Starting Programming - General Programming

Hickle · 06-28-2006, 06:06 PM

Okay, lets see where to start <bangs head against keyboard>. Ahh I remember now...

So two years ago I took a HTML class in school and absolutely loved it (even though the teacher was... different). Anyways after I took the class I eventually decided to get out of basic HTML and tackle advanced (which my school doesn't offer), and so after a year of honing my HTML skills I moved to JavaScript, then I realized my true passion... my friend was taking a VB class (some special school or someshit which I can't go to) and he was telling me about it, then I decided I would try to learn programming language... I ran into a snag. I looked on the interent for tutorials found one for "Java" and figured wth I know HTML and JS this should be a breeze. Well when I got into looking at it I had no idead wtf I was looking at. Anyways my question is (I know this has been asked a dozen times) but would it be easier for me to learn Java from this site http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/ or buy a book... or would it be better for me to learn C++ or VB... I'm just so confused... any help would be much appreciated... so thanks...

HopeDagger · 06-28-2006, 06:11 PM

Java is a complex programming language, and I don't recommend it as a place to start programming. (In the world of programming, HTML and JavaScript don't count as programming languages :P)

I think that perhaps taking the same path as your friend and learning Visual Basic might be a good route, in your shoes. It's a little difficult to obtain (sans illegal methods that I don't endorse) since it's not supported by Microsoft anymore, but there are tons of resources on it on the internet, and it's a fairly simple language to learn/use. Not only that, but you'd be able to get a hand from your friend if s/he's also learning it at the same time, if they are willing.

Of course that's simply my two cents, and there are countless other ways to tackle your venture into the world of programming. Be sure to ask if you need more insight/advice; we've got a pretty good number of people with wise heads on their shoulders around here!

Shattered Skies · 06-29-2006, 03:54 AM

I agree with Hope. During my first couple of semesters of college, the first programming language that we were taught was Visual Basic (no way to get out of it). It helps give you a basic idea of how to program and setup GUIs in no time at all.

After VB, it was a semester of C++ and Java, which was really hard because learning two different languages at the same time. At that time I wasnt keen on Java at all, I heard bad stuff about it. Another semester of just C++, and then a semester of just Java, which then completely changed my outlook on the language.

I personally suggest you learn C++ first. Then go into Java. Reason being, Java is a completely Object Oriented programming language, so things may be a little more confusing for you starting out. With C++, you dont have to worry about thinking completely in objects.

If you have any Java related questions though, Im more then willing to help you out

ractoc · 06-30-2006, 02:13 PM

What Shattered Sky said...
Only I started with C and Assembler.... The latter I do not recommend as a starting point though, since it has nothing to do with any of the other programming languages.

Saint · 07-01-2006, 12:55 AM

Visual basic . NET > VB 6

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/

Visual Basic .NET, the next generation of Visual Basic, is designed to be the easiest and most productive tool for creating .NET applications, including Windows applications, Web Services, and Web applications.

While providing the traditional ease-of-use of Visual Basic development, Visual Basic .NET also allows optional use of new language features. Inheritance, method overloading, structured exception handling, and free threading all make Visual Basic a powerful object-oriented programming language. Visual Basic .NET fully integrates with the .NET Framework and the Common Language Runtime, which together provide language interoperability, simplified deployment, enhanced security, and improved versioning support.

HopeDagger · 07-01-2006, 07:25 PM

@Saint: Yes, but VB.NET is also several magnitudes more complex for the beginner. Basically they took C#, and gave it VB.NET's syntax and nuances.

In my opinion, since VB.NET is also pure OOP, the same beginner problems and difficulties arise as if teaching someone C# as their first language.

