skillshare, Galvanize, and Codecademy are just a few examples of such resources, providing courses and tutorials designed to help beginners acquire the necessary skills to succeed as programmers.
It’s important to note that learning to code is not easy and requires plenty of time and effort to master. A common misconception among students is that they can become proficient in coding after watching a few tutorials. In reality, learning to code is a skill that must be acquired, much like any other skill. It requires a hands-on approach, involving both the creation of physical items and the writing of code.
Fortunately, there are coding challenges available online that can help improve one’s coding skills. These challenges are designed to test and push programmers to their limits, helping them acquire the skills needed to excel in the field.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, online resources are available to help you succeed in the world of coding. These platforms offer challenges, exams, quizzes, and interview advice tailored to your individual experience and skill level. So don’t hesitate, start your coding journey today by exploring the Best Coding Platform For Beginners in 2023.
About Best Coding Platform For Beginners in 2023
1. TopCoder
TopCoder is a well-known online platform that hosts programming competitions. It’s open for anyone to join the Topcoder Community and participate in challenges. The community is divided into four main segments: Design, Development, Data Science, and Competitive Programming.
The Design segment focuses on Information Architecture and UI/UX/CX Design, while the Development segment covers Bug Bash, Code, First-to-Finish (F2F), Quality Assurance, and UI Prototype Challenges. The Data Science challenges are known as Marathon Match (MM), Data Science First to Finish, Data Science Sprint & Ideation, and Data Visualization. Finally, the Competitive Programming domain revolves around Single Round Matches (SRMs), which take place weekly at a specific time, where participants compete against each other to solve problems as quickly as possible.
The TopCoder Community boasts impressive statistics, including having five times more engineers than Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter combined. Additionally, the community completes around 1,400+ crowdsourcing challenges per quarter and has over 1.5 million members in more than 190 countries. Moreover, about 1,800 new members join the community every week.
2. HackerRank
HackerRank is a prominent platform for competitive programming challenges that require solving problems according to given specifications. Participants can solve these programming challenges in various programming languages such as C, Java, Python, Ruby, and more. Additionally, they can solve problems in various computer science domains, such as algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
By solving challenges on the HackerRank website, participants can earn badges that are added to their profile. The platform offers various types of contests, including the following:
- 101-Hack: A monthly algorithmic contest in which participants must solve five challenges within two hours.
- HourRank: The shortest contest format, in which participants must solve 3-4 algorithm challenges within one hour.
- Week of Code: A weeklong algorithm contest in which one new challenge is offered each day, with challenges becoming more complex as the week progresses.
- Ad Infinitum: A 48-hour contest of mathematics held every three months.
- Real Data/Machine Learning Contests: A weeklong contest that focuses on real-world data skills and requires the use of machine learning techniques.
- Language/Domain Specific Contests: Contests based on various programming languages such as C, Java, Python, etc.
- Company Contests: Contests sponsored by specific companies looking to hire developers. The nature of this contest varies based on the requirements of the sponsoring companies.
- World CodeSprint: A 24-hour contest that includes 7-8 challenges to be solved.
3. International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC)
The International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is a well-known competitive programming competition that has been held since 1977. ICPC contests are team competitions, and each team must consist of three students representing their university. The contest features various levels of competition, including local contests, regional contests, regional championships, and the World Finals. Each year, the ICPC regionals start with local competitions to determine which teams will represent their university at the final regional contest, where the top teams from each region compete for a chance to move on to the World Finals. During each contest, the teams are given five hours to solve around 10+ programming problems, and the solutions must be submitted in C, C++, Java, Python, or Kotlin.
Some notable stats about the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) include:
- ICPC is one of the oldest programming competitions in the world.
- More than 50,000 students are part of the ICPC community.
- Around 3,000 universities in 111 countries are associated with the ICPC.
- ICPC has around 400 on-site competitions.
4. CodeChef
CodeChef is a competitive programming website that offers multiple challenges for aspiring programmers to practice and improve their programming skills through various online contests. At the beginning of each month, CodeChef conducts a programming competition, and two smaller programming contests are conducted in the middle and at the end of the month. Participants can submit their solutions in any of the 55+ programming languages that are accepted, including C, C++, Java, and Python. In addition to these contests, CodeChef provides various algorithm tutorials and forum discussions to make the journey of computer programming more manageable. Participants can earn points and move up through the CodeChef ranks, which is a valuable achievement. CodeChef offers various coding competitions such as Monthly Programming Contests, Cook-off,s and Lunchtime Coding Contests, where participants can showcase their programming skills. Below are some significant statistics regarding CodeChef contests:
- CodeChef has over 1,250,000 programmers from 12,000 institutions.
