In a world where technology is rapidly expanding, it’s no wonder that there’s a higher supply and demand for people who are literate in this digital era. While it’s simple enough to learn how to successfully use Twitter or starting a newsletter, learning the intricate codes behind it all can be a daunting task. The demand for those fluent in coding is constantly on the rise as more and more people are looking to profit from their digital ideas. If you’re looking to get into the world of coding in simple and fun ways, Codeacademy is the best place to start in today’s world.

Codeacademy is a game-like approach to learning to code Javascript. While other parts of the site hint that Python and Ruby could become future subjects offered, Javascript is the primary language offered in the site’s infancy. The site offers a series of lessons focused on teaching you to code, beginning with simple concepts and progressing into more difficult subjects. With each section comes a project, which provides an opportunity to actually do something with the codes you’ve learned, aside from simple calculations and “if” statements.

The lesson structure is simple. The left side of the screen is occupied by the directions for the lesson, which are checked off as you progress. You can start from any point or skip around, though many of the lessons build off of one another. The majority of the screen is an interactive console where the coding and learning actually takes place. This isn’t an intricate Flash animation, this is the real deal; I’ve sent my browser into an infinite loop several times as it is, which is something the lessons very clearly teach you not to do.

The lessons do an excellent job of welcoming users who have no experience with JavaScript whatsoever. Introductory lessons teach you the bare basics of the language, and additional topics are added on at a fair pace. There is an occasional difficult lesson here and there, but additional hints and a Q&A section for each lesson level the playing field and make the experience much less daunting, which is what keeps many people away from the topic at all.

One of the main focuses of the site is its use of “gamification,” a concept which is relatively new, but is used by services such as Foursquare, turning a non-game into a game-like setting. Codeacademy keeps track of the number of lessons you’ve completed in addition to awarding points. When an entire section has been completed, a badge is awarded to your profile, symbolizing your achievement. While not overly useful, achievements do a decent job of keeping up morale and providing an incentive to follow through with the rest of the lessons.

While it’s only in its infancy, Codeacademy is shaping up to be an excellent tutor for those looking to learn the modern art of coding. Users are able to submit their own lessons to be used in the course, opening up the possibilities for many new and interesting lessons in the future. Whether you’re writing your first code or recreating Blackjack in JavaScript, Codeacademy is there to help.