06-28-2006, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hickle Marios's Mustache Wax Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2	Starting Programming Okay, lets see where to start <bangs head against keyboard>. Ahh I remember now... So two years ago I took a HTML class in school and absolutely loved it (even though the teacher was... different). Anyways after I took the class I eventually decided to get out of basic HTML and tackle advanced (which my school doesn't offer), and so after a year of honing my HTML skills I moved to JavaScript, then I realized my true passion... my friend was taking a VB class (some special school or someshit which I can't go to) and he was telling me about it, then I decided I would try to learn programming language... I ran into a snag. I looked on the interent for tutorials found one for "Java" and figured wth I know HTML and JS this should be a breeze. Well when I got into looking at it I had no idead wtf I was looking at. Anyways my question is (I know this has been asked a dozen times) but would it be easier for me to learn Java from this site http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/ or buy a book... or would it be better for me to learn C++ or VB... I'm just so confused... any help would be much appreciated... so thanks...

06-28-2006, 06:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
HopeDagger Luigi’s Pizza Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 120	Java is a complex programming language, and I don't recommend it as a place to start programming. (In the world of programming, HTML and JavaScript don't count as programming languages :P) I think that perhaps taking the same path as your friend and learning Visual Basic might be a good route, in your shoes. It's a little difficult to obtain (sans illegal methods that I don't endorse) since it's not supported by Microsoft anymore, but there are tons of resources on it on the internet, and it's a fairly simple language to learn/use. Not only that, but you'd be able to get a hand from your friend if s/he's also learning it at the same time, if they are willing. Of course that's simply my two cents, and there are countless other ways to tackle your venture into the world of programming. Be sure to ask if you need more insight/advice; we've got a pretty good number of people with wise heads on their shoulders around here! __________________ Gauntlets of Recursion (+5) - My game development journal.

07-01-2006, 12:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Saint Str1der's Stooge Join Date: May 2006 Location: Main-stream music land. Kill me. Posts: 2,649	Visual basic . NET > VB 6 http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/ Visual Basic .NET, the next generation of Visual Basic, is designed to be the easiest and most productive tool for creating .NET applications, including Windows applications, Web Services, and Web applications. While providing the traditional ease-of-use of Visual Basic development, Visual Basic .NET also allows optional use of new language features. Inheritance, method overloading, structured exception handling, and free threading all make Visual Basic a powerful object-oriented programming language. Visual Basic .NET fully integrates with the .NET Framework and the Common Language Runtime, which together provide language interoperability, simplified deployment, enhanced security, and improved versioning support. __________________ Luke - Fifteen feels the same as twelve.: Josef Stalin and I have the same birthday. Str1der: That's not sexy. Str1der: It's scary. Str1der: Because it affirms my beliefs Str1der: That you are actually the re-incarnation of Stalin. Str1der: I KNOWZ T3H TRUTHZ

07-01-2006, 07:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
HopeDagger Luigi’s Pizza Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 120	@Saint: Yes, but VB.NET is also several magnitudes more complex for the beginner. Basically they took C#, and gave it VB.NET's syntax and nuances. In my opinion, since VB.NET is also pure OOP, the same beginner problems and difficulties arise as if teaching someone C# as their first language. __________________ Gauntlets of Recursion (+5) - My game development journal.

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06-29-2006, 03:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Shattered Skies Wario’s Bad Accent Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indiana, USA Posts: 475	I agree with Hope. During my first couple of semesters of college, the first programming language that we were taught was Visual Basic (no way to get out of it). It helps give you a basic idea of how to program and setup GUIs in no time at all. After VB, it was a semester of C++ and Java, which was really hard because learning two different languages at the same time. At that time I wasnt keen on Java at all, I heard bad stuff about it. Another semester of just C++, and then a semester of just Java, which then completely changed my outlook on the language. I personally suggest you learn C++ first. Then go into Java. Reason being, Java is a completely Object Oriented programming language, so things may be a little more confusing for you starting out. With C++, you dont have to worry about thinking completely in objects. If you have any Java related questions though, Im more then willing to help you out

06-30-2006, 02:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
ractoc Cloud's Hair Spray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 61	What Shattered Sky said... Only I started with C and Assembler.... The latter I do not recommend as a starting point though, since it has nothing to do with any of the other programming languages.