What Is Programming? And How To Get Started
January 28, 2025
Article
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
IDE experience (VsCode)
Some awareness coding best practices
Foundational knowledge of one programming language
Basic git knowledge
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
IDE experience (VsCode)
Some awareness coding best practices
Foundational knowledge of one programming language
Basic git knowledge
Develop the ability to use Cody's ‘Autocomplete’ to efficiently navigate and contribute to a provided codebase.
Use Cody's ‘Chat’ for real-time problem solving and its contextualized feedback capabilities to maintain and scale a complex codebase.
Employ Cody's ‘Commands’ and ‘Debugging’ to refine code and debug faster, enabling accurate troubleshooting of issues within a web application.
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Only available on desktop
In this project-based course, you'll step into the role of a developer using Cody, an AI-enhanced coding assistant, to refine and advance an open-source software project. You'll get hands-on with Cody's core capabilities such as Autocomplete, Chat, and Commands to improve code quality and efficiency.
You will begin by establishing a solid coding environment with VS Code and Cody, progressing to solve real-world software development problems like you would in a real project development workflow. Throughout this project you will immediately immerse yourself into a large and complex codebase, quickly gaining an understanding of what it does, and will have significantly enhanced the codebase with your contributions using Cody. This project is tailored for aspiring developers who are eager to see how AI can bridge gaps in their coding workflow, and thus, a basic understanding of programming and familiarity with JavaScript is recommended. By the end, you will have a deeper insight into AI's role in modern software development and be better equipped to tackle complex coding challenges.
In a video that plays in a split-screen with your work area, your instructor will walk you through these steps:
Cody Setup and Integration with IDE
Exploring Code with Cody Chat
Command-Driven Development with Cody
Custom Commands Creation in Cody
Debugging Mastery with Cody
IDE experience (VsCode)
Some awareness coding best practices
Foundational knowledge of one programming language
Basic git knowledge
The Coursera Project Network is a select group of instructors who have demonstrated expertise in specific tools or skills through their industry experience or academic backgrounds in the topics of their projects. If you're interested in becoming a project instructor and creating Guided Projects to help millions of learners around the world, please apply today at teach.coursera.org.
Skill-based, hands-on learning
Practice new skills by completing job-related tasks.
Expert guidance
Follow along with pre-recorded videos from experts using a unique side-by-side interface.
No downloads or installation required
Access the tools and resources you need in a pre-configured cloud workspace.
Available only on desktop
This Guided Project is designed for laptops or desktop computers with a reliable Internet connection, not mobile devices.
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University of California, Santa Cruz
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By purchasing a Guided Project, you'll get everything you need to complete the Guided Project including access to a cloud desktop workspace through your web browser that contains the files and software you need to get started, plus step-by-step video instruction from a subject matter expert.
Because your workspace contains a cloud desktop that is sized for a laptop or desktop computer, Guided Projects are not available on your mobile device.
Guided Project instructors are subject matter experts who have experience in the skill, tool or domain of their project and are passionate about sharing their knowledge to impact millions of learners around the world.
You can download and keep any of your created files from the Guided Project. To do so, you can use the “File Browser” feature while you are accessing your cloud desktop.
Guided Projects are not eligible for refunds. See our full refund policy.
Financial aid is not available for Guided Projects.
Auditing is not available for Guided Projects.
At the top of the page, you can press on the experience level for this Guided Project to view any knowledge prerequisites. For every level of Guided Project, your instructor will walk you through step-by-step.
Yes, everything you need to complete your Guided Project will be available in a cloud desktop that is available in your browser.
You'll learn by doing through completing tasks in a split-screen environment directly in your browser. On the left side of the screen, you'll complete the task in your workspace. On the right side of the screen, you'll watch an instructor walk you through the project, step-by-step.
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