Here are some of the best sites for learning programming and SAS in particular. Also, they can be useful if you have problems with programming assignments. For example, you can get help with SAS programming homework from professional experts. Services, where these specialists work, are especially helpful when you don’t have enough time to deal with your assignments yourself.
For convenience, all resources are divided into four categories: those that provide theoretical knowledge, full-scale courses with teachers and a set of groups, automated training systems, and simulators for practicing the acquired knowledge.
Theoretical bases for learning to program and doing homework
The best way to learn to program is to program all the time. But to start, you need theoretical knowledge. They can be taken from the net for free. Moreover, they are presented in an exhaustive form, without the need to refer to workshops, interactive courses, etc.
Below we will consider several popular sources of theoretical information for different languages.
Apple Books
Cost: Free
This is, of course, not a site per se, but definitely a worthwhile resource for learning programming using the languages Apple uses. A great option for those who plan to use SAS, Xcode, Objective-C, and Swift to create applications for macOS and iOS.
The Learn to Code tutorials in the Apple Books collection contains theoretical knowledge and hundreds of exercises to practice your skills. All training takes place independently. You only need a development environment, that is, an Xcode application.
MDN
It is the best knowledge base for web developers. It was created and maintained by Mozilla. All the information about web development is there. You can refer to it early on in your web development experience or use it as a tutorial to learn how methods work in JavaScript or tags in HTML and how to work with SAS.
MDN contains purely technical information without additional explanations. Therefore, this method of self-education may seem too difficult, especially in the early stages.
GitHowTo
Cost: Free
This is not really a site for learning programming, but it is closely related to the discipline. GitHowTo is a great step-by-step tutorial on working with the Git data management system. Git is an integral part of the programmers’ activity, as it allows you to create multiple versions of the same project, incrementally make changes to the finished product, and discuss any changes with other team members.
Project files are managed through the command line, so before starting, it is really worth going through full-scale training to understand all the intricacies. GitHowTo is the perfect way to handle this task.
StackOverflow
Cost: Free
StackOverflow is a site where you can find answers to your questions related to SAS assignments or tasks in any other language. Different questions are asked here, but they are always given detailed and understandable answers. They often add ready-made working code to the answers. Because of this, there is a very tangible temptation to simply copy what someone has already implemented and not think with your own head at all.
StackOverflow can make you an extremely lazy and inept programmer who will solve even simple tasks only with the help of someone else’s ready-made code. To avoid falling into this trap, use StackOverflow as a last resort.
Documentation
Cost: Free
Nobody can tell about their product better than the developers themselves. Therefore, it is worth referring to the documentation for up-to-date and accurate information. Seriously, by reading the documentation and tutorials on the official sites of conditional SAS, React, TypeScript, C#, and other resources, you will learn how to develop using these frameworks and languages.
The documentation is handled by specialists in the field of technical writing, so the data in it is always neatly structured and communicated in a language understandable to “ordinary people.”
And in any case, reading the documentation will be needed in further work since you will have to work with the API, that is, ready-made software products from other developers, for which there are definitely no courses and workshops. Documentation is your greatest friend. Don’t be afraid of it.
Workshops and courses on programming
This type of studying programming is the closest to traditional learning. It includes lectures, seminars, practice training, communication with teachers, etc. This consists of everything a novice programmer might need. Usually, training starts from the basics for people without skills and ends with employment. The complete type of training is, although often paid.
Coursera
Cost: Depends on the chosen course
It is one of the most popular and demanded platforms for learning something. And one of the best sites for learning programming in particular. Coursera has brought together several hundred of the world’s largest universities and IT corporations on one platform.
On the site, you can find courses from Google, IBM, and upon completion of training, you will immediately receive an offer to take an internship in one of these companies. The learning format depends on which teaching style the teacher chooses. These can be lectures, text materials, webinars, third-party sites for collaboration on code, etc.
Coursera tuition fees vary, but the platform’s creators usually make concessions and are willing to make a big discount if you have financial difficulties. You will find many SAS courses available:
- SAS Programmer
- SAS Statistical Business Analyst
- Structured Query Language using SAS
- Learning SAS: Creating Formats and Labels, and many more.
Udemy
You will find many courses where you can gain knowledge in SAS:
- SAS Programming Advance Certification Course
- Logistic Regression using SAS – In-depth Predictive Modeling
- SAS SQL for the SAS Programmer/Analyst.
Automated learning systems for programming
Classes in the format of webinars or constant interaction with teachers/other students are not suitable for everyone. Sometimes you just want to start somewhere in order to get acquainted with the basics of programming without the “load” in the form of outside observers.
If you do not like it when someone is watching you, then it is better to use an automated training system. These are pre-prepared courses with a specific list of tasks, tests, verification mechanisms, etc. You will only have to interact with a robot that other programmers have carefully written for you in advance.
That’s all. Choose the learning method that suits you best and go for it. Programming is difficult, but like any activity, it is not impossible. The main thing is not to give up this activity and constantly replenish your head with new knowledge. In this way, you will learn and do your homework successfully.
