Not that any programming language is actually easy to learn. But some languages – scripting languages like the ones in the title of this post – function differently than other- compiled languages, like C++. For this reason, javascript, ruby, python and some other programming languages / web design tools can be taught online with the use of realtime, online compiling. Some websites that I’ve learned a lot from that do this are codecademy, PythonMonk, and RubyMonk. Ironically, what makes them so good, is also their greatest weakness – they are sandbox environments. You can learn to do every single exercise in Codecademy, but have no idea how to actually apply these skills outside of that sandbox.

When it comes to C++, Objective-C, or the like, creating this online sandbox becomes impossible to do (or at least no one has figured out how to do it). However, this doesn’t mean that we can’t learn online. In fact, many programmers do much of their work online – even if they are sharing an office with their co-workers. This has to happen because of the need to share files and compile those worked on by different groups.

One way programmers share files and integrate their work is via Github. This is a resource that programmers know of, but when they learn this exists, non-programmers throw up their hands and admit defeat before trying to disentangle another obscure resource.

It doesn’t have to be this way. There can be be a way to keep the security of the sandbox, while also learning how to break out and tackle real world problems and work in real world teams.

Join me, as DownHouse software creates this environment at CollabFinder.