Hi everyone, I'm new here and this is my first post. Like the title says - I'm new to the whole coding and programming thing, I really LOVE the thought and the idea, I've started out with XHTML and CSS, it's going easy so far and I think I have a working mastery of the XHTML and I'm working on CSS. I really so badly want to start C and/or C++. Anyone aware of ways in which I can go about beginning, and which should I start out with bearing in mind I am doing this on my own, Any suggestions?
And thanks, I'm looking forward to really having fun while learning here!
Welcome! To be honest.....if this is going to be your first TRUE programming language (HTML and web-dev aside), I might start with Visual Basic or C#. This is just a personal recommendation but I think jumping straight into C or C++ might be a mistake. I learned VB6 first, followed by Java and THEN C. I feel that if I hadn't taken Java first I would not have truely understood and appreciated the power (and insecurity) of a programming language such as C. Starting with C might get you into problems in other languages as it is a weak-typed language (you'll learn what that means if you don't already know). Many people have started with C and/or C++ i'm sure and may have different views on this one but I, personally, would start with a more strong-typed language first (such as the previously stated C#, VB, or perhaps JAVA).
In terms of compilers....
Java - Free from Sun Microsystems
C# - Free from Microsoft (Visual C# Express Edition)
VB - Also free from MS (Visual Basic Express Edition)
C++ - Also free from MS (Visual C++ Express Edition)
Also, there are many tutorials posted online (google them). But I, personally would start with a textbook if you can afford it.
Regards,
Tyler S. Breton
TylerSBreton
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Starting with VB will only teach poor practice, don't do it.
Java is a better option, but will take you as long to master as does C++.
C# seems to be a slightly smaller language to learn.
What language you start with hardly matters as long as it's a good one, which C or C++ certainly is, and you have good teachers and documentation.
"Teach yourself C++ in 24 hours" and similar books don't count, those books aren't worth the paper they're printed on.
When you start, don't get caught up into learning an IDE thinking you're learning the language, which is what happens to a lot of beginners.
Get a good book or two, like "Accellerated C++" and "Objects, Abstraction, Data Structures, and Design using C++" and go through them one step at a time from beginning to end, repeating everything until you understand it.
This won't take 2 weeks, or even 2 months, but you'll soon grasp the basics.
You may also want to get you a copy of Stroustrup's "The C++ Programming Language" in the latest edition (3rd I think by now), which is THE standard reference for the language.
jwenting
duckman
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Java is a very nice language to start with.
iamthwee
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Anyone aware of ways in which I can go about beginning, and which should I start out with bearing in mind I am doing this on my own, Any suggestions?
For starters you can read this thread
Ancient Dragon
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I really so badly want to start C and/or C++. Anyone aware of ways in which I can go about beginning, and which should I start out with bearing in mind I am doing this on my own, Any suggestions?
And thanks, I'm looking forward to really having fun while learning here!
My personal opinion, go with C++. Many people out there will ask you to go for lanaguages like C# and Java which makes your life easy, but personally I think that if you can survive a nuke, bullets will look like sissy to you. Same way, if you manage to tame the raw power of C or C++, other languages are easily manageable. Programming in C will give you the feeling of a creator since they don't have a host of functions to do everyday tasks which you would have to code on your own.
I started off with C and so whichever modern language I look at makes me feel happy seeing the kind of abstraction they offer along with the host of inbuilt functions which make your life a lot easier. If you in this *only* for money, I would recommend you to go with C# or Java since there is a lot of market for these langauges.
As an ending note, a very interesting article on which language you should go for, a must read.
~s.o.s~
Failure as a human
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Programming in C will give you the feeling of a creator since they don't have a host of functions to do everyday tasks which you would have to code on your own.
Totally agree...but when I'm just starting, I WANT the language to provide methods/functions so that I can get the jist of whats going on before I decide to play jesus. After you learn a JAVA or even C#, I'd backtrack (I say backtrack because of the language decendancy from C for both languages) to C so that you can get a full appreciation of the language.
Regards,
~Tyler S. Breton
TylerSBreton
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After you learn a JAVA or even C#, I'd backtrack (I say backtrack because of the language decendancy from C for both languages) to C so that you can get a full appreciation of the language.
