5 Austin organizations that will teach you to code for free

Written by Tessa McLean
Published on Feb. 16, 2016
If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to learn to code, you’ve probably explored options like Codeacademy and Coursera. Unfortunately, courses like this take a lot of isolated dedication, and for those that enjoy a more interactive approach, a community-based educational option can be a powerful resource for prospective developers.
 
Austin has a number of independent web development study groups, workshops, and hack nights that not only will not only help you learn to code, but also understand whether the lifestyle is right for you. To help navigate what the thriving community has to offer, we’ve compiled a list of free, local instructional resources for programming hopefuls of all backgrounds.
 

Learn to Code Austin

Focus: HTML and CSS, Javascript, Git and GitHub,jQuery, Angular, Node.js, Express.js, Meteor, Ruby on Rails, and more
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
 
If you’ve thought about learning to code but weren't sure how to get started, this is a great place to meet other aspirational coders, explore the fundamentals and develop an attitude that will enable you to quickly learn new technologies. They introduce different languages, and the group also hosts workshops, panels, and speaking events for more intermediate and advanced coders. The group is owned and operated by Galvanize.
 

CodeNewbie Austin

Focus: Ruby, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
 
If you're learning to code and are looking for a friendly group in the Austin area to code with, this is the group for you. They host discussions, mixers, Q&As and more. 
 
 

Girl Develop It Austin

Focus: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python and more
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
 
Girl Develop It is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable and accessible technology classes for women in a judgement-free environment. Whether you want to advance your own knowledge of technology for your current job, or are looking to transition into a more tech-minded job, they'll help you develop the skills you need.
 

Austin Learn Python Meetup

Focus: Python
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
 
This meetup is for novice and experienced programmers alike who want to learn how to use Python idiomatically and pragmatically to build cool things, from web apps to hardware hacking to data science. If you’re female, there’s also a PyLadies ATX group that might be for you. 
 

Women Who Code Austin

Focus: Multiple Programming Languages
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
 
Women Who Code is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers by creating a global, connected community of women in technology. They provide an avenue for women to pursue a career in technology, help them gain new skills and hone existing skills for professional advancement, and foster environments where networking and mentorship are valued.
 
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