It’s fair to say that, as home working becomes the ‘new norm,’ there’s never been a better time to get started on your coding journey. Forget pandemics or economic breakdowns; this is a career that can see you through the worst and is, if anything, growing stronger. Sadly, if you do take this chance, you can rest easy that you aren’t the only person doing so.

We’re in the remote work revolution, remember, and companies across the world are scrabbling for people like you to help them make digital switches that suit. Of course, competition never hurt anyone, but it does mean that it might be harder to make your name. Luckily, as companies continue to shift, there should be plenty of coding work on offer. To make sure that at least some of it comes your way, you will need to stock your coding tool kit with the following.

Layer 1 - Your computer setup

Your computer setup is the bottom layer of your tool kit and foundational level of your coding career. As such, you need to consider a setup that allows you to work towards every eventuality and client request. From the outside, a laptop is a preferable option, but remember that you also need a professional and complete home office. With that in mind, you may find that kitting this initial toolbox layer comes down to additions like the laptop docking stations discussed in this Tech Cove Article, which allow you to mix laptop and desktop benefits. This way, you can get the best of both worlds, and start your coding career as you mean to go on.

Layer 2 - Your networks

Your home network may have been enough to serve when you were taking on small-time coding commissions, but business is set to boom. You need to make sure that your network of choice can handle that, and VPNs are often the best option. Benefits here are varied, but security and a network you can access on-the-go are two of the most notable advantages for your coding efforts. What’s more, layering your tool kit with a VPN ensures that you’re always working in keeping with geo-dependent legal considerations, etc.

Layer 3 - The programs you use

On the top layer of your toolbox, you should keep the tools you’re set to use most often or, in this instance, the programs any coder needs to keep close by. The good news is that around ten options should be enough to see you satisfactorily building most codes. There are plenty of guides out there about which to choose, and they commonly feature options like Github, SQL, and even good old Excel.

Your coding tool kit probably won’t be perfect from the off. In fact, you may need to discard or bring on board a few things before you get this right. But, with a little know-how and patience, you should soon end up with a tool supply that sees you leaving other coders in the dust!