Yet to see a person who started off his programming with a very high level language like C# or Java and who is really adept at understanding the inner mechanics of high level languages like C or C++.I WANT the language to provide methods/functions so that I can get the jist of whats going on before I decide to play jesus.
So you mean that someone who wants to start off with Assembly programming should first dabble a bit with C# and after getting the *jist* of it, should try to play Jesus with Assembly. Good joke. ;)
Many others support my view point .
~s.o.s~
Failure as a human
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I don't disagree with you....C is a much more powerful and useful language, however I just feel like someone starting with C is going in a little over their head at first, as near everything (useful) you wish to accomplish has to be written manually. Plus I'd love to see someone pick up pointers as easily as objects. I'd find it much easier to understand an object and then go backwards to how pointers are used.
BTW...I started with VB and JAVA, higher level languages, and have no problems with understanding the semantics of a lower level language such as Assembly or C. But I certainly understand the higher level languages more because of the lower level ones, however, I understood enough at the initial learning of them to get the true passion for programming, which is what can drive a person to keep trying to understand C better.
Just a side note....I understand the argument that C should be taught first and am not by any means saying it's wrong. It's totally opinion at this point.
Regards,
Tyler S. Breton
TylerSBreton
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It really depends on what is your original intent of learning the language. If you are a 33 year old who wants to earn a living, I would very much recommend you to learn C# or the other hot technologies rather than dabbling with pointers in C. On the other hand, if you are a 15 year old who really wants to get his concept cleared and is very intent on going for research work, I would recommend him to learn a assertive language like C or Python and a functional lanauge like LISP, Haskell, etc.
IMHO, it solely depends on the purpose one is trying to achieve.
Just a side note....I understand the argument that C should be taught first and am not by any means saying it's wrong. It's totally opinion at this point.
Yes, exactly the point I was trying to prove.
~s.o.s~
Failure as a human
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It really depends on what is your original intent of learning the language. If you are a 33 year old who wants to earn a living, I would very much recommend you to learn C# or the other hot technologies rather than dabbling with pointers in C. On the other hand, if you are a 15 year old who really wants to get his concept cleared and is very intent on going for research work, I would recommend him to learn a assertive language like C or Python and a functional lanauge like LISP, Haskell, etc.
Try and learn everything like me :)
I have had no formal training in computer science, everything I have learned from visiting forums and reading a couple of books.
iamthwee
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It really depends on what is your original intent of learning the language. If you are a 33 year old who wants to earn a living, I would very much recommend you to learn C# or the other hot technologies rather than dabbling with pointers in C. On the other hand, if you are a 15 year old who really wants to get his concept cleared and is very intent on going for research work, I would recommend him to learn a assertive language like C or Python and a functional lanauge like LISP, Haskell, etc.
IMHO, it solely depends on the purpose one is trying to achieve.
Yes, exactly the point I was trying to prove.
I agree. I am 15 I started with C++ last year. I really found it interesting and I discovered that its not so hard to learn as most people say.;)
I also tried to start with VB(for 2days only:mrgreen:) but it was boaring and just everything prebuilt(Now i understand what really is Windows Programming, after i saw Windows API).
So starting with C++ is good choice.dabbling with pointers in CI love dabbling with pointers.:cheesy:
vishesh
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Hehe...LISP, now thats something that will scare a kid away.... I think we can both agree LISP should NOT be the first language learned. :eek: But learning C and moving to LISP is not a bad sequence, happens to be the one I took.
TylerSBreton
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Hehe...LISP, now thats something that will scare a kid away.... I think we can both agree LISP should NOT be the first language learned. :eek: But learning C and moving to LISP is not a bad sequence, happens to be the one I took.
+ Assembly
vishesh
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I think I am young enough [22] to start now. .
Its never too late to start. I was 40 when I started, but it is a lot better to start at a much younger age.
Ancient Dragon
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And I thought I was old when I started at the age of 35 :cheesy:
Serious, did you really start at 40 and made it your career AD?
yes I did. I didn't get started until after I retired from the US Air Force in 1985. Bought a book and a cheap computer. started reading and practicing.
Ancient Dragon
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