Best programming language to start with?

[KoolDrew]

I don't know any programming languages and want to start learning. The only thing I really hav experience with is HTML so what would be the best language to actually start off with?

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
I don't know any programming languages and want to start learning. The only thing I really hav experience with is HTML so what would be the best language to actually start off with?

since you know HTML already, why not start with a scripting language like PHP or Perl? For web uses, the ouput of thses languages is straight HTML, so it would be a good environment for you to learn the basic fundamentals of programming imo.

 

[AFB]

Question or language?

Personally, seeing as you know HTML, I would recomend PHP.

 

[KoolDrew]

Question or language?

ROFL. I meant language. Got a little ahead of myself. Anyway thanks for the suggestions. So just learn various web related languages? Then what? I heard Visual Basic was good to start with but I am not sure.

 

[halfadder]

If you start with VB.net, you can move to C# pretty easily.

Otherwise I would recommend Python, lots of good books for beginners on Python, do a google search.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Python is VERY easy to start with (but you can still do a lot later). It's what they teach first semester here (then go on to other languages, like Java right now).

http://www.python.org

 

[Zugzwang152]

I still stick with PHP or perl, simply because you get tangible and useful results immediately, without have to worry about compiling executables and all that other nonsense you have to think about for true programming languages.

 

[oog]

c#

 

[daniel1113]

VB.NET, or ASP.NET in general. Good stuff.

 

[JackMDS]

Microsoft distributes a beta version of VB Express. It is subset of the new VB2005. It is free, give it a try and see if you like it.

Link to: Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition Beta.

:sun:

 

[homercles337]

Can someone explain why anyone would learn C# if there is no need for "web-based/.net" stuff? Im primarily a C/C++ (in addition to matlab, java, and numerous scripting languages), but if one was going to write a stand-alone app for windows why would C# be used?

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Can someone explain why anyone would learn C# if there is no need for "web-based/.net" stuff? Im primarily a C/C++ (in addition to matlab, java, and numerous scripting languages), but if one was going to write a stand-alone app for windows why would C# be used?

C#.NET uses C#... so, yeah.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: homercles337
Can someone explain why anyone would learn C# if there is no need for "web-based/.net" stuff? Im primarily a C/C++ (in addition to matlab, java, and numerous scripting languages), but if one was going to write a stand-alone app for windows why would C# be used?

C#.NET uses C#... so, yeah.

Uh ... what?

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: daniel1113
C#.NET uses C#... so, yeah.

Uh ... what?

Read up.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: daniel1113
C#.NET uses C#... so, yeah.

Uh ... what?

Read up.

Uh .... did you bother to read my post?

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Uh .... did you bother to read my post?

Uh... yes, I did. Hence my response. Do you think .NET is only for the web?

 

[CTho9305]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=33&threadid=1525196

 

[Casawi]

I started with java, I thought i was pretty easy, but thats just me.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: ArmchairAthlete
Python is VERY easy to start with (but you can still do a lot later). It's what they teach first semester here (then go on to other languages, like Java right now).

http://www.python.org

fanboy

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Can someone explain why anyone would learn C# if there is no need for "web-based/.net" stuff? Im primarily a C/C++ (in addition to matlab, java, and numerous scripting languages), but if one was going to write a stand-alone app for windows why would C# be used?

Because it's faster and easier to write windows apps in C# than C++.

 

[dornick]

Nobody's said it yet, but I recommend JavaScript, as it can be used on the web, and will make it easier to go into higher languages like Java itself later.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: yassine
I started with java, I thought i was pretty easy, but thats just me.

i liked java a lot, too.
especially for a language to learn by oneself and in spare time.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Can someone explain why anyone would learn C# if there is no need for "web-based/.net" stuff? Im primarily a C/C++ (in addition to matlab, java, and numerous scripting languages), but if one was going to write a stand-alone app for windows why would C# be used?

For the same reason that VB6 is/was incredibly popular.

 

[znaps]

All the suggestions above are good.

Go wih PHP 5 if you want to get instant results that you can show to the whole world.

 

[clamum]

I vote for Java, though I haven't had any experience with PHP (yet) so maybe that's a better route...