June 4, 200620 yr Alright, i've recently become interested in learning how to code. I know html and that is it. I was wondering if you guys could help me to choose a new language to learn and where to learn it from (sites etc.). The way I want to find a new language is based upon How useful the language is (How can I use it?) How easy the language is to learn (Since this would be basically my first language learnt I would like for it to be semi-easy.) And yeah. Any ideas :D?
June 4, 200620 yr Grab yourself a textbook to learn it from (can be had for ~50 USD) first of all. Second of all, Visual Basic .NET is easy and gives you a good oversight of programming concepts that allow you to easily switch between languages. (Python is also fairly easy to learn, and it's interpreted so it doesn't have to be compiled ^_^) I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
June 4, 200620 yr for your first language, go Visual Basic .net, it is easy, but not often used. But it will help you learn the rules of programming, and get the feel of varibles eaiser then starting with a different language like c# or c++. Current Goals80/80 Fletching60/75 Woodcutting97/100 Combat
June 5, 200620 yr Go to a used bookstore or a thriftstore and you can get massive amounts of programming tutorial books on the cheap. I recently bought sam's teach yourself c++ in 24 hours for a dollar. Not that I'll ever probably look at it and decide to learn C++, I like having it around, just in case.
June 5, 200620 yr If you are a "virgin", I would recommend Python as your first language. It is as easy as Visual Basic, but you code more useful things with Python. Also, Python gives you a basic coding overview which I'm sure you will find usefull later in your career ;) If you need guides and/or help; google.
June 8, 200620 yr You should probly go with visual basic. People tend to say it's not used much but you can make usefull programs with it. It's also really really easy to learn, just get a book like visual basic for dummies.
June 9, 200620 yr I know the feeling of trying to pick up programming from scratch, or at least a new language. At university I've been forced to learn Java, but it is worthwhile knowledge, imo. I was given a book about learning C++ which has many similarities to Java (Java is based on C++ I believe) but the book is extremely dry/boring. If you can learn from a friend/school, i think it should be easier. Sometimes you get stuck and just can't solve a problem, so having someone else about really helps. That said, I'd recommend Java or C++. C++ is one of the most useful, if not 'the' most useful language. Java is neat for graphical things, and will get better in the future for games. Also, Javascript is a baby version (procedural version) of Java. I don't really like Javascript if truth be told. I used to play this game once....
June 9, 200620 yr Also, Javascript is a baby version (procedural version) of Java. I don't really like Javascript if truth be told. Actually it's really not that related to java other than by name :P I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
June 9, 200620 yr Heh, fair point. I just remember not liking it. :P I used to play this game once....
June 9, 200620 yr My suggestion to anyone wishing to learn how to write their own software is similar runesmithie's buy a book read it read it again try the sample codes they provide experiment with the same while reading the book again and try to make small changes to how it works read the book again As for picking a language , its all about what you want to do and how you want to achieve it. Want a a basic application based on a user interface that is easy to use with simple functions, Visual Basic Want to work with a complex graphic API such as OpenGL or Direct3D ? - C/C++ Want an object oriented dynamic language that can perform almost any task such as database access, gui , 3d rendering, computation ? Python Buy a book Read it Read it again etc.. etc... I like to fart silently but deadly in movie theatersArd Choille says (11:41 PM):I wouldn't dare tell you what to do m'dear
