Back in 2004, before popular tech communities were founded, developers mostly hung out in boot camps and mini-groups. And if you were a newbie, your best shot at being in a community was joining a coder’s club, which worked quite well back then, until the internet made everything a lot easier and fun.

Have you ever struggled with a line of code, and you simply don’t know how you could get it to work?

Every developer at some point even very often finds themselves in this condition. So don’t worry if you’re a beginner, and you think that’s the big reason you can’t get your code to work.

When the pros need help, where do they go?

Well, two options are always present every time. The first is Google! The first thing the pros do when they’re stuck in the search for more information on Google. Google the “ultimate” search engine (that was before ChatGTP anyways), can always point you in the right direction to find the answers you need, which is usually the next option - Communities and forums.

Tech communities, specifically for software development are awesome places to find answers to common and complex questions you encounter. Tech communities are great because the pros and newbies can all converse together, share knowledge and learn from each other. Other perks include growing their network, which is a huge advantage to every developer’s career.

So I’ve found seven amazing communities you can join for free, to get solutions to your development challenges, and also network with other awesome developers and engineers across the globe.

1. Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow is no doubt the most popular community for developers all around the world and is the largest in terms of content variety, which means regardless of your chosen language, you’re sure to always find a community in Stack Overflow’s community.

Stack Overflow is a community built by developers, for developers, with the total intent of increasing the total programming knowledge in the world — Jeff Atwood, Co-Founder.

The overall experience you’ll find in this community is amazing. If you’ve got a question, or puzzle, or help with your project, you are always sure to find experts coming to your aid, and even providing you with more materials to enhance your skills.

2. Reddit

Reddit isn’t peculiar to just programming or web development, because it is a platform that allows users to discuss anything and everything, but it is also used by developers around the world to form discussions on topics related to software development, programming and even cybersecurity, which are a fraction of everything happening on Reddit.
There are a couple of “subreddits” you can subscribe to, and join awesome discussions you will certainly learn from.

3. Bytes

Bytes is a traditional community consisting of novices and experts alike to engage in discussions about software development, and administration of networks, systems, and databases alike. You could say it is a bit of a niche community.

Databases, Networks, and Systems are all part of the programming eco-system, so this community brings a lot of advantages if you’re also looking to diversify from software technology to hardware, or simply just be more rounded in how these technologies work together, which is necessary if you’re looking to become an outstanding technical leader.

4. Treehouse

Treehouse is an affordable option if you’re looking to go from a beginner to an advanced Fullstack developer (someone who can create the webpage visible to web users, and also the parts that control the pages visible to the user).
One awesome advantage of Treehouse is access to the forums. Treehouse forums are awesome according to reviews by members who have signed up for their programs.

5. Code Project

“For those who code” as their slogan goes, Code Project is a community for computer programmers consisting of articles on different topics related to programming languages, web development, artificial intelligence, software development, and other topics.
Code project is also a place to find a good tech article to read, which makes it a very popular place for many developers around the world. You also get to join the Code project community and learn about fun and new things happening in the tech industry.

6. FreeCodeCamp

A non-profit body, that provides interested individuals with a well-developed curriculum that helps them learn how to write code (mainly in JavaScript), also has a constantly developing community around it. Although most discussions are particular with FreeCodeCamp’s coding challenges and projects, it is a very resourceful environment that helps you get confident with building awesome web tools and pages in JavaScript.
If you want to learn how to write code in JavaScript, FreeCodeCamp is highly recommended.

7. SheCodes

There is a strong movement in the tech ecosystem, with a strong message about encouraging more women to begin active careers in tech, particularly software development.

There are a lot of communities for women created using the keyword *“*She Codes”, so if you’re a woman looking to get started, simply Google the keyword “she codes”, and you’ll be sure to find a handful of communities you can freely join, and be on your way to becoming a world-class female developer.

8. LambdaTest Community

LambdaTest is a cross-browser testing tool for testers to try out public or locally hosted web apps across different browsers and devices. LambdaTest offers a community for web developers, that allows interactions between beginner and advanced-level developers.
LambdaTest also offers a learning hub and certification to help developers level up their skillset.

A few of these groups dedicated to supporting women in tech are:

1. Code like a girl

2. Girls who code

3. Women who code

4. Women tech makers

5. Black girls code

6. Change catalyst

7. She++

8. TechWomen

9. League of Women Coders

10. Girl Develop It

Conclusion

Tech communities offer support, resources and generally the sense of belonging to something as important as creating solutions to solve immediate problems in our community. They also help you accelerate your learning, and bring you closer to like-minded individuals, who could all be valuable in your journey.