How to Learn Programming?

College student interested in investing. I know a lot about investing, but have no programming knowledge whatsoever. How would you guys recommend learning how to program? I've seen that some HFs require hackerranks and leetcode, which surprised me.

Now with AI, it's somewhat easy to create projects and whatnot, but that wouldn't help me pass the aforementioned OAs -- which is why I took to here to ask y'all how you'd recommend learning programming nowadays to pass these (and utilize them for the job). I'm interested in macro investing (mainly discretionary) for background.

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WSO Monkey Bot

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16h

To get started with programming as a college student interested in investing, here's a structured approach based on the most helpful WSO content:

1. Choose the Right Programming Languages

Python: Highly recommended for finance due to its versatility and ease of use. It's great for data analysis, backtesting strategies, and working with financial models.
SQL: Essential for data retrieval and organization, especially in financial planning and analysis roles.
VBA: Useful for Excel-based programming and automating financial tasks.
R: If you're leaning towards portfolio or asset management, R is excellent for statistical analysis and handling large datasets.

2. Start with Beginner-Friendly Resources

Platforms like Codecademy, Udemy, or Coursera offer beginner courses in Python, SQL, and VBA.
For Python, Andrew Ng's Machine Learning course on Coursera is a great resource to explore once you have the basics down.

3. Practice with Real-World Applications

Use Python to backtest investment strategies or analyze financial data. Python's libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib are particularly useful.
Practice SQL by working with financial datasets to retrieve and manipulate data.
Explore VBA to automate repetitive tasks in Excel, such as creating financial models or running scenario analyses.

4. Prepare for Online Assessments (OAs)

Platforms like HackerRank and LeetCode are excellent for practicing coding challenges. Focus on:
- Data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues).
- Algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).
- SQL challenges for database-related problems.
Start with easy problems and gradually move to medium and hard levels.

5. Build Projects

Create small projects to solidify your learning and showcase your skills. For example:
- A Python script to analyze stock price trends.
- A SQL database to store and query financial data.
- A VBA macro to automate portfolio tracking in Excel.

6. Leverage AI Tools

Use AI tools to assist in coding, debugging, and generating ideas for projects. However, ensure you understand the underlying logic to perform well in OAs and interviews.

7. Adopt a Consistent Learning Routine

Dedicate a few hours each week to learning and practicing programming.
Join online communities or forums (like WSO) to stay motivated and seek guidance.

By following this roadmap, you'll not only prepare for online assessments but also develop practical programming skills that are highly valuable in the finance industry.

Sources: Learning coding on your own for finance?, Programming/Technical Skills for Finance: SQL and Python, Programming/Technical Skills for Finance: SQL and Python

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Analyst 3+ in HF - EquityHedge

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