Programming Beginner

[Malevolan]

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!

[AOD_lanius424]

That honestly will depend on what type of programming you want to do.

[Malevolan]

I'm kinda torn between Server programming and software development

[Wolvenhaven]

I'm kinda torn between Server programming and software development

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.

[Kattreen]

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 :)

[AOD_Guybrush]

PHP is pretty much dying off and will also teach you bad habits.

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)

[skinnym]

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

[AOD_Guybrush]

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++;

Quite a transition :P

[Malevolan]

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#.

[Heals4u]

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.