How can high schoolers start building software and apps?
High schoolers can build and publish real software, not just take coding classes. Ways in include coding clubs, hackathons, summer coding programs, open source projects and competitions like the Congressional App Challenge.
The USA Computing Olympiad runs online contests in programming and algorithms. Hackathons let a team build a working app over a weekend. Free resources make it possible to learn web development, mobile apps and programming basics without paying. Sending a small fix to an open source project is another way to learn how working developers review and ship code.
What should you look for in a coding program?
Look for programs where you build and ship something, not just follow along with videos. Ask which languages are taught, what you need to know first and how much feedback you get on your code. Free courses cover a lot, so paid programs should add mentors and team projects. For competitions, check the rules on team size and original work.
How can you start coding this month?
- Build a simple website about something you love and publish it.
- Make a tiny app that solves one real problem for your family or a club.
- Join or start a coding club, or find a hackathon for high schoolers.
- Put your code on GitHub with a short README that explains what it does.
- Read someone else's code and fix one small bug.
Where Nextreks fits
Links, screenshots and write-ups of your apps belong in your Nextreks portfolio, which starts private. Coding builds durable skills like problem solving and persistence when nothing works, and building on a team adds collaboration.
Programs in Explore are run by other organizations. Nextreks lists them but does not run or guarantee them.