June 10, 200620 yr My suggestion to anyone wishing to learn how to write their own software is similar runesmithie's buy a book read it read it again try the sample codes they provide experiment with the same while reading the book again and try to make small changes to how it works read the book again As for picking a language , its all about what you want to do and how you want to achieve it. Want a a basic application based on a user interface that is easy to use with simple functions, Visual Basic Want to work with a complex graphic API such as OpenGL or Direct3D ? - C/C++ Want an object oriented dynamic language that can perform almost any task such as database access, gui , 3d rendering, computation ? Python Buy a book Read it Read it again etc.. etc... And try to get a school edition textbook instead of ones that are just basically reference guides :P It *will* cost more, but it is worth it I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
June 10, 200620 yr I always forget that part hehe I usually suggest the "Learn in 21 days" series of books , they use a nice format that only focuses to the subject at hand , alot of times people get confused when learning scripts and code as the examples contain alot of stuff that hasnt been discussed yet the 21 days series avoid that almost everytime :) I like to fart silently but deadly in movie theatersArd Choille says (11:41 PM):I wouldn't dare tell you what to do m'dear
June 10, 200620 yr I always forget that part hehe I usually suggest the "Learn in 21 days" series of books , they use a nice format that only focuses to the subject at hand , alot of times people get confused when learning scripts and code as the examples contain alot of stuff that hasnt been discussed yet the 21 days series avoid that almost everytime :) I have a Learn HTML in 21 days type book, but it touched lightly on topics where it could have gone much deeper without losing the reader and when I got my Creating Web Pages with HTML and XML from Thomson Course Technology it just blew it out of the water :P Only thing was the $50 price difference I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
June 10, 200620 yr java, vb there the 2 easest i think i love java ~bmms Aefx(started 11/1/2002) Cb: 200 TS: 1900+Bmms--Jr(Started on 1/24/06)(Banned 11/13/09 ) Cb: 119(pre-eoc) TS: 1700+Bmms(Started 8/?/2001)(Banned 1/24/06 ) Cb: 101(pre-eoc) TS: 1350+
June 10, 200620 yr learning any language will do to start off with. C++ is the most widely used programming language but if you learnt any other language. The actual thought processes and logic involved in languages like Java, Delphi, C, C++ are all the same, just the commands that are different (or more commands). HTML isn't a programming language, it's a markup language so that's not going to help you
June 10, 200620 yr I would recommend PHP, C, and then either Python or Perl. PHP - Uses: Web scripting, particularly dynamic content, like forums etc. PhpBB, the forum software tip.it uses, is PHP. Difficulty: Its pretty damn easy, but to be able to know bigger stuff you'll probably have to learn MySQL, too. C - Uses: Everything. Literally. Its one of the most powerful languages there is. You can make cgi applications for the web, programs for windows and linux and unix and mac systems, everything. Difficulty: I think i heard the difficulty of C explained best by one of my friends: C is really easy when you start, and then, its like, woah... C and C++ programming are easy to start, but once you get to classes and stuff, its hard. Python - Uses: It can be used to make simple programs, as well as web scripting using CGI. Thinkgeek.com uses a Python script for its billing systems. Difficulty: Relatively easy, but like C, it starts easy and gets more difficult really quickly. Its a lot easier than C/C++, but its less powerful. Perl - Uses: Same as python, really, but its slightly more powerful. You may have seen some websites that use .pl as the filename extension (like tip.it uses .php) - thats Perl scripting. Difficulty: I wouldnt know, actually, but i hear its about half-way in between Python and C in terms of difficulty. If you really want, you could go for some Microsoft langauges, but i really woundnt recommend it, as these have to be run on microsoft systems (well, there are one or two linux systems you can run it on with a fair amound of hacking). VB and C# can be used for programs and web scripting (ASP and ASPX), but Microsoft servers are normally more expensive than linux or unix ones. Hope this helps.
