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Lesson 1: Welcome & First Steps

Welcome! You're about to start learning to code, and you've picked a great time to begin. This isn't like learning programming 10 years ago - you have AI tools that can help you every step of the way.

What You'll Learn in This Course​

This course will take you from zero coding experience to building real projects. Here's what we'll cover:

Phase 1: Foundations (Lessons 1-8)

  • Your first conversation with AI about coding
  • Building your first simple program
  • Understanding what code actually does
  • Debugging when things break (they will!)

Phase 2: Essential Skills (Lessons 9-16)

  • Using command line and Git
  • Advanced AI prompting techniques
  • Testing your code
  • Setting up professional tools

Phase 3: Building Projects (Lessons 17-23)

  • Planning a real project with AI
  • Building a complete application
  • Organizing and documenting code
  • Deploying to the web

Phase 4: Specialization (Lessons 24-29)

  • Choosing your path (frontend, backend, data, etc.)
  • Deep-diving into your specialty
  • Refactoring and improving code

Phase 5: Career (Lessons 30-31)

  • Building your portfolio
  • Preparing for job interviews
  • Your next steps

What You Need to Get Started​

Right Now:

  • A computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
  • Internet connection
  • A web browser
  • That's it!

Soon (we'll set up together):

  • A free ChatGPT account (or Claude, or any AI coding assistant)
  • A code editor (we'll recommend one)
  • Git installed on your computer

Don't worry about installing anything yet. We'll do it together when you're ready.

How This Course Works​

Each lesson follows a simple pattern:

  1. Quick Intro - What you'll learn today
  2. Core Concept - The main idea, explained simply
  3. Hands-On Practice - You'll actually do something
  4. Common Issues - Problems people run into and how to fix them
  5. Quick Check - Make sure you understood the key points

Important: This isn't a race. Some lessons might take 30 minutes, others might take 3 hours. That's normal. Take breaks. Come back to tricky parts later.

Learning with AI: The Basics​

Here's what makes learning to code in 2025 different:

Traditional Learning:

  • Memorize syntax
  • Google every error
  • Get stuck for hours
  • Follow tutorials blindly

Learning with AI:

  • Ask AI to explain concepts
  • Let AI help debug errors
  • Build confidence quickly
  • Understand WHY code works

AI isn't magic. It's a tool. Like a calculator for math, or spell-check for writing. You still need to understand what you're doing - but AI makes the learning process much smoother.

What to Expect​

Week 1: You'll have your first conversation with AI about code and build something simple.

Week 2-4: You'll understand how code actually works and start fixing problems yourself.

Month 2: You'll be building small projects with AI's help.

Month 3-4: You'll be planning and building real applications.

Month 5-6: You'll be choosing a specialization and going deeper.

This timeline assumes ~10 hours per week. Less time? That's fine - just scale the timeline. More time? You'll move faster.

Your First Assignment​

Before moving to Lesson 2, do this:

  1. Get an AI Account - Sign up for ChatGPT (free tier is fine) or Claude. We'll use it starting next lesson.

  2. Join Our Community (optional) - Connect with other learners, ask questions, share progress.

  3. Bookmark This Page - You'll come back here when you need motivation.

One More Thing​

You might feel overwhelmed sometimes. That's normal. Every programmer feels this way - even experienced ones. The difference is they've learned to push through it.

Here's the secret: coding isn't about being smart. It's about being persistent. If you can stick with it, you WILL learn this.

Ready? Let's start coding.

Next Lesson: Don't Fear AI: Your Learning Partner