I want to learn to Program

[w00t]

I want to learn to program.....

Where do I start?

 

[mundane]

Python

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
Python

I have this already i've heard this is a good place to start but where do I go from here? I tried looking on the internet for a guide but I am frankly confused on what to do with it.

edit: found a little guide going to follow it see how it goes

>>> print "Hello World"
Hello World

 

[mundane]

Once you've installed the software, I'd recommend trying out the official tutorial. Take it slow, lesson by lesson.

Python is one of the easiest languages to 'learn'. If you want to jump into developing GUIs for your programs, PyGTK is a good place to start, but only once you've finished (and understood) the tutorial.

 

[w00t]

Doing a tutorial right now seems to be going well...

>>> name = raw_input("Please enter your name")
Please enter your name James
>>> print name
James

>>> print "Hello",name
Hello James

>>> print "Hello" , name, "- Your learning!"
Hello James - Your learning!

 

[mundane]

Python is a good starting point if you're looking for instant gratification. Some of the other languages take a bit of setup before you can actually see something meaningful done. Once you understand variables, functions, classes, and their package system, you'll be ready to start making experimental programs.

Edit: Feel free to PM any questions. It's been a while since I've used Python, but it's hard to forget =)

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
Python is a good starting point if you're looking for instant gratification. Some of the other languages take a bit of setup before you can actually see something meaningful done. Once you understand variables, functions, classes, and their package system, you'll be ready to start making experimental programs.

Edit: Feel free to PM any questions. It's been a while since I've used Python, but it's hard to forget =)

Thanks for the help, I made a program with help from the tutorial. I can't wait till I can make my own programs all on my own. I need to learn all those things you said sounds time consuming :-D

>>>
Please enter your name: James
Hello James - good to see you!

I made a program with help from the tutorial.

Edit: And yours for directing me the right way of course.

 

[nova2]

Hi w00t.

you may find this helpful sometime:
http://www.vampteam.com/1/info/

 

[jman19]

Start with a tutorial. Going with the Python one is not a bad idea.

Next, think of some simple programs to write using the tools you have. Something different from what you have done in the tutorial, but using what you have learned.

After that, it might be a good idea to take a step back from Python and learn a bit about some general data structures and simple algorithms.

From there, get ahold of some open source code to study. You can learn a lot from other programmers.

The most important thing to do is to always continue learning and to just keep writing code! It is really important to practice your art...

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: w00t
Doing a tutorial right now seems to be going well...

>>> name = raw_input("Please enter your name")
Please enter your name James
>>> print name
James

>>> print "Hello",name
Hello James

>>> print "Hello" , name, "- Your learning!"
Hello James - Your learning!

Your is possesive form of you. You're is conjunction for you are.

 

[KoolDrew]

Dive Into Python

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Dive Into Python

Nice

homercles337: whoops

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: w00t
I want to learn to program.....

Where do I start?

Well what do you want to do? What you should focus on depends on how you answer that question.

Just to play around with, Python is indeed a good language to use. I've also been told good things about Lua. Both of these languages are scripting languages and are used in various video games. If you are a gamer, one way to pick up the language is to make a small mod to one of your favorite games that uses it. You'll make plenty of mistakes but by the time you're through you should have a decent grasp of the language.

Once you're familiar with your language of choice the next step is to learn some programming. Pick up a data structures book and dig in. Once you learn why those work the way they do, new problems generally become easier to solve.

After that you just need to get some experience. Find a project that interests you and put some solid hours in to it. Reading about programming is one thing, but actually doing it is another. I think the saying goes "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration."

 

[w00t]

man, I am so confused doing this tutorials.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: w00t
man, I am so confused doing this tutorials.

Just stick with it, you'll get there, it takes years to become a good programmer.

Maybe you should read a little about programming in general rather than how to use python specifically. You won't get anywhere with a tutorial that says things like "create a function called myFunction" if you don't know what a function is...

 

[Evander]

You might like Visual Basic 2005 Express- Microsoft gives it (and pdf tutorials when you register) away for free. Your apps from the beginning have a GUI, and adding fancy stuff like graphics, music, and video is trivial thanks to the built in set of controls in VB. For example, just drag a Windows Media Player controller into your GUI, alter the properties of this control to give the path to your mp3 or avi file, and you're done- it will play in your app with no effort from you.

You need not worry about being stuck on windows only either. Once to learn the code, you can move on to Mac and Linux with kbasic:
http://www.kbasic.com/

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Evander
You might like Visual Basic 2005 Express- Microsoft gives it (and pdf tutorials when you register) away for free. Your apps from the beginning have a GUI, and adding fancy stuff like graphics, music, and video is trivial thanks to the built in set of controls in VB. For example, just drag a Windows Media Player controller into your GUI, alter the properties of this control to give the path to your mp3 or avi file, and you're done- it will play in your app with no effort from you.

You need not worry about being stuck on windows only either. Once to learn the code, you can move on to Mac and Linux with kbasic:
http://www.kbasic.com/

I agree that this would eventually be a good idea but I would suggest the OP not quite jump into this yet. The reason for this would be the risk of a misconception of knowing how to program. I guarantee you the OP could crank out more useful programs with this relatively quickly than with anything being done now but imo it would not help the OP learn anything at all about coding, just how to use a tool.

That's my $0.02 worth about that idea.

 

[andrewbabcock]

Java is a great language and i would strongly recommend it. Its arguably the most accessible language available. Its difficult to say how to start except that you should buy a book.