Newbie interested in programming

**Todo** · April 25th, 2002, 04:14 PM

Okay well basically i have an interest in programming,but don't know any programming languages. I've been in the IT field for 2 years working as a computer technician. Just wanting to know where I should start. I don't think I'm going to take a class, not enough time,but what books are good out there, which language should I start with? Thanks

**Deity** · April 25th, 2002, 04:42 PM

Start with something simple like VB. Get a standard or professional copy...preferably an academic version, it's much cheaper.

And I would imagine that most of the books out there are pretty good, but I can't think of any in particular to recommend.

**Zil** · April 25th, 2002, 04:52 PM

Start with a book recommended for "beginners". I suggest anything for beginners by Wrox Publishing. They have great beginner books.

Just make sure you don't get an "advanced" user book, because you will get frustrated and not have any fun.

**Radical Dreamer** · April 25th, 2002, 05:53 PM

I do a fair amount of programming and I have found that VB is the easiest language to learn, others may argue that pascal is, but I think that its VB. As for getting something to start with, Microsoft has what they call a "working model" that you can get in many VB books and I think also off their site. Basically, the only thing that I have seen in it that you cant get in the full version is teh ablility to make an EXE, you can still run the program, but it has to be run from within VB.

**Zil** · April 26th, 2002, 10:59 PM

I have to agree that VB is an easy language to learn, it also has many uses because you can use VBA (a subset of VB) to program MS Office macros, and ASP (with VBScript, also a subset of VB) to create websites.

**confus-ed** · April 27th, 2002, 04:06 AM

If you are confident with the ideas of objects and understand stuff like loops and counters jump right in and try learning something like VB or Delphi, visual langues give 'flexible' if inelligant solutions with no programming sophistication required.

If non of the foregoing made any sense whatsoever <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

then start with either assembler or basic and learn it from a book.

A class would be much better - you can get the idea of programming with psuedo code in a few classes, I think you either take to it or you don't.

You can always post here when you get stuck, not that we see much actual code posted here

**WebHead** · April 27th, 2002, 04:10 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by confus-ed:
...not that we see much actual code posted here

<hr /></blockquote>You could always post some code.

**confus-ed** · April 30th, 2002, 09:03 AM

"LS13 1JD"

You did say post some code, awwww-nooo that's my postcode....

**Imon Fyre** · May 1st, 2002, 02:36 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by confus-ed:
then start with either assembler <hr /></blockquote>are you crazy confus-ed!?!?!

ive been thru like 3-4 years of programming courses in school... and just about none of it prepared me for dealing with assembly!!!

a language i would recomend to start would be Turing or the ever popular vote of VB... and if VB makes sense after a while, jump into java... its a pretty natural progression.... i think at least

**Renée** · May 1st, 2002, 02:39 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Imon Fyre:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by confus-ed:
then start with either assembler <hr /></blockquote>ive been thru like 3-4 years of programming courses in school... and just about none of it prepared me for dealing with assembly!!!...<hr /></blockquote>No doubt!! Hey, if you're gonna go that route, why not just start with machine language. Nothing like a little straight binary to warm you up so you'll be ready for VB!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

**Radical Dreamer** · May 3rd, 2002, 06:19 PM

I also agree, WTF is he thinking recommending Assembly to an new programmer, no flame intended but damn thats hard!

**Todo** · May 3rd, 2002, 11:06 PM

Hey thanks for everyone's responses. I didn't except to receive that many. Anyway, it seems the consensus is to start with Visual Basic. So, thats a good place to start. I'm going this weekend to look for some books. I've used those 'learn a language in 24 hours',but those don't really work for me, so I'll try to find a better book. And if i get stuck with some code, I'll know where to post it!

**confus-ed** · May 4th, 2002, 02:04 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Renée:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Imon Fyre:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by confus-ed:
then start with either assembler <hr /></blockquote>ive been thru like 3-4 years of programming courses in school... and just about none of it prepared me for dealing with assembly!!!...<hr /></blockquote>No doubt!! Hey, if you're gonna go that route, why not just start with machine language. Nothing like a little straight binary to warm you up so you'll be ready for VB!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>Too hard you think??? I was recommending assembler as it takes about a week to learn the entire instruction set....Try that with VB...

That's how I got taught, Pseudo code, assembler, Pascal, then object languages...

If u master assembly language then you are ready for anything....

.. just more syntax!!!

I did say a class might be best...

**Outcoded** · May 4th, 2002, 04:12 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by confus-ed:
Too hard you think??? I was recommending assembler as it takes about a week to learn the entire instruction set....Try that with VB...

That's how I got taught, Pseudo code, assembler, Pascal, then object languages...

If u master assembly language then you are ready for anything....

.. just more syntax!!!

I did say a class might be best...

[/QB]<hr /></blockquote>Assuming you know enough about the Von Neumann architecture to do anything with it, sure, very few constructs, but very hard to use, and it's got to be the least portable language going.

**Renée** · May 4th, 2002, 04:34 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by confus-ed:
 Too hard you think??? I was recommending assembler as it takes about a week to learn the entire instruction set....Try that with VB...

That's how I got taught, Pseudo code, assembler, Pascal, then object languages...

If u master assembly language then you are ready for anything....

.. just more syntax!!!

I did say a class might be best...

<hr /></blockquote>Okay, I'll give you that. But if all you're looking at is learning the instruction set, then machine language is the simplest. You only have to know two things...1 and 0.

Knowing the processor you're applying them to is the tough part.

I just think it's easier to learn algorithms and data structures using an easier high-level language. Moving on to systems programming is much easier to grasp to me if you can write effective algorithms in your sleep already. Just my opinion...

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