New programming software..

[dnuggett]

I haven't done any programming before, and I would like to get started. not sure what I want to do, so I figure I'll just "mess" around with it till soemthing trips my trigger. Here's my question what free programming software is the best to download for a noob?

 

[Haircut]

Java is not a bad place to start, there is a lot of documentation on java.sun.com too

Eclipse is a decent devlopment environment to use with Java

 

[notfred]

You've got to pick a language and platform, first.

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: notfred
You've got to pick a language and platform, first.

Well not with Jave you dont. But your right its still a good idea.

dnuggett...what type of programming are you planning on doing. WebApplications, standalones what it helps if you have somewhat of an idea of what you want to do.

 

[dnuggett]

I'm leaning towards both web applications, and stand alone programs. I'd like to get into the programming arena to build utilities to work under the Windows OS, I think. But at the same time I may change my mind so I'd like the program/language to be flexible..

 

[jonmullen]

Well the most flexable language is by far Java IMO. You can use is with JSP for web applications or as a Java Applet for the web. You can also write stanalone apps with it, and your code will run in any modern browser or on any system with the Java interpurter.

 

[Rayden]

Java (language) is what most universities i've seen are using to teach programming, or object oriented programming to be more specific.

it is 2nd behind C++ in terms of what stuff is being written in. so its a good place to start.
I think Sun has a free environment.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Rayden
Java (language) is what most universities i've seen are using to teach programming, or object oriented programming to be more specific.

it is 2nd behind C++ in terms of what stuff is being written in. so its a good place to start.
I think Sun has a free environment.

Far more software is written in C than C++, any day of the week.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Python.

 

[BZ]

the thing to do to learn any language is to have a reason to do it. You need a project that you want to do to give you the motivation to learn to program.

If it's a web site that you want to make then you will start with html and move into javascript and then into one of the many server side languages as you need it - not before. I really don't think it makes sense to just pick a language and start reading manuals and learn it in a vacuum.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: BZ
the thing to do to learn any language is to have a reason to do it. You need a project that you want to do to give you the motivation to learn to program.

If it's a web site that you want to make then you will start with html and move into javascript and then into one of the many server side languages as you need it - not before. I really don't think it makes sense to just pick a language and start reading manuals and learn it in a vacuum.

That may be a better way, but for the average programmer, they may not start out with a website, learn javascript, dhtml, etc. moving onto server side languages like perl, php, sql databases, etc. Many of them will just learn a language like java, and make basic html pages to allow for downloading from.

 

[dnuggett]

The project I'd like to start is creating a virus scanner fro use in at least the latest Windows versions 2k and XP. Can java do this?

 

[damiano]

definitly java

 

[damiano]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
The projest I'd liek to start is creating a virus scanner fro use in at least the latest Windows versions 2k and XP. Can java do this?

yes

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: damiano

Originally posted by: dnuggett
The projest I'd liek to start is creating a virus scanner fro use in at least the latest Windows versions 2k and XP. Can java do this?

yes

my I ask what you can do better than all the giants who have been writting virus scanners for years?

 

[dnuggett]

my I ask what you can do better than all the giants who have been writting virus scanners for years?

Probably nothing. But asking that would be tantamount to saying the only programmers who write stand alone apps should be corporate, never a stand alone person. :Q

 

[oLLie]

Originally posted by: jonmullen

Originally posted by: damiano

Originally posted by: dnuggett
The projest I'd liek to start is creating a virus scanner fro use in at least the latest Windows versions 2k and XP. Can java do this?

yes

my I ask what you can do better than all the giants who have been writting virus scanners for years?

I don't think he ever said he wanted to do better than them. It sounds like a good way to learn how virus scanners work in general.