Begining to program

[Wardog2121]

Hello, i am a complete newb to prgraming, i have never written any code or done any programing before, but i want to be a computer science major in college so i want to get a head start and try to teach my self some stuff. What languages should i learn and is there any book, website, videos, anything for COMPLETE novices like me to start programming, also if you have any adivce it would be appreciated

 

[clamum]

I think I started tinkering with programming by buying a book on Visual Basic when I was in junior high. From there I tried to teach myself some C++ and eventually went to school for Computer Science.

I'd recommend starting out with Java. How old are you?

 

[Wardog2121]

i am 16 and a junior in high school, planing to go to Cal-poly

 

[txrandom]

Get the book called Introduction to Java Programming 6th Edition by Y. Daniel Liang. It's a good book that I'm using in my Intro to Java class for college. I've already got the basics of Java learnt in high school, but this book covers everything. It has a ton of examples, problems, etc. Very good book, it may be a bit costly for a 16 yr old though. Maybe see what book you would be using at Cal-Poly and go ahead and buy it. Of course it may change, but trick your parents into getting it for you!

 

[pcnerd37]

I started off learning Java my senior year of highschool. I just started college with a CS major and am being taught C#, which im already liking better than Java.

 

[fierydemise]

I'm in the same boat as you OP, high school junior I started to program about 1 year ago. I started with C++ using Accelerated C++ by Andrew Koenig, very through and straightforward although it may be a little complex without any underlying knowledge of programming.

 

[Wardog2121]

thanks for replys guys, bump

 

[Ika]

My programming mom says a good way to start is to learn Visual Basic, then jump to C/C++ and then move on to something like Java. I wanted to do programming back a few years ago, but I've since reconsidered.

 

[archcommus]

Java provides a lot of useful tools and is a bit easier to get set up with than C++. And of course Visual Basic is, well, pretty basic. I would delve through those two a bit and then C++ should be a breeze.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: Wardog2121
i am 16 and a junior in high school, planing to go to Cal-poly

Right on, brother! I'll see you there in 3 years (or w/e)!

 

[Wardog2121]

Ok so ill try BASIC then java

kromis- you go to cal poly, or are going to go?

 

[Kromis]

I'm only 16 right now so...go figure!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

java is probably a good bet to start, as alot of others are saying.

After that, look into C++. It's very similar, but you'll get a little bit into memmory management which is important to undertand even if you never use it in the real world.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
java is probably a good bet to start, as alot of others are saying.

After that, look into C++. It's very similar, but you'll get a little bit into memmory management which is important to undertand even if you never use it in the real world.

What about Visual Basic or QBasic? I haven't learned them yet and I skipped right to JAVA, although my uncle told me that I should really consider learning Visual Basic.