Now THAT is words of wisdom

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

How do I go about learning shell scripting?
Anybooks that we know are good??

If I learn shell scripting with linux would it give me more understanding and control over drivers with linux?

Thanks for the suggestions, the more I learn the more fun I'm having
I've recently read (haven't finished yet) books on html and apache web administration, really fancinating stuff