- Set up the framework and connect to the app under test - enter "fred" in the username field - enter "derf" in the password field - click the Submit button - verify that the login is successful
Then if you copy-paste that test and spend some time experimenting with it, you can probably turn it into a test that enters an incorrect password and verifies that it is unsuccessful without really doing any actual "coding". That's the best way to contribute while you come up to speed - the more cases you write, the more comfortable you will get with the language and with the framework.
If you don't have someone senior to copy off of, you can still do it, it'll just go slower. "How do I get selenium to click a button" plus an afternoon will get you well underway. Steer clear of any "programming fundamentals" - you don't need to understand classes and interfaces and the difference between "final" and "static" yet, you just need enough basic syntax to get some simple tests built so you can experiment with them.
Good luck!
I would suggest if you have the option that you pair with one of the programmers at your company. One of the best ways to learn is to jump right in and do it with someone more senior than you are. If they are willing to take a few minutes or hours a day to allow you to really pair with them, you'll learn quickly!
You get to see the code and architectural decisions your engineers make when you move into automated testing. In many cases, you're in a position to be paid to learn.
What programming language / framework is the code in?