VB is easiest place to start if learning on your own. I found that I progressed quickly by following a good "by example" type book.

I did an evening course for C/C++ at local college (was on mainframes/cobol at time and wanted to move over but company would not pay for course) as I found this hard to learn from a book.

And get a boot out of the library as they are damn expensive to buy. Most large libraries have reasonably upto date stuff.

[Edited by supertouring - 11/6/2003 11:01:06 AM]

Seeing as how I seem to have a bit of time on my hands, I want to try & learn how to do some programing.

C++
Visual Basic
.NET

Reason? Well, I never have before other than batch files & a bit of FoxPro, and feel its about time I learnt how to. Looking to see what I can do using my XDA.

Downloaded eMbedded Visual Tools ( VB3.0 & Vis C++), so I've got something to start with.

So, what suggestions? Any good resources? Books?

Ta!

:)



(Getting ready for bursty head feeling :eek: )

I did mean book and not boot.

Is this for a career or just for amusment?

Puff,

By yourself a ZX81 and you'll be away!!! Hmmmm starting out today what to do huh? Well C++ is not a good place to start, you need to start with something with a gentler learning curve. As mentioned BASIC is typically a good start but has limitations. You really need to look at what you want to achieve from the time you invest, is it just for fun, are you looking to gain a skill for employment what? What sort of applications are you looking to do? business applications, games, database apps? PDA programming again is not straightforward there are constraints that dont exist when targeting say the Windows platform.

C# will be the defacto language for .net and although tougher than BASIC (but gentler than C++) would be a good start. Im not trying to put you off here but you need to invest *alot* of time and effort to become competent, a skilled tradesmen does his apprenticeship over many years and continues to learn on the job, being a good developer is no different in my humble (18 years) experience!

Just dont be afraid to ask people! Theres a wealth of info on the net and plenty of experienced people willing to help.

Good Luck

Gary

I'd agree with Gary. C# is probably the most accessible 'proper' language around at the moment. VB is probably best avoided unless you want to pick up bad habits :)

Mainly for self-gratification and knowledge - doubt I'll ever get a job as a programmer but if I know enough, might help me get one.

I'd agree on c#. As jlanng said there is no point picking up bad habits.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...214015-1671201 is a good starting point.

As is http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

[Edited by Alec - 11/6/2003 11:37:31 AM]

[Edited by Alec - 11/6/2003 11:37:57 AM]

:D

I save that for my spare time!!!

Gary

Don't think I'd class C# or any Windows-only language as a proper language. Those skills won't be cross-platform. I'd say ANSI C is a good language to start with, or Pascal for teaching program design, then you can progress. It's a lot easier to learn another language when you already know one, and it's good fun too :)

C# isn't Windows only!

Other than C#, I'd recommend Java - but the available developer environments are way behind VS.NET IMHO

The only time you'd ever use C# on a non-Windows machine is if you have a smattering of (say Linux) machines in a Windows environment, not the other way around.

Puff sorry for the thread hijack.

Stevecotton,

Not quite true, there is a Linux/Mac/freeBSD version of the .Net framework www.go-mono.com.

Cheers

Alec

I'm not saying there aren't products out there that will do it, I'm saying what really happens in real world scenarios :)

The poor guy wants to learn programming, more than likely on a Windows machine. Why get into a Unix/Windows/who-cares/geeks debate!

My initial response was to point out one can choose a language that may limit ones choices later on. If it's just for fun fair enough, if it may one day turn into a career then these are things that should be noted. Not once did it ever turn into Windows v Linux, as that is totally irrelevant.

Windoze for me :D

PPC2003 if anything. I doubt I'll ever make programming into anything more than something I try & for amusement.

If I had a spare box, I'd be playing around with Linux.

http://www.wrox.com/

I swear by them (and occasionally at them) :)

If it's PPC2003 you want to target, I'd say look at the .Net compact framework and C#. Very easy to use. PPC2003 come pre-loaded with the compact framework.

Right :D

Got them books & a copy of Visual C#.NET

Sprog to bed & then its time to start reading @D

:cool:





















(Watch out for questions :eek: :D )

Good stuff mate. Fire away with the questions, and i'll look blank. ;)

Puff,

Well you're certainly keen so thats a good start!

Gary

I have started my 11 year old Son on Python. Its free and open source. It is a great starting point to learn basic programming. I have been told, from there, it should flow. Like an artist, you are either born to know or will never learn.

Maths play a huge part in programming I am led to believe. My Husband started at the tender age of around 10 but only codes in VB. C and C+ etc are still the most widely used but if your clever enough you can work your brain around most of them.

Im waiting for that arse now to come and say Im full of 5hit.

Being Autistic is a good start apparently.

I'd vote for Java rather than C#, as it's more platform independant.
Definately the way to go if you want to get stuff running under LInux as well as Windoze.
As for an IDE, IntelliJ is fantastic and free to try (and probably the best Java IDE around), or NetBeans is free.

Java is a fantastic language. :)

I understood that Java is a dying language as far as main apps go?

Java has had its day

Puff - if you're starting then it really doesn't matter what you go for (cue howls of anger from zealots). Pretty much any language will allow you to do more than you do now !

When you start planning a major peice of software with whole teams helping develop and maintain etc perhaps the "which langauge" might be relevant :rolleyes:

I'm not a developer but do tinker with both VB and PHP in my spare time and have used C a long time ago. The nuts and bolts for most things are done in remarkably similair ways and skills you learn in one will transfer between languages and yes over time the differences will become more apparent and you will find you learn to use the language to do things quicker and simpler by lerveraging those differences - but that simply doesnt happen overnight.

I personally use PHP for a few linux shell scripts and some basic web pages and VB if its a windows app. I have always found trawling thourgh books hard work - and would prefer to have a good reference book near me and then actually start a project to do "something" . It tends to quickly focus you on what you need to know - and then reading about that aspect seems relevant and not so dull.

Gobsmacks me when people ask about "beginnning" to programme and people dive into a language war. I mean ffs its just not relevant.

Deano

Thing we have found with VB as opposed to any other language in respect of windows apps is the unflexible approach to actions. There are far more scenarios available in other languages than that of VB. Ok, VB is aesthetically pleasing with its nice gui meaning any bod can fire up VB and code something providing you know the code but it variably lacks in application of actions. And it tends to make bloated apps in comparison to other languages. (in my humble opinion)