Programming?!
-
I'm 21 and i'm interested to learn, programming. Which language do you suggest for me?
(and to make flash games.)
-
English!
-
wow, that was nasty. :D
-
Perhaps, but actually, if you are fluent in english, programming is made much easier.
-
Considering all the skills you need to be good at programming, I'd rather say 'a bit easier'.
But first reading the comment your point came to my mind as well. ;) -
C and C++ are good languages to learn because most program-specific languages are derived from them, or use the same logic. You might want to start with C and work up to C++, or jump right into C++. From there html, CSS, Java, and Flash Action Script will be a breeze to learn, if you are interested in game design, web design, animation or multimedia applications.
-
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) embedded in Excel, so you can get the idea of object models in a very easy to use way.
Follow that with Javascript,
C/C++ are terrible languages to use to teach oneself, because you end up learning a zillions ways to do things, but not why you should do something one way or another.
-
As a language to learn programming, Pascal and it's derivative, Delphi are good choices. Pascal was written specifically to teach students how to program, and with Delphi, you can tackle some complex tasks. Moving on to the C/C++/C# range of languages would be a breeze having mastered the various challenges programming in Pascal/Delphi offers you.
With Pascal/Delphi, you will learn how to program properly, as you are forced to do so. You can then pick and choose which rules to keep and which to break as you move onto other languages. I believe there is a Student version of Delphi that can be downloaded for a modest fee. C/C++/C#/VB development environments can be downloaded from Microsoft for Free.
VB/VBA/VB# tend to encourage you to take short cuts early in your programming learning and, in my opinion, should be avoided until you are aware of the pitfalls and traps that Basic encourages.
Having said that, your future programming style is often dictated or corrupted by the language you first start to learn so, choose well, and learn properly!
-
I'm a bit late to be jumping in here, but I'll throw in my two cents.
First, figure out what you want to do.
Computer Programmers make about $8-$10 an hour in the U.S. Anyone can program.
So, if you want to do it on your own for fun, then figure out what you want to make and then learn what you need to learn to do it. In this way, you'll motivate yourself to learn.
So, if you want to just learn some flash, then go buy a flash book. Put $50 where your heart is and then put in 6 months reading the book, trying the examples and frustrating your head off.
If you want to try some simple direct x calls to play with some 3d games, try anything at www.thegamecreators.com
If you want to learn how to program old-school style, then pick up some Assembly or BASIC.
If you want to visit the more sophisticated and modular languages, I would recommend C and C++.
A great way to start learning C is by using the Neverwinter Nights toolset. The language of its scripter is C. And you can learn how loops, functions and the basic syntax of the language operates.
No matter which way you go, realize these things:
- You won't learn it without help.
- You won't learn it without doing something remotely enjoyable.
- You won't learn it from neverwinter nights persistant worlds forums.
-
Personally I Learned Qbasic and then went right into c++ that I think I almost have down pat. Appreantly scripting for NwN is a lot like c++ as well. If you have any questions about either of those languages I'd be happy to help. I'm also trying to Learn cocoa and program iPhone, itouch, IPad applications with xcode. But that is proving to be harder that I thought. I've never worked with object oriented programming. Other than c++ but I don't use that part of it.
-
java, while annoying, is a good stepping stone to learn object orientated programming structures before tackling something like C/C++
-
Either Javascript or VBA in Excel (the built-in maco language of Office)
Why:
The are object oriented enough to get the concepts.
They are based around an object model, a very important oncept in todays world.
You can get immediate visual results, on either web pages for JS, or in Excel worksheets. -
Java is where d money at.