The web is full of resources for learning to program and develop applications. Codecademy often tops the list, and we've shared other high-quality platforms. However, there's also the concept of a bootcamp, with super-intensive study plans that are very expensive. One of them is App Academy, which recently announced a new free access to its 12-week plan, with over 1,500 hours of lessons, videos, and projects.
If you want to learn to program in a specific language, our first recommendation is Codecademy. Python, JavaScript, SQL... the essentials are there, and you can start even if you know absolutely nothing about it. Now, Codecademy has a more general profile. Those who want more specialization in their learning might consider accessing the so-called bootcamps, which simply exploded across the pond. The main problem is that unlike Codecademy, the bootcamp is not for just anyone. On one hand, calling it "intensive" underestimates its demands, with plans of 12 or 16 weeks divided into 12-13 hours a day of pure code. And on the other, they are not cheap at all. The folks at App Academy, one of the most successful bootcamps right now, seek to balance both weaknesses with a new free access to their content.
In total, there are over 1,500 hours of material divided into projects, classes, and videos, with a completely interactive environment and a community chat where all participants can resolve doubts and/or stay in touch with those who could be their future colleagues or employers. App Academy's priority is to convey the web development knowledge needed to land a position as a software engineer. However, the free access does not impose the pressure of the traditional program, and each participant can progress at their own pace.
Everything starts with a kind of introduction to programming, followed by the analysis of several primary concepts (debugging, for example), and then diving into the most important languages and tools, among which stand out SQL, the Rails framework, JavaScript, Ruby, and the React library. I insist: App Academy's structure is not for just anyone, but the simple fact of accessing a learning platform that normally costs thousands of dollars a year is no small thing.
