Programming languages for total newbs.

[TridenT]

Better websites for Python learning, anyone?

 

[Ken g6]

They weren't writing assembler on the Enterprise.

True, but they may have written Ada code on the Enterprise. ^_^ And I wouldn't recommend Ada either.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

11 years ago, I learned Scheme in a data structures class. It is a very good language to learn.
http://www.scheme.com/tspl3/

 

[Ken g6]

Funny you should mention Scheme. I was just reading a blog post about somebody trying to learn Scheme the other day.

 

[Tsaar]

As a fairly recent electrical engineering graduate with some decent exposure to programming, I have only really used C/C++, Java, and Matlab.

When talking about these non-compiled scripting languages, such as Python, how do you actually get a binary, executable file without compiling?

Basically, can I code something in Python, create an executable file, and put it on my friend's computer to show him what an awesome programmer I am?

With C++ it was easy (well, *AFTER* debugging 9999999999 memory errors ) to just hit the compile button and have a nice file ready to be executed.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

To execute Python code you need to have the Python runtime installed (just like you need JRE to run Java programs). Although I'm sure there's a way of compiling Python to a .exe, I just don't know it (not a Python guy myself).

 

[esun]

Scheme's not a bad choice, and there is a wonderful free book that's meant for complete beginners to learn programming from scratch that is used by MIT and UC Berkeley for their introductory undergraduate CS courses:

http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/

However, nobody actually uses Scheme outside of people in those classes and some other academics (and a tiny sliver of real-world people). Hence, after learning Scheme you will almost inevitably want to learn another language anyway, so you might as well go with the other language from the get-go.

 

[Colt45]

C. Get the K&R book.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

To execute Python code you need to have the Python runtime installed (just like you need JRE to run Java programs). Although I'm sure there's a way of compiling Python to a .exe, I just don't know it (not a Python guy myself).

There are several programs out there that will take a python script and package it with the python interpreter to make a standalone executable. Sure it's a lot of overhead but could work for certain applications.

 

[TridenT]

So.. I should learn.. python from what source? :|

 

[Crusty]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=247602

There's plenty of free references posted in the sticky above...

 

[TridenT]

http://www.youtube.com/user/MIT#g/c/4C4720A6F225E074 Eh, eh, eh?! Good way to learn? Assuming I can find the documents that go along with this, maybe I could learn it this way too? Idk.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

The most important thing in learning to program is to just do it. Stop getting so caught up in the details of which language, which book, which tutorial, which video, etc. Just start making things.

Take Crusty's advice and visit that link. Lots of great resources. Stop thinking about it and start doing it.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I swear to fucking god I'm getting sick of this double post bullshit.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I swear to fucking god I'm getting sick of this double post bullshit.

I thought you did not believe in God.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I thought you did not believe in God.

Oops, should say dog*. My bad.

 

[TridenT]

I've been watching the MIT lectures... Pretty good lectures actually. I think I could learn how to program a bit of it this way if I have more hands-on.. So far I have just been learning what for, if, while, etc is. He starts to do a major, "omfg wtf" moment at the part where he does this program that is just a bit too complex for my brain that has been out of the math loop too long. O_O (Pigs + spiders + chickens, heads/legs problem)

I guess I'll need some hands on practice. See if I can download some scripts from the website and dissect them a bit.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Start with the hands-on stuff absolutely as soon as possible. Like, right now. Just get yourself a compiler for your language of choice and start writing something. Think of some little tool you can make that will solve a simple problem and implement it.

The canonical first example is a Fahrenheit -> Celsius converter. The formula is simple. One of the first things I wrote was a program to solve quadratic equations. You can start with one that will solve quadratics with real roots and extend it later to solve quadratics with imaginary roots (this will help you learn about conditional statements (ie if statements)). The program will take as user inputs three numbers, A, B and C. It will output two numbers, the two roots.

 

[TridenT]

Start with the hands-on stuff absolutely as soon as possible. Like, right now. Just get yourself a compiler for your language of choice and start writing something. Think of some little tool you can make that will solve a simple problem and implement it.

The canonical first example is a Fahrenheit -> Celsius converter. The formula is simple. One of the first things I wrote was a program to solve quadratic equations. You can start with one that will solve quadratics with real roots and extend it later to solve quadratics with imaginary roots (this will help you learn about conditional statements (ie if statements)). The program will take as user inputs three numbers, A, B and C. It will output two numbers, the two roots.

Yeah, I went to the website and downloaded all the handouts(code that he shows in class... it's so much easier to read now when it's actually ... on the screen for more than a few seconds. ). I'm going to try to make some simple stuff like that.