A Warm Welcome to New Coders and a Quick Dive into Learning Programming!
An introduction to programming in a less boring way.
Hello there! Welcome to the exciting world of coding. I am thrilled to be your guide as we embark on this learning journey together. A special shout-out to all of you joining me at Eldohub Academy this week, and also to the online community of learners out there picking up coding skills! Kudos to each one of you for taking the first step toward mastering a powerful skill that will open up endless possibilities.
Before we dive in, take a sip of your coffee (order real coffee from Jullyira Coffee ) and get comfortable. I’ll introduce you to programming, and for those of you who may already have some experience, I’ll also remind you of the basics that sometimes get lost in the bubble.
At Eldohub, we believe in creating an environment where anyone, no matter their background, can learn and excel. Whether you're aiming to build websites, analyze data, or work in cyber security, the possibilities with programming are vast. Our goal is to help you unlock your potential and become proficient in coding. And just like that, you’re already on the right path!
One Common Problem to Tackle: "Check If a Number Is Even"
One of the most common problems you’ll encounter when starting your journey as a coder is something like this:
"Write a function that checks if a number is even. If it's even, return true; if it's not, return false."
Seems simple, right? But it’s a great introduction to basic programming concepts. You’ll learn how to use conditionals, work with numbers, and apply operators to solve a problem. It’s the perfect way to start learning how to think like a programmer!
In this post, we’re going to solve this problem using the top ten programming languages of 2025 by crossover.com , so you can see how each language approaches the same task in different ways. But don't worry, we won't be learning all the languages at once. The key here is to master one language, get comfortable with it, and fall in love with its official documentation. Trust me, when you start using documentation effectively, you'll find that programming becomes much easier!
The technique we’ll use is simple: we’ll divide the number by 2 and check if the remainder is 0 using the modulus operator. In programming, the modulus operator is often denoted as %, and it gives us the remainder of a division. For example:
5 % 3equals2, because 5 divided by 3 leaves a remainder of 2.6 % 2equals0, because 6 divided by 2 has no remainder.
Now, let’s see how this is done in different languages.
1. JavaScript (The Language of the Web)
JavaScript is one of the most widely used languages in web development, especially for front-end development. It's used by companies like Google, Facebook, and many others for building interactive and dynamic websites. Here's how we can check if a number is even in JavaScript:
function isEven(num) {
return num % 2 === 0;
}
console.log(isEven(4)); // true
console.log(isEven(7)); // false
Explanation:
We define a function
isEven(num)that takes a number as an argument.The modulus operator
%checks if the remainder when divided by 2 is0.If it is, the function returns
true(the number is even). Otherwise, it returnsfalse.
This is the foundation of writing functions in JavaScript. JavaScript is primarily used for front-end development, but it’s also gained traction in back-end development (with Node.js).
2. Python (The Language of Choice for Data Science)
Python is incredibly popular in fields like data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence due to its readability and large ecosystem of libraries. Here’s the same check in Python:
def is_even(num):
return num % 2 == 0
print(is_even(4)) # True
print(is_even(7)) # False
Who uses Python?
Data scientists
Machine learning engineers
Backend developers
Researchers
Python's simple syntax makes it an excellent language for beginners, and its extensive use in data science makes it one of the top languages of 2025.
3. PHP (The Web Scripting Language)
PHP is widely used for server-side web development. It powers popular content management systems like WordPress, and it’s a staple in backend development. Here's how we can do the same in PHP:
function isEven($num) {
return $num % 2 === 0;
}
echo isEven(4); // 1 (true)
echo isEven(7); // (empty, false)
Who uses PHP?
Web developers
Backend developers
Content management systems (e.g., WordPress)
4. Kotlin (Modern Android Development)
Kotlin is a statically-typed programming language developed by JetBrains and is primarily used for Android development. Here's how we can implement our function in Kotlin:
fun isEven(num: Int): Boolean {
return num % 2 == 0
}
println(isEven(4)) // true
println(isEven(7)) // false
Who uses Kotlin?
Android app developers
Mobile app developers
Kotlin is gaining popularity in mobile development, especially for Android, thanks to its concise syntax and interoperability with Java.
5. Java (The Enterprise Language)
Java has been around for decades and remains a cornerstone of enterprise-level software development. It's widely used in large-scale applications, from banking systems to Android apps.
public class Main {
public static boolean isEven(int num) {
return num % 2 == 0;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(isEven(4)); // true
System.out.println(isEven(7)); // false
}
}
Who uses Java?
Backend developers
Enterprise software developers
Android app developers
6. C++ (The Powerhouse for Performance)
C++ is widely used for system programming, game development, and performance-critical applications. It provides low-level memory manipulation and is known for its performance.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
bool isEven(int num) {
return num % 2 == 0;
}
int main() {
cout << isEven(4) << endl; // 1 (true)
cout << isEven(7) << endl; // 0 (false)
}
Who uses C++?
Game developers
System programmers
Performance-critical applications
7. Ruby (For Elegant Web Development)
Ruby, along with its popular framework Ruby on Rails, is great for building websites quickly with clean, readable code.
def is_even(num)
num % 2 == 0
end
puts is_even(4) # true
puts is_even(7) # false
Who uses Ruby?
Web developers
Full-stack developers
8. Swift (Apple Ecosystem)
Swift is the go-to language for developing iOS and macOS apps. If you want to build apps for iPhones, iPads, or Macs, Swift is the language you'll be using.
func isEven(_ num: Int) -> Bool {
return num % 2 == 0
}
print(isEven(4)) // true
print(isEven(7)) // false
Who uses Swift?
- iOS and macOS app developers
9. Go (Golang) (The Language for High-Performance Backends)
Go is becoming increasingly popular for building high-performance backend services due to its simplicity and efficiency.
package main
import "fmt"
func isEven(num int) bool {
return num % 2 == 0
}
func main() {
fmt.Println(isEven(4)) // true
fmt.Println(isEven(7)) // false
}
Who uses Go?
Backend developers
Cloud infrastructure engineers
10. R (The Language for Statistics and Data Science)
R is a language specifically designed for statistical computing and data visualization, popular among statisticians and data analysts.
isEven <- function(num) {
return(num %% 2 == 0)
}
print(isEven(4)) # TRUE
print(isEven(7)) # FALSE
Who uses R?
Statisticians
Data scientists
Conclusion: Join Eldohub to Master Your Craft
As you can see, the task of checking if a number is even may seem simple, but it provides a perfect opportunity to explore the syntax and functionality of different programming languages. Remember, when learning to code, mastering one language is the best way to start, and focusing on its official documentation will give you a strong foundation.
If you’re eager to start your coding journey and become a full-stack web developer, I invite you to join us at Eldohub Academy. Our January intake kicks off tomorrow, and we’re hosting an orientation and information session. It’s an open event, so feel free to DM us for a link to the session. And if you're reading this after 12/01/2025 at 10 am, don’t worry—there might be a recording available!
The key to mastering programming is consistency and dedication. Keep learning, practice often, and always stay curious. See you around!
Happy coding!