[cmaher]

First, this post: http://blog.zackshapiro.com/want-to-learn-to-code-start-here gives a good foundation of troubles you should expect, although point #1 is more than a little impractical for most people.

You should also be aware that the only way to learn to code is to actually do it.

Try going with a book tutorial, such as http://eloquentjavascript.net/

You can click on the buttons next to code entries to try stuff out.

Learn how to develop code outside of a browser. Pick a text editor and learn it. Sublime text (http://www.sublimetext.com/) is a great choice for beginners. Learn how to use the command line.

After you have an OK foundation, check out the problems at http://projecteuler.net/ working your way through them sequentially (apparently, most people don't go beyond ten problems)

Create a GitHub account. Learn basic git, and start putting your code out there.

Come up with something you want to make and start a project to actually do it. Be sure to start small, since a lot of software development skills only come with practice.