- There are approximately 3200+ programming contests with around 92 million+ submissions.
- The contests have prizes of around INR 20,000 for the Indian Community and $700 for the Global Community.
6. LeetCode
LeetCode is a popular online platform that offers coding challenges and contests to practice coding skills. It focuses on algorithmic coding problems and offers a large collection of coding problems for various programming languages such as C++, Java, Python, and more. LeetCode also provides a user-friendly interface that enables you to run your code on their platform to verify its correctness. LeetCode offers different levels of coding problems, ranging from easy to hard, and also offers a mock interview system for job seekers. You can also track your progress, connect with peers, and participate in discussion forums on the LeetCode platform. LeetCode hosts various contests and challenges on a regular basis to help you improve your coding skills. Some of the major stats of LeetCode are listed below:
LeetCode has over 1.5 million registered users from 190+ countries. There are over 1900+ coding problems and 10,000+ user solutions. The platform also provides paid services for interview preparation, including mock interviews and question bank access.
7. Codeforces
Codeforces is a popular Russian website that hosts competitive programming competitions where skilled coders from around the world compete against each other. These contests challenge participants to solve complex problems within a set time limit. Those who pass the rigorous testing process have the opportunity to review the solutions of other contestants, identify any errors, and suggest tests on which these solutions do not work. This process of hacking or challenging the solutions of others can earn participants valuable points.
After the contest, all solutions that have passed the pretests and have not been hacked or challenged undergo a final set of tests. The best part about Codeforces is that it regularly conducts contests. There are approximately six contests held each month, and participation is free and open to everyone.
Codeforces offers a variety of coding challenges and features, including short format contests that last for two hours, as well as educational contests that take place two to three times per month and last between 2-2.5 hours. Participants can also solve problems from previous contests for learning purposes.
Becoming a skilled programmer requires patience and continuous improvement. Participating in different competitive programming contests can help you hone your skills and demonstrate your abilities. Additionally, showcasing your rankings from these competitions on your resume can help you stand out to top tech companies when applying for jobs.
8. Codewars
Codewars is a popular platform where users can engage in short code challenges called “kata.” The Codewars community has created these coding katas with the aim of improving players’ programming skills.
The platform provides support for more than 55 programming languages. Each kata can be completed directly in a web browser, and the test cases (TDD) are used to evaluate progress. Participants can assess their progress after completing each kata and further improve their understanding of the challenges by comparing solutions with other players.
The Codewars platform is designed with a martial arts theme, which is fitting because programming requires both artistic and scientific skills. Users can code in one of 29 supported languages, take part in community-created challenges known as “katas,” and advance through the ranks as they gain programming expertise. Once an expert level is reached, participants can help others improve their understanding by sharing what they have learned.
9. Interviewbit
InterviewBit is a free program that aims to prepare software developers for technical interviews and help them land their dream job. It is primarily designed for experienced programmers who want to hone their skills before an important interview. Additionally, InterviewBit partners with various organizations based on a user’s profile to facilitate job opportunities with companies they are interested in.
InterviewBit offers courses in programming languages such as Python, Java, C++, and JavaScript, as well as systems architecture, scripting, and databases utilizing SQL to prepare participants for job interviews. The platform offers a wide range of common interview questions, as well as opportunities to practice answering these questions in front of peers. The platform also provides engaging puzzles to keep users occupied in between practice sessions.
In addition, Scaler Academy is a paid software development boot camp offered by InterviewBit. It trains both professional programmers and non-coders in full-stack development and offers one-on-one mentoring, job guarantees, help with pay negotiation, and more.
If you’re a developer who struggles to perform well in technical interviews with your preferred company, InterviewBit is definitely worth considering.
10. CodinGame
CodinGame is an online platform that offers challenge-based programming education using games, riddles, and tournaments in over 25 programming languages. With a variety of exercises ranging in difficulty from easy to extremely challenging, CodinGame provides materials to help users improve their programming skills, expand their knowledge, and connect with other developers.
