What's a good programming class to take for someone with no experience?

[MuffD]

I would like to take a programming class but am not sure which I would take for beginners. I would like to take this to help me understand more of the different things at work.

TIA

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

Visual Basic is pretty good for beginners.

 

[agnitrate]

I'd do Java -> C -> C++ -> .NET

-silver

 

[Ketteringo]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
I'd do Java -> C -> C++ -> .NET

-silver

Might want to reverse C and C++, otherwise this is a pretty good way to go.

 

[Dissipate]

Take a beginning Java class.

 

[MuffD]

Some people at work also recommended visual basic. I think I might try the VB class and then Java since I test alot of Java for cell phones.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: MuffD
Some people at work also recommended visual basic. I think I might try the VB class and then Java since I test alot of Java for cell phones.

Do Java first.

 

[BigPoppa]

Java has been suprisingly easy for me to pick up this semester. After a horrible semester of Scheme coding (Its based on Lisp), i'm actually enjoying this class.

 

[vi edit]

PASCAL.

 

[Descartes]

Your question is extremely coarse. What are these "different things" at work that you wish to understand? Taking VB when these things are written in C will do you little good, and vice versa.

You really need to give us more information, because otherwise this will quickly degrade into the typical "don't take VB" thread.

 

[agnitrate]

I wouldn't recommend VB. I used VB back in high school and I think it violates pretty much every programming principle including encapsulation, data hiding, and all of OOP. If you want to learn it, I would do it after learning the rest. Just my .02

-silver

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
I wouldn't recommend VB. I used VB back in high school and I think it violates pretty much every programming principle including encapsulation, data hiding, and all of OOP. If you want to learn it, I would do it after learning the rest. Just my .02

-silver

Wow, I am THAT good. I must have anticipated your "don't take VB" post.

 

[BullsOnParade]

Java's online api (full detailed instruction reference of all the libraries and functions) makes learning java
the easiest of the above mentioned languages. Also java as a language takes care of some of the more
esoteric programing concepts while you learn the basics. We are taught the basic concepts of programming
in Scheme which is a lisp derivative. A lot of students complain about its uselessness, however its use as
a teach tool is pretty good IMO. I'd reccommend finding a university class site that outlines the fundamental
concepts and follow along with that, heck you could probably even ask the prof for help via email.

lemme know if you want a link to our stuff at gatech.

dM

 

[mAdMaLuDaWg]

I wouldn't suggest taking a programming class; decide which language you want to learn and pick a good book up (VB is great for beginners, its not that intimidating... gets your feet wet with programming... afterwhich u can move onto something else). The key to learning programming is practice and experimenting ; you'll do it much better yourself.
I'm speaking from experience; when I started programming, I picked up a book in BASIC and started learning. I then decided I wanted to learn C++ and went to a class. I got frustrated with the teaching because I was just typing the stuff the teacher was telling me to without really understanding... I then dropped out of the class, bought a nice book, and picked it up myself. In the end, I had a much better understanding of C++ than my friends who finished the C++ class. I'm not bragging or anything, thats just the way it works... Programming is not meant to be taught in a classroom with the amount of material out there to learn it yourself.

 

[BullsOnParade]

and run linux. a dristro like debian slackware or gentoo. everything about linux echoes programming concepts.

 

[Spamela]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
Take a beginning Java class.

VB is involved in more programming abominations
that i've seen in my 20+ year software development
career than any other.

 

[JoeKing]

java, gets your feet nice and wet for other langs

 

[MuffD]

At work I test cell phones and their software and was thinking of pursuing a degree also in Computer Science. Before I got into it, I wanted to take a few classes to see if this is something I would like to pursue. I'm getting tired of testing software/phones and would like to learn something new. Also, work encourages it with tuition reimbursement so why not?

Thanks for all the advice. I think I might go the VB route since I have no real concept of how this works. If I like it or find it something I can handle, I might go next onto Java and then some C.

 

[XZeroII]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
I wouldn't recommend VB. I used VB back in high school and I think it violates pretty much every programming principle including encapsulation, data hiding, and all of OOP. If you want to learn it, I would do it after learning the rest. Just my .02

-silver

That was VB6.

Take VB.NET. Most colleges go pretty slow in a VB.NET intro course and you'll pick up lots of good background. After that, take intro to Java and Java will be simple.