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I was doing some research on coding and was wondering which language I should start with if I'm a beginner. I know CookieDuster is apparently a Guru. If you could help me out. Macro The Fox suggested I should ask you for some advice, but anyone else is welcome to input some info! Thanks! [emoji1]
That honestly will depend on what type of programming you want to do.
I'm kinda torn between Server programming and software development
http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2...19-d4117e5.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by AOD_Malevolan
You're going to have to be way way more specific than that. Most people start with C, Java, or PHP. Honestly I'd say avoid all of those and just jump straight into C# .net; it's what the whole industry is heading towards, has fantastic tutorials, turn-key project templates, and depending on what libraries you include, can do pretty much anything you need it to. C is too confusing for most people self-teaching and they get discouraged, Java will teach you nothing but bad habits, and PHP is pretty much dying off and will also teach you bad habits.
Java is widely used for business but some games are done with it, HTML5 & CSS is the rage with mobiles same with javascript, C is hard for beginners and I have to agree Wolvenhaven on C#, good learning language and a lot of games are done with the .net platform. I suggest you look at the book/ebook Headfirst for C#, I enjoyed it and gets you used to the syntax and language plus has some fun games to code in it :)
http://it-ebooks.info/book/2885/ for the free pdf version :)
Lol I like the Meme. I only said Server Programming because there was a job posting with that title and it consists of learning Python and Pearl. But yeah thanks for the info guys! I will look into C#.
I started with a java and it is great for learning a lot of the basic concepts. I would use www.codeacademy.com for learning syntax and then do some googling if you need to read more about the concepts. I recently learned python and love it. It is simple, powerful, and not as verbose as something like java.
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Originally Posted by AOD_Wolvenhaven
And what exactly is replacing PHP?
OOP is the way to go these days, and considering how flexible it is, I would argue against your point that PHP "teaches you bad habits". There are certainly good and bad ways to do pretty much everything in any language. But to say that a particular language will do nothing but teach bad habits is not very accurate.
To address the OP, beginning programming can start from pretty much any language. You need to decide what you're interested in (desktop applications, web development, mobile applications, etc)
One thing that you said that interested me was: "I only said Server Programming because there was a job posting with that title and it consists of learning Python and Pearl. "
Why exactly do you want to learn about programming? Just money? The money isn't even that great...50-80k starting; ~100k maybe depending on where you at. 120k-180k if in very influential areas (mountain view and others...). Point is if you want to make money just dedicate your time to becoming a doctor.
Others have spoken about: you should choose a starting language based on what you want to do in this field (i.e., desktop, web, mobile, server, etc...) which I highly agree with. Programming languages can be vastly different than one another. Although many of the basic concepts remain the same: logic, process flow, problem solving, and other words. There are also vastly different programming syntax some of which can appear more complicated than others. However they are all based on logic, and relatively simple thought flow which advances to a larger idea (although this is not always easy).
I can illustrate your inquiry by quickly writing about my experience in learning programming: I started with scripting in counter-strke way back when; Did some HTML; I then moved into Visual Basics (I for some reason at the time really like Windows GUI); Then I learned C/C++; Did more GUI with Win32 API; Got into game programming (OpenGL; Direct3D); Go Geomorphed Terrain!; Then did lower level stuff; Still do lower level stuff..; Recently started to learn other languages like python and shell scripting which can make life a whole lot easier; now i think i want to change fields.
I guess the big question is what do you want out of this experience?
Please feel free to message me if you think I can help at all and/or if you have a homework assignment related to this :)
-skinnyM
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Originally Posted by AOD_skinnym
Quite a transition :P
I just started my Computer Science degree at Florida Institute of Technology and they are teaching Java for the first 2 semesters, after that I believe we move on to C and C++.
This is why Java gets the reputation of Lteaching bad habits". it's relatively easy, has a huge base, historically free tools, and is OS agnostic so far too many institutions use it as a training language and then never touch on it again. The quality of teaching for these training languages is usually pretty poor, from my experience the vast majority come out of these learning only syntax patterns rather than truly understanding what is going on...Quote:
Originally Posted by AOD_Syph3n
That's what I have to contribute - learn HOW the language and technology works. Not just the patterns.
I went in this direction. Basic, C++, Assembly Language, Microchip (Pic18) Assembly language, and java. Now im learning some javascript.
easiest to hard: java, java script, basic, C++, Assembly Language, and Microchip (Pic18) Assembly language.
I am something of a noobie when it comes to programming having only started learning in the last 6 months I do not have the depth of experience that others on this thread have I felt I had something to contribute, I myself asked a similar question 7-8 months ago wondering what language to learn.
I chose python for a first language, even if you do not use it for a career because you can quickly develope little hacks to get things done, linking programs and information streams together, automation, which is increasingly becoming more important in whatever career you chose. The reason it is so quick to deploy is because you can import other peoples modules into your program so you do not need to write code to solve a problem someone has already solved.
While I am certain their is no correct answer I think that python would be a solid choice as a first language because you will be able to develop some apps quickly but you will be introduced to the logic of programming in any language. I find that because of the opensource nature of python tutorials and help is easy to find and the community is active.
Echoing a sentiment by Guybrush having a goal in mind for why you want to learn a language will help when you are banging your head against the screen doing a dull exercise just trying to learn the basics.
I honestly wouldn't stress too much about which language to start out on. If you're going to become a programmer, odds are you will end up learning lots of them anyway. If you aren't, it won't matter all that much if you chose wrong lol.
That said, I agree with others that have said C#. It *almost* forces you to form good habits, at least, as much as a language can. A lot of CS101 type classes still start out with traditional (i.e., not object-oriented a.k.a. OOP) languages. This is OK, but you might as well learn OOP from the start. Its just a better way of doing things and I wish I had started that way rather than learning traditional and then having to make the transition to OOP as I did.
Sorry for such a huge bump, I started with HTML when i was in middle school and quickly grew out of that and started assembly in 2009 when i was 16. Then I moved on to visual basic .net (Very good beginner language by the way, and is intercompatible with C#), and then on to C++. C++ seriously is the bane of my existence. I don't recommend starting with it. There are so many things you have to do to get simple things to work. So much boilerplate code (code that you HAVE to write, EVERY time for EVERY program you make, before you can even get to the code that will be your application.). It's basically a constant learning experience. You are always trying to figure out what you can do to eliminate repetitive code. I tried going to C# after learning C++, and I can't stand the look of it to be honest. It looks like someone took C, and shovelled a bunch of nice features into it and left the horrible C syntax. VB.net is a lot simpler to write and has better syntax (in my opinion), and can do pretty much everything C# can do. Not to mention if you want to convert it to C#, there are free and easy tools to convert VB to C# and vise versa since they are essentially the same thing in different syntax.