June 10, 200620 yr I would recommend PHP, C, and then either Python or Perl. PHP - Uses: Web scripting, particularly dynamic content, like forums etc. PhpBB, the forum software tip.it uses, is PHP. Difficulty: Its pretty damn easy, but to be able to know bigger stuff you'll probably have to learn MySQL, too. C - Uses: Everything. Literally. Its one of the most powerful languages there is. You can make cgi applications for the web, programs for windows and linux and unix and mac systems, everything. Difficulty: I think i heard the difficulty of C explained best by one of my friends: C is really easy when you start, and then, its like, woah... C and C++ programming are easy to start, but once you get to classes and stuff, its hard. Python - Uses: It can be used to make simple programs, as well as web scripting using CGI. Thinkgeek.com uses a Python script for its billing systems. Difficulty: Relatively easy, but like C, it starts easy and gets more difficult really quickly. Its a lot easier than C/C++, but its less powerful. Perl - Uses: Same as python, really, but its slightly more powerful. You may have seen some websites that use .pl as the filename extension (like tip.it uses .php) - thats Perl scripting. Difficulty: I wouldnt know, actually, but i hear its about half-way in between Python and C in terms of difficulty. If you really want, you could go for some Microsoft langauges, but i really woundnt recommend it, as these have to be run on microsoft systems (well, there are one or two linux systems you can run it on with a fair amound of hacking). VB and C# can be used for programs and web scripting (ASP and ASPX), but Microsoft servers are normally more expensive than linux or unix ones. Hope this helps. For now he's just *learning* it, so it might possibly be best to go with a Microsoft'd language like VB to learn the basics with and not frustrate him like C will :P I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
June 10, 200620 yr For now he's just *learning* it, so it might possibly be best to go with a Microsoft'd language like VB to learn the basics with and not frustrate him like C will :P I have been informed that both VB and C# teach very bad programming habits. I dont know either of them, and i refuse to learn them. The four languages i mentioned are very good as languages - they dont teach bad habits, they are powerful and can be used for anything, web scripting or making programs. PHP can be used instead of ASP and ASPX. MySQL can be used instead of MSSQL. C and Perl and Python can be used instead of VB and C#. Microsoft languages teach bad habits. The other languages ive mentioned dont.
June 10, 200620 yr For now he's just *learning* it, so it might possibly be best to go with a Microsoft'd language like VB to learn the basics with and not frustrate him like C will :P I have been informed that both VB and C# teach very bad programming habits. I dont know either of them, and i refuse to learn them. The four languages i mentioned are very good as languages - they dont teach bad habits, they are powerful and can be used for anything, web scripting or making programs. PHP can be used instead of ASP and ASPX. MySQL can be used instead of MSSQL. C and Perl and Python can be used instead of VB and C#. Microsoft languages teach bad habits. The other languages ive mentioned dont. Bad *teaching* causes bad habits, not bad languages ;) Although I will agree with you on one point. Python is a great language to learn, and as I stated before, it's perfect for beginners because it's simple and interpreted and there are tons of books available I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam.
June 10, 200620 yr Bad teaching does cause bad habits, but VB is so different to basically every other language that it can be difficult to learn a new one once you know VB. If you learn PHP, then C much of the syntax and stuff is quite alike, and so the transition is easy. VB may be a simple language, but to move from VB to C will be exceedingly difficult, because they are so different. VB to BASIC wouldnt be too difficult, I guess, but BASIC is rather useless, really. Oll4y, i personally think you should learn PHP first, then either Perl or Python. Python is easier, and brilliant for beginners (it was created to be easy), but Perl is more powerful. If you like programming after that, learn C.
June 12, 200620 yr VB to BASIC wouldnt be too difficult, I guess, but BASIC is rather useless, really. now thats funny :lol: :lol: I like to fart silently but deadly in movie theatersArd Choille says (11:41 PM):I wouldn't dare tell you what to do m'dear
June 13, 200620 yr http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=460312 have a read in that topic... Heh heh, :lol: That's my topic! :P
June 13, 200620 yr http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=460312 have a read in that topic... Heh heh, :lol: That's my topic! :PDing ding!! We have a winner... Here you go :)
June 14, 200620 yr Well, unlike everyone else, I disagree with VB as a starting point. After learning VB as my first language, I had to go back and unlearn everything I learned when I started learning C/++. "What do you mean windows aren't automatically created?!" I'd recommend Ruby, but that would probably fry anyone's brain when learning. If you want to try, here's a unique ebook on it: http://poignantguide.net/ruby/chapter-1.html C is a good language, but not a good starting point. I never did learn Python, but I hear it's great to start. I'd recommend it anyway, as I heard a lot of good things about it. Stay away from assembly ;) Jack of all trades, master of thieving. 259th to 99 thieving. All stats 75+
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