FAQ: What Programming Language Should I Start With?

[makaveli]

What Programming Language Should I Start With?

If you've never programmed a "Hello world" in your life, you might want to try HTML first. HTML might seem elementary, but it's an excellent introduction to the ideas of syntax and basic programming. In addition, all web programming languages are pretty much useless without HTML.

When you've got HTML down, a popular beginning language is Visual Basic. Some people claim VB isn't a "real" programming language, but it is powerful despite its simplicity. Most computer-literate users also find the IDE (Intergrated Development Environment) to be pretty friendly, if expensive. Almost all Visual Basic books come with a working model edition that serves the needs of most beginners.

If you've had some prior programming experience or you are exceptionally good with computers, you might want to try something a little more advanced. For desktop programming, you'll hear C++ from a lot of people; C, C#, and JAVA are also good options that won't lead you astray. PHP is a good choice for web programming that's very up-and-coming; PERL and ASP are also popular web programming choices.



Sharp Devlop is a great IDE/Compiler for VB .NET and C# and it's free.

http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/Download/

[Virus]

Well it seems as if you've got the faqs so are you asking us wat you should do or telling the youngs wat their choices are??

Either way i did c++, it teaches you the concepts but i never really see the practical use of it today.. but good to start out on..

HTML - a little diff from c++, alot nicer too (Love you dreamweaver)

PHP+Javascript - Wicked combination

[death_knight]

Well it seems as if you've got the faqs so are you asking us wat you should do or telling the youngs wat their choices are??

dude its obvious he's educating the youngins

Either way i did c++, it teaches you the concepts but i never really see the practical use of it today.. but good to start out on..

are u for real, c++ is the true programmers dream yute, winapi was were i thrived developing gui's starting from nothing but blank pages (no precompiled code)

HTML - a little diff from c++, alot nicer too (Love you dreamweaver)

really the two shouldn't even be compared, html is a ml (markup language) not a programming language all it does is tell the browser how to render the page contents while c++ is a programming language. (how beautiful c++ is.. oop is a dream come true)

PHP+Javascript - Wicked combination

Aint that the truth. though i mainly use php for most of my things even validation i sometimes seem to do through server side scipting instead of client side which would seem more efficient. bad habbit i guess.

[Lano]

rumor has it python is the cleanest thing to start with

[nder]

I think that if you are really serious about getting into programming then you should start with C and then C++. The learnign curve might be a bit high (as opposed to learning a markup language such as HTML) but if you do overcome it, the rewards will be great. Also, start with a basic test editor and compiler. Don't go for the fancy IDE's to start off with. If you start by writing basic console (command line) applications, then you will have a solid foundation to build on as you will then know what goes on behind those fancy IDEs.

[ramesh]

Well I started off with Visual Basic and can't seem to get anywhere with other languages. Actually I started with Commodore Basic, but that was a long time ago.......

10. REM
20. PRINT "HELLO WORLD"
30. GOTO 10
40. END

[SQLDBA]

I think the best language to start with is Basic why because the concepts of link-lists, arrays and modualrity does not mean much to a new programmer and thus will force him a lot of time into either copying code to accomplish routine tasks such as storing records or running from coding all together.One should always realize that good programmers have sound foundations they understand basic fundamentals,if a person starts off with c and learns C only he will may have problems with loops and other base stuff,like all things start simple then graduate.

[Lano]

Structure basic code is good
GOTO and Line number jumping is bad

For better or worse.... COBOL is still the most English like language I've seen

Where else can u say Compute a + b giving C or C = a+b

[ramesh]

With VB you can some complex programming done in very little time, just like on a database project I'm working on:

intOut = 0
intIn = 0
Dim CountIn As Integer              ' Move these to top?
Dim CountOut As Integer
Dim CountLess As Integer

With DEconn.rsC33
    If .State = adStateClosed Then .Open
    If .RecordCount = 0 Then
        Exit Sub
    End If
    .MoveLast
    .MoveFirst
    Do
        If .Fields("incomming") = True Then
            CountIn = CountIn + .Fields("qty")
            CountLess = CountLess + .Fields("lessqty")
        Else
            CountOut = CountOut + .Fields("qty")
            ' Check for "qtyless" in outgoing C33?
            ' Would need to add that to the report if needed
        End If
        CurrentItemID = .Fields("id")
        strFolio = .Fields("foliono")
        strRefNo = .Fields("referenceno")
        CurrentItemName = .Fields("Iname")
        CurrentSupplierName = .Fields("Sname")
        CurrentCategoryName = .Fields("Cname")
        CurrentCost = .Fields("cost")
        CurrentUSCost = .Fields("uscost")
        CurrentSellingPrice = .Fields("selling")
        .MoveNext
        If .EOF Then
            intIn = CountIn
            Call MakeLine                  ' Procedure to be made
            Exit Sub
        End If
        DoEvents
    Loop
End With

[RobyG]

I don't agree that HTML is the best place to start. Better you say C/C++, python, BASIC or some other language. Python is quickly becoming a favourite in some arenas.