I want to learn to program...

[Chiropteran]

I have done basic crap before like... BASIC. I want to learn how to write programs in a more useful language, such as Java or C.

Does anyone have any advice as to what would be a good language to learn? I'm only interested in languages which are relativly "free", and useful for writing software for more than just Windows.

Any great books for a beginner that I should buy? Price isn't really a factor, but I refuse to by any "for dummies" books on general principle. Otherwise I'm looking for a book for a complete novice.

 

[DWW]

If you've not programmed for a longer period or never learned good practices, then pickup on C.

C is very powerful and allows you to do quite a lot. "The C Programming Language" is the best book for C hands down. It is a small book but complete EVERY exercise in it. Once you do that you will know quite a fair bit. Then I'd buy "C: A Reference Manual" as it is a very current reference manual. After learning C from the first book, I only use this book now and have it on my desk to look up stuff all the time.

With C you can tons of stuff. Learn and build general Unix skills (install BSD on a home computer) and then branch out with C doing Unix coding after reading "Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment". Then you'll want to actually write neat crap so read "Unix Network Programming: Sockets and XTI" so you can write nifty network oriented applications.

Thats what I did

I know a fair bit of C++ but honestly don't use it much. For business purposes I use VB .Net and love it (for what I do with that). But for hobby I keep it to C, PERL and did a little Python. I've never found a practical use for Java yet but thats just me

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: DWW
If you've not programmed for a longer period or never learned good practices, then pickup on C.

C is very powerful and allows you to do quite a lot. "The C Programming Language" is the best book for C hands down.

I just ordered it from amazon, I hope you are right.


Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Extrarius]

While C is a good language, I would also suggest something higher level. I would reccomend Common Lisp as such a language. The only book I know of for it is "ANSI Common Lisp", and it is NOT an introduction to programming (it assumes you know basic programming structures and terminology and just teaches you how to do stuff in Common Lisp), so you might want to wait until you've gotten the basics of C before you try it. There are some other books, but I haven't looked into them since the book I mentiond worked for me.

If you're looking for some good programming forums to get help, tutorials, etc, I suggest you look at GameDev

 

[cyberphant0m]

C and C++ are extremely similar for our purposes, while experts would agree that there are many differences (such as classes and structs, etc) Personally, I "skipped" C and went right to C++. After learning C and its conventions, it is sometimes hard to give them up when moving up to C++ which is something every C programmer should do IMO. Anyway, I started off with some Web programming, JavaScript, PERL, and PHP. Then I decided I wanted to write actual programs rather than scripts... A lot of the languages out there are very similar (excluding BASIC, and Assembly =P)... After learning one of them, you should be able to easily pick up another.

 

[tenoc]

No colleges in your area?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

C can take a while to be useful when you're just starting. A higher level language like Python might be more fun at first; you'll spend less time learning minute details. But really there is no "best" way to tackle the task of learning to program. People learn differently, and have different preferences and needs. If it was "meant to be," you'll find your way eventually.

 

[Bloodstein]

Oh man, I hear not much Java in here....

Java is actually pretty cool ppl....sad to hear it not being mentioned here.

 

[shadowfaX]

ah, yes... learning C from "The C Programming Language" (hereafter K&R). excellent book, straight from the guys who designed the language.

the only gripe i hear from a lot of people who learn C from K&R is that the code is really terse (and truthfully, the book, being quite small, does not have many lengthy code examples... but i enjoyed learning C from K&R. of course this is a ymmv thing). this won't be too much of a problem if you've done some programming before.

java isn't too bad either... but i don't know if there's a "best book" for java out there. most java books teach the same thing though. i say just choose one that seems to fit your liking and learn the stuff.

 

[Bulldog13]

Bruce Eckel's Thinking in C++

+

Free C++ Compiler

I am doing this combo now, I am an avid VB and Java programmer, but wanted to move to C++, cause well, another tool in the belt.

Both free, and Eckels books are phenomenal, better than any I ve bought.

Just program program program.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: tenoc
No colleges in your area?

I can not learn in a classroom. It's just the way my mind works, I learn quickly by trying to do something myself, or reading about it in a book, but in a classroom environment I will always get bored and frustrated.

 

[Bloodstein]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: tenoc
No colleges in your area?

I can not learn in a classroom. It's just the way my mind works, I learn quickly by trying to do something myself, or reading about it in a book, but in a classroom environment I will always get bored and frustrated.

Yep....programming is alwiz learnt by practise....almost never by sitting in a class listening 2 someone (took me a while to get this!)