What program language should a beginner use?

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I'm going to start an argument here (there have been posts regarding this already)... but most of the people will say C or C++ (something that gives you C like syntax). I personally, however, would say that you should start with an easy language, to learn the simple things... like loops, subs, functions, and all the like. So, with that said, I'm going to suggest Visual Basic, in just about any form (I suggest vb6, or vb.net).

There's my 2 cents.

Taboo Programmer

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VB is the worst language to start with as you don't learn programming, you learn the tool. Just painting a few forms on a screen isn't programming... And hooking them up by writing a few lines of code in an event handler isn't programming either.

A good language would be Pascal or Java, though Python is also gaining exceptance with teachers for its simplicity.

duckman

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Ok With all fairness I hate VB too, but it doesn't make it easy to learn a loop, or an if block?

Taboo Programmer

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any language will enable you to learn a loop or an if statement.
But with VB you first spent a year learning the IDE and all the nice widgets you can put on a window...

Learn the language, not the tool. Except VB prohibits that. For the same reason Delphi (which I love) should not be a first language (and in Delphi you do a lot more handcoding than in VB).

duckman

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I Told You I was gonna start an argument.

Taboo Programmer

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I Told You I was gonna start an argument.

Thanxs a million for the suggestions it's been a real help in helping me decide what lang to learn.

reezin14

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Very insightful as to what should be next for me.The research I did seems to suggest that you're right ------aleast for me anyway

reezin14

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How does one start to learn I have done my whole website I still dont have a clue what I am doing ( i am sure it shows) I just look at other peoples code and try and figure out what I need of it to do what I want. How do I start to really learn?

woodendart

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That's the first part of learning actually ;)
Next part (which you seem ready for) is getting a solid theoretical foundation beneath that knowledge you have.
Get yourself to a bookstore and search out some good books. There's some good reviews of books about web design and html here (though not comprehensive and not all books are current, html isn't the primary focus of the site): http://www.javaranch.com/bunkhouse/HTML.jsp

Skip anything that says "teach yourself in XXX", "for dummies", etc. (but not anything by O'Reilly, their books are almost always well worth the investment).

Online tutorials range from the very good to the extremely poor and can actually do more harm than good unless you already know enough to determine which you're dealing with...

You could also consider formal training (online or classroom courses) which can teach you more in a few days than you can in months sifting through books.

duckman

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That's the first part of learning actually ;) Next part (which you seem ready for) is getting a solid theoretical foundation beneath that knowledge you have.

{ Removed }

Skip anything that says "teach yourself in XXX", "for dummies", etc. (but not anything by O'Reilly, their books are almost always well worth the investment).

Now THAT is words of wisdom

Taboo Programmer

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I have heard of python,yabasic,and perl along with several others and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I'm not interested in web creation I just want to be able to make a computer or network work better thanxs, Reezin14

I would try either window shell script or linux shell scripting. Both of them aren't web development scripting languages -- they don't make apps -- but if you can use them properly -- it will allow you to make your machine and or network run more efficiently because you can instruct to do your computer to accomplish many tasks that would take you precious time to do manually.
-Soral 3.0

Soral 3.0

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mix it up.. books and tutorials. You can get multiple opinions and you can think more openly on thing's. Im more in to web design then programming.

Sphyenx

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To me programming and web design is very attractive. I would love to learn the language and be able to create programs, but I took a year of C++ and a year of Java, I just didnt understand it. I guess I dont have the brains for it :confused:

moderate_rock48

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hi :rolleyes: ......these days only most of the ppl will suggest u to use c or C++ as a beginners...me too will advice u the same but if u really wants to start from the scratch then i will suggest u BASIC ...its a beginners all purpose symbolic instruction code

harshchandra

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basic will just teach poor programming practices... It's just too basic (pun intended) ;)

Pascal, Modula 2, Python, are all there and far better suited for the beginner.

duckman

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you think that VB is a paint programm? you say pascal or java. ok. so how much is pascal used anymore? or what you can do with pascal and you can't do with VB. java? java is good jost for web and phone application. nothing else.

anyway.. it is ok if he will choose VC not vb or C#. why? because VB is so simple to learn.. that when you will try to learn C++ will be to hard to understand the code! so it is better to start learning the hardest thing and then the easy one!

and maby he want to work in linux. with C he will have a good army!

sosco

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This thread has been very helpful, programming is the next step of what I want learn. I do alot with hardware, and using applications, but I want to understand from start to finish how everything comes together. I've read some books to pick up html and css(again starting from scratch) i could've used more advanced programs but why not learn the basics.

So after reading this I think I'll get some books and hit the C++ on a linux box.

GriffIT34

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All the advice given thus far is reasonable. My own suggestion would be to also consider at least playing with Prolog or Lisp at some point.

Python is a nice easy scripting language to get into.... Ruby if you're more Web inclined.

If you're partial to Linux then Java... if Windows then C#... if you have access to Visual Studio then VS.NET + C# can make the learning curve a lot more gentle.

If you're interested in admin and/or automation then as suggested above shell scripting under *nix or Monad/PowerScript under Windows might be more fruitful for you.

Best of luck.

Numen

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