Programming

[Punked Out Comp]

I might be interested in learning programming.
What would be the best language to start with for someone who knows NOTHING about programming? What language is used in games? Operating systems? What other things can be done with programming?

[doctorgonzo]

Games and operating systems are usually written in C/C++. If you don't know anything about programming, I would start with C++ or Java. Learning how to program, meaning how to write algorithms, how to break problems into pieces, and so on, are far more important than the language you choose. If you have good programming skills, then learning the language just means learning the syntax.

[mairving]

I have always been told that C is the best language to learn first since it teaches good programming techniques.

[rspassey]

THey usually teach BASIC in highschool - mainly becuase it is really easy - and teaches good logic (the key to any program no matter what language - use logic). I know BASIC inside and out - but I don't have the time to learn C or C++ ; I would suggest C to start with - things are actually coded in C - nothing really is coded in BASIC these days.

[faulkner132]

Visual Basic is by far the easiest... but like the above posts recommend, I would start with Java. It has a tendency to make you layout your code better.

[doctorgonzo]

Whatever you do, don't start with BASIC, which teaches horrible programming techniques. C is a very powerful language, but it is not really amenable to Object Oriented Programming (OOP), which is the standard architecture these days. Unless you want to focus on nuts-and-bolts stuff like OS kernel programming, it may be better to start with something other than pure C.

[colecifer]

I say start with java because it will make you program well. In c++ OOP is optional so you can basically code anyway you want, but in java its required so you will learn OOP and how to program in a clear manner.

[blue60007]

I think a basic VB.NET course is good to teach you the ideas behind programming (like logic, flow, execution, etc). Then move onto C++ for more in depth, powerful programming. I thought it was easy to learn C/C++ after a VB.NET course to teach me the ideas behind programming.

[Leogecko]

I actually recommend Python. It is a very easy language to learn, with a good community and some excellent books for beginners who have never programmed.
To get the platform go to www.python.org and download version 2.4. Here is the book I used to start out:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

It got me up to speed really well considering I had no previous programming experience, and is written in a very easy to understand, down-to-earth manner. By the end you will have all the knowledge you need to make your own minigames, complete with graphics and sound.

It's just about as flexible as any other language, and more than powerful enough as a beginner's language.

[piasabird]

Go Crazy and learn XML. I think we will see this file type used a lot in a lot of applications on the Internet. Even the Dept of Educ is using it for their Software. It is a very interesting concept. It is used in files to make them object oriented and in Web Based Programming.

If you buy a new .net Visual Basic Compiler from Microsoft you will probably have a lot of functionaility. You will also have a C Compiler. There are free versions of C and C++ compilers developed by Linux people that will also work on Some Windows systems. C is a good language to learn. It is very basic and very much like Java. C++ is a very good language for using basic skills that are used in any programming language.

Java can be a really good language to learn, but it is a bit advanced when you start to get into the nuts and bolts of object oriented learning. It also has some tools for documenting programs. It is used a lot in Server Based Manipulations of data. It has not caught on that well for windows based programming, but it is fully capable and there are a lot of java2 for beginners books.

Java is freely available on the internet and from SUN.

There is not many jobs out there for programmers. People are more into Database Programming and development for business. My daughter was trying to convince me to send her to Daves School for Game Development in Florida.

I program in COBOL on the mainframe and in Envision on the Datatel Education Software and manipulate IBM Unidata Databases. Database technologies is the way to go.

[Colonel Sanders]

For C, howstuffworks.com has a pretty good tutorial.

L J

[Force Flow]

The modern standard for application programming is starting with C for some of the basics, then to java, and then C++.

BASIC, VB, etc. all teach very, very bad programming habits.

Java is better to learn before C++ because it is a lot picker than C++. In C++, you can fudge a lot of things simply to achieve the sloppy end result you want, but in java, you have strong rules to adhere to. This forces you to become very good at programming.

Yes, there is a difference between being familiar with a language and being good with a language. Being familiar with it means you can do various simple things, but being good with it means you can make the language get up and dance for you.

[Jaggannath]

Java, C, then C++... then you can go on to anything IMHO.
Search the forums, this question used to come up pretty often, and you'll find some very good answers

[nocturnx]

Before I took C++, I took a Programming Structure class which was basically flowcharting a programs structure. This easily lets you see which process needs to be where, where you need to have loops, how many variables you'll need and gives you a good understanding of how to write a list of instructions (program). Then when I learned C++ it made it alot easier. I also took a DOS programing class which was really fun learning how to write windows bootup menus, dos games, and batch files. This also helped in the understanding of program writing and made learning C++ a snap.