Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

I want to learn programming

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

    I want to learn programming

    I want to learn programming

    But I don't know what to start with - which language, tools (free ones please), and where to find tutorials and stuff...

    I have done some basic basic & pascal, but it always annoyed me that I couldn't write something useful with them because I was stuck to DOS - which is not to say that there can be no useful programs for DOS, but I work with Windows

    Any help, tips, etc. greatly appreciated

    AZ
    There's an Opera in my macbook.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Personally, I think the best way to learn programming is to install Linux so you have access to the right tools. Once that is done, there are many free tutorials online that can help you out. I'd start with C or C++. That should be more than enough to get you started

    Dave
    Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice.

    Comment

    • #3
      Nice idea but... I want to be able to make programs which I can use in windoze, because that's the OS I use

      AZ
      There's an Opera in my macbook.

      Comment

      • #4
        It's still the right way to learn. First, you learn the simple constructs, and the pragmas of a language. Adding the GUI stuff is fairly far along, and not where you'll be starting.

        If you want to get to GUI apps quickly, then maybe you should consider starting with Java.
        Gigabyte P35-DS3L with a Q6600, 2GB Kingston HyperX (after *3* bad pairs of Crucial Ballistix 1066), Galaxy 8800GT 512MB, SB X-Fi, some drives, and a Dell 2005fpw. Running WinXP.

        Comment

        • #5
          Hi az, I hear what you are saying but the reason I suggested Linux is for the reasons that Wombat stated which is you must do the ground work first in order to get to the stuff you really want to know. I have been down this road before and unfortunately it's harder than it seems at first.

          Dave
          Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice.

          Comment

          • #6
            OK then - I'm new to Linux and dual-boots as well so I'll need MUCH help

            A few questions to start with:

            Is there a free Linux I could use?
            Will I need to learn command line commands & syntax?
            Will I work from a desktop environment?
            Will I have to format my HD before I can get Linux and Windows (FAT32) to dual-boot, or could I use something like Partition Magic?
            How about drivers? (Kyro 2, cheap realtek network card)
            What kind of tools will I need?
            Where will I get tools and tutorials?

            Hehe - I'm feeling really newbie now... hell, I AM

            AZ
            There's an Opera in my macbook.

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by az
              OK then - I'm new to Linux and dual-boots as well so I'll need MUCH help

              A few questions to start with:

              Is there a free Linux I could use?

              *** Almost all versions of Linux are free. Problem is, some of them are 3-5GB for the whole download so it really is worth the 30 bucks to buy it. But hey, you may want to download it and I'm not the best Linux person so someone else may have a better answer.


              Will I need to learn command line commands & syntax?

              *** Yes, there is no way you can install Linux without getting your hands dirty. Be patient and take your time. Having the correct info at the right time will make things go much smoother.


              Will I work from a desktop environment?

              *** That is your choice. You can boot up to a desktop environment or bootup to cli(command line).


              Will I have to format my HD before I can get Linux and Windows (FAT32) to dual-boot, or could I use something like Partition Magic?

              *** I am 99% sure that PM will do everything you need it to do. Don't forget, Linux requires 2 partitions for a normal setup.


              How about drivers? (Kyro 2, cheap realtek network card)

              *** This where patience and homework come in handy. Research all of your hardware before isntalling Linux. You will be much happier in the long run. You could probably live without some things working in a worse case scenario. For instance, you don't need sound to learn programming, but it's always nice to have everything working.


              What kind of tools will I need?

              *** Lots and lots of internet reading. Research is the key to a successful installation.


              Where will I get tools and tutorials?

              *** Hmmm, the readme files on all fo the Linux sites are excellent and they pretty much cover everything. Don't be discouraged with everything I wrote, I jsut want you to be prepared. Most newer Linux installations are fairly straight forward and will probably be up and running in no time. Remember, research is the key.



              Hehe - I'm feeling really newbie now... hell, I AM

              *** I feel the same way Good luck!

              Dave



              AZ
              Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice.

              Comment

              • #8
                I just started programming four months ago, and would highly recommend the Visual.NET suite. (Can pick it up for $100 in an educational version) It's far more intuitive than any other piece of programming software I've used. (My school gives us Borland C++, ick) And, IMHO, better than any of the Linux programming software. (From a newbie's perspective, of course)

                I'm not sure why they are telling you to program under Linux, other than the "free" reason. Not only will you have to learn programming, you'll first have to spend the time to learn the intracacies of a new operating system...

                Comment

                • #9
                  The "free" reason is crucial to me, unfortunately

                  Oh, cheap will do, too - but I mean really cheap, not $100

                  AZ
                  There's an Opera in my macbook.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I use http://www.jEdit.org to do my java programming. Basically a fancy text editor with bunch a plugins. Well pretty much that what all development suites are with some more fancier than others.

                    I'm in college for CIS and we are learning in Java, but pretty much learning algorithms and concepts and that transfers into every language. So maybe you could just pick up a computer science book first and then a programming book. In the very first programming class they offer here we had to program in eMacs on their Unix systems, so it's not that hard to learn how to use another OS when doing basic programming. Also since you are starting out I doubt you'll use 95% of the features and components that come with the packages such as MS's Visual Studio or Borland.
                    Gigabyte GA-K8N Ultra 9, Opteron 170 Denmark 2x2Ghz, 2 GB Corsair XMS, Gigabyte 6600, Gentoo Linux
                    Motion Computing M1400 -- Tablet PC, Ubuntu Linux

                    "if I said you had a beautiful body would you take your pants off and dance around a bit?" --Zapp Brannigan

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      If you already know Pascal, why not take a look at Borland Delphi?

                      You can get a free personal edition from their homepage www.borland.com.
                      Why would I send my pants to New Jersey?

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        If you want to stick to Basic, then you can get Visual Basic working model. Good way to get into it, and its free.

                        The only problem is you cant compile to a .exe, but you could always send your project files to someone to compile for you.

                        Delphi is nice too, specially if you have done pascal before. A good intro to object orientation, with not much actual programming involved.

                        If you want to go hard-core, you could download AVR studio from Atmal, and learn assembly. Its free, but probably not the best thing to start learning with.

                        Good luck. Its very fun once you get into it.

                        Ali

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          /me votes for Java... it's free and damn good
                          Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            But he said <I>programming</I> Ali. I don't think VBasic qualifies as programming.
                            Gigabyte P35-DS3L with a Q6600, 2GB Kingston HyperX (after *3* bad pairs of Crucial Ballistix 1066), Galaxy 8800GT 512MB, SB X-Fi, some drives, and a Dell 2005fpw. Running WinXP.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Doesn't the Java Sandbox hinder me when I try to do really USEFUL things?

                              Otherwise it seems like a good idea, but I have no clue, that's why I ask

                              AZ
                              There's an Opera in my macbook.

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X