Programming is something I've always wanted to try, but I never know where to start. How would you recommend I go about it? I have a very basic understanding of HTML, and that's about as far as my knowledge goes.

There are many ways - it really depends what your goal is eventually. What do you want to be able to do?

I think the answer is all about how you learn. Personally I learnt from viewing the course of websites to see how something was done.

There are many ways - it really depends what your goal is eventually. What do you want to be able to do?

 

I agree with this. Set yourself a goal. Do you want to make scripts on a website? A simple game?

 

What language you start with doesn't really matter as a lot of core programming skills are transferable and it's usually just syntax and perhaps some paradigms like object-orientedness that you need to get used to.

 

Getting more comfortable with HTML might be a good idea since you already have some experience with it and all you need to test your work is a browser which you already have.

 

The w3schools website is a pretty good place to start: http://www.w3schools.com/html/

It really does depend on what part of the programming industry you plan on going into.

 

For web design I would first obtain a book on one of these languages: PHP, javascript, python, and ASP.net in conjunction with HTML and css(though it may go away with HTML 5).

 

Next I would use this site for general usage: http://www.w3schools.com/

 

 

For industry standard languages in general computing I would go with one of these languages: java, Visual Basic, in conjunction with C and C++.

 

Here are some sites for those specific languages:

 

http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/index.html

http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

http://www.java2s.com/ (I have never seen such a complete tutorial before)

 

 

For research institution type languages you would need to learn these: Cobol, ADA, Fortran, and others like it.

 

 

For the video-game industry it depends on what you plan on developing on(these will be listed from least powerful to most powerful).

 

PHP - mostly made for server side development

 

javascript - meant for website development

 

FLASH - entirely internet based.

 

ruby, python and equivalents

 

java - only has 3 major mmos going for it at the moment (i.e. Minecraft, Runescape, Wyvern). So...little actual ground in it compared to c and c++.

 

c - Well established and the industry standard(consoles, handhelds, PC).

 

c++ - Industry standard and acts as a full extension of the c language and more. Also has the plus of having 100s of languages based off it with one example being Lua.

 

In other words, it really depends on the platform you want to develop for. My first recommendation though, is that whatever platform you want to develop for get the books on the language as they will have more concrete examples than the online sites. One other thing is to become a member of a dedicated programming forum.

 

Windows platform specific:

 

C#

 

Examples include:

 

http://www.codeguru.com/

http://www.programmingforums.org/

That list is largely subjective.

It may be subjective, but those are the main languages used outside of in house languages.

Well, you completely forgot C# + ASP.NET...

True, I'll update it.

Well, you completely forgot C# + ASP.NET...

What a loss.

 

 

 

 

*runs*

Well, you completely forgot C# + ASP.NET...

What a loss.

 

 

 

 

*runs*

 

I really didn't want to include them for the sole fact that, if Microsoft ever goes under, those languages will go the way of the dinosaur.

I hate to spoil the party, but as much as I prefer java/php over C# + ASP there's no denying that for business they make sense and are not going anywhere.

Python was what I started with. Not the best programming language (except for scripting maybe), but it's really easy to learn.

I hate to spoil the party, but as much as I prefer java/php over C# + ASP there's no denying that for business they make sense and are not going anywhere.

+1 A lot of companies choose ASP.Net for the speed it goes when programming from scratch to something.

What I would do is learn the terminology and methodology of programming before you learn how to code. It will help you better understand the code you are working with.

Thanks for the links and advice. I'd say the main reason I'd like to learn is just for fun, but making apps for android/iOS is something I'd like to be able to do eventually.

Thanks for the links and advice. I'd say the main reason I'd like to learn is just for fun, but making apps for android/iOS is something I'd like to be able to do eventually.

Android apps have a graphical app builder that requires no virtually coding knowlege. It's pretty neat :thumbup:

Cool. Do you have a link to it?

I've actually never done anything with it myself, but here's where you should start for android.

 

If that doesn't work, I can talk to a friend who makes apps and see what you need to do.

the 1st programming language that u should study is C language coz it's the basic of many programming languages.

Edited March 8, 201115 yr by lordpao