The CodinGame leaderboard and rewards program offers a great way to showcase your skills and be recognized for your efforts by peers. Recruiters can use the platform’s free live broadcasts, blogs, and discussion forums to engage with and retain developers, as well as source and screen candidates.
If you want to practice your coding skills in a fun and engaging way, CodinGame’s games and puzzles are perfect. The platform offers both single- and multiplayer-round matches, allowing users to compete against others.
Users appreciate features such as code playback and anti-cheating safeguards, as well as ATS integrations and API access. Code Playback enables users to see inside a candidate’s coding style and thought process, while anti-cheating safeguards ensure a fair and honest examination. API access and ATS integrations can help automate parts of the hiring process, saving time and effort.
CodinGame offers a free 14-day evaluation version, and four premium packages are available, including an individual plan for $149/month with 5 tests each month, and team pricing starting at $299 annually or $349 monthly with 50 exams each month and unlimited custom questions. Business plans are also available for $599/$699 per year.
11. TopCoder
TopCoder is a popular platform that is home to a tightly-knit community of top-notch programmers and developers. In terms of learning, TopCoder offers a wide range of weekly challenges and explanations, as well as challenging competitions that can help you improve your coding skills.
In terms of earning potential, experienced programmers can work as freelancers on TopCoder, taking on various segments of digital projects for clients like Harvard and NASA. As they gain more experience, they can even advance to the role of project manager, known as a “Copilot.”
12. Project Euler
Project Euler is a platform that offers computational programming challenges that combine mathematical and computing skills. The platform was named after the mathematician Leonhard Euler and provides both current and historical content to registered users for free.
Project Euler supports 108 programming languages, and users can attempt to solve problems of varying degrees of difficulty using their preferred language. While you can’t develop your program in their editor, you’ll have the opportunity to learn both mathematics and coding in the process of solving problems.
The challenges range in difficulty, and many participants have had prior learning experiences. If you can solve a challenge, you’ll receive access to previously insurmountable problems. So, if you’re truly invested, you’ll eventually be able to overcome any challenge.
Project Euler is free to use, but since the problems are challenging, it’s a good idea to check them out before signing up.
13. CoderByte
CoderByte is a platform that is popular for its extensive collection of programming challenges. These challenges can be attempted using the platform’s web-based editor and range in difficulty. CoderByte also offers technical screening tools to help businesses streamline their hiring process.
The website has algorithm, front-end, back-end, and database challenges, all of which are automatically graded. Additionally, expert insights and solutions from top tech firms help students prepare for real-world job interviews.
Users can sign up for any CoderByte subscription plan and enjoy the first 14 days for free. Additional features, such as API access and advanced analytics, can be added for $199 per month. A pay-per-candidate option is also available for $10 per candidate on the platform.
14. HackerEarth
HackerEarth is a platform where developers can test their skills against over three million other developers from around the world. They can participate in monthly coding challenges, ranging in difficulty from novice to expert. HackerEarth is free for developers and supports more than 35 programming languages. By completing over 100 challenges across various practice tracks, such as Data Structures and Algorithms, developers can learn and analyze their performance.
For companies, HackerEarth offers code tests for popular programming languages and interview guides to help them find the most qualified developers. The platform provides various ways for teams, admins, and stakeholders to communicate and share files. Companies can also use HackerEarth Evaluations to administer pre-configured exams for assessments and modify content to meet their recruitment needs. Recruiters can generate in-depth reports, and developers can learn new programming languages or hone their skills through games and other activities.
HackerEarth offers several pricing plans. The Solo plan costs $39 per month and includes one job posting and up to 25 applicants. The Unlimited Plan costs $139 per month and includes 10 monthly job postings and unlimited candidates, making it the most popular option.
15. Edabit
Edabit is a web application that provides daily coding challenges for users to solve in various programming languages, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Users can choose from a variety of categories such as algorithms, strings, arrays, mathematics, and more. The challenges are interactive and provide instant feedback to help users learn from their mistakes.
Edabit also offers a community forum where users can discuss their code solutions with others and get feedback on their work. The platform is free to use and has no limit on the number of challenges users can complete. Users can track their progress and earn achievements as they solve more challenges.
In addition to the free version, Edabit also offers a paid subscription service called “Edabit Pro” which provides additional features such as personalized feedback on code solutions, access to premium challenges, and the ability to create custom challenges.