What language to start with

[WhataNerd]

I didn't know which thread to post this question in so i just chose the visual basic one(random). My question is what do you guys recommend as a first programming language to learn for a highschool student interested in game programming....i'm sure there are a few that would do fine, but im looking for what is, in your opinion, the best language to start with in this particular field.

Any suggestions and comments are welcome and appreciated

[cscgal]

* Moving this thread off to the general programming languages forum *

[marceta]

VB or Java are good to start with, then you can step up to C# or C++. PHP for web langs. as it is powerful and does some good stuff.

[freesoft_2000]

hi everyone,
Try learning visual basic first and after that you can try moving on to
open4gl or dark basic. Using C++ for game creation is very hard.

Yours Sincerely

Richard West

[WhataNerd]

once one has learned how to program and knows the ropes of programming what would be the most ideal language for the most advanced type of game programming......?

[WhataNerd]

hmmmm no replys in three days : (

[basementcoder]

C++... I have battled with the same issues as you for a long time (years) and I have gone through many languages, but I found C++ and fell in love, and I never plan on leaving it :)

[WhataNerd]

Aright thanks alot for your answer. My friend told me the same thing but i needed a second opinion. He said there are a few better and easier ones to start with but in the end C++ is the God of game programming languages.....thanks again

[WhataNerd]

one more question..... Is it absolutely necessary to be extremely proficient at math in order to become a great programmer?? and if so which types of math are needed algebra......geometry.......calc.???? someone please answer this asap

[Alcides]

I don't think you need to be a mathematician to be a great programmer. The same way a good writer must formulate his sentences and grammar, so too should you be good at formulating the way your program is going to work. You don't just write code from top to bottom. You figure out what you want it to do, map it out, then code it. The map acts as a guide to your programming and if you get stuck or bored with a particular aspect of your program you can start working on a different aspect or even add some more stuff to the map.

All in all, a great programmer is a persion with vision and can manifest that vision into a program. Math does help, though. Usually the hard math stuff is summed up into algorthms that you can borrow and explore to create your own. Not a very difficult arena, unless you're trying to create a game that is going to control a real machine while you play. :)

Alcides. <--- sleeeeeeeeeeeeepy.

[WhataNerd]

Alright then. Thanx alot bro, and by the way im lovin the mandark icon.........

- Cody

[YoungCoder]

I started with BASIC many moons ago :cheesy:

[Ghost]

C and C++ are great, because you can use them in many 3D game studios

[Sphyenx]

no but do i need to know Qbasic, and ect., but ARE they free? and were can i get
pascal
c,
C++
java
perl
visual basic
open4gl
darkbasic
basic

[WhataNerd]

good question......this also puzzles me.
but im getting C++ in the next 2-3 days. My dad's headin on out to comp USA to pick it up for me( i think he's getting VB as well)

[Puckdropper]

Personally, I'd recommend starting with BASIC or Ada. Both languages are extremely readable, so writing code is easy to understand with humans. BASIC (in some flavor) is free, but there are commercial compilers out there. Ada (using GNAT) is also free, with commercial compilers out there.

If I was to show you one of my programs, you'd be able to figure out what it did, without comments.

[El_Pablo]

Python is recommended by many programmers that's the one I'm starting with.

[jwenting]

hmm, thread shows up as having an answer but none shows...
To continue:
Freely available:
Java : http://java.sun.com
C/C++: both Microsoft and Borland have free compilers. Search for VCToolkitSetup.exe on http://www.microsoft.com or freecommandlinetools.exe on http://www.borland.com
Perl: http://www.perl.org
Python: http://www.python.org
OpenGL: not a language, rather a toolbox. Included with all or most C++ compilers, available for other languages. http://www.opengl.org
Pascal: no free version that I know of for Windows based systems, at least no current one.
(Visual) basic: don't bother.

http://bdn.borland.com/museum/ has old Borland products for free download (free registration required). More for the curious than for serious study, they're not up to current ANSI/ISO standards (or for Pascal Borland's standards, Borland being the main Pascal compiler creator in the world today).

Many Unix/Linux versions come with C/C++ compilers built in as well as Python, Perl, and a lot of other languages.

[frrossk]

Pascal: no free version that I know of for Windows based systems, at least no current one.

Dev-Pascal - http://www.bloodshed.net/devpascal.html - this is a free one...

[atrixnet]

I'd say start with python. Perl is my first love and remains my favorite, but python is in so many ways the best language to start with. It's so clean and designed better than any other language. It is meant to be easy to start with and then it can grow with you. You will love it right away.