PDA

Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : First Programming Language?

bennybdbc
05-08-2009, 06:38 PM
I am just wondering what language I should learn first.
I am a teenager, so I don't really want to have to pay for any software in learning it.
I already know javascript and HTML, if that helps?
Any Ideas?
Yelgnidroc
05-08-2009, 06:52 PM
You need css, although personally I wouldn't call it a language.

If I were you I'd go for php and mysql. AJAX would also complement you rexisting skills.
bennybdbc
05-08-2009, 08:01 PM
You need css, although personally I wouldn't call it a language.

If I were you I'd go for php and mysql. AJAX would also complement you rexisting skills.

Well I know basic CSS, and some AJAX.
I would like to learn something that I can mae programs with.
People have recommended C++ or Python, and I want to learn something like that.
Thanks though.
Jick
05-09-2009, 01:32 AM
Many will tell you that PHP is very similar in syntax to JavaScript. So, that could be a determining factor.

That aside, I highly recommend PHP. It is a very in-demand language and it can do pretty much everything you could want.

But, I guess I may be a bit bias. I'm a PHP guru. :p
Declan1991
05-09-2009, 03:05 PM
If you are just interested in web programming, definetly PHP. If you are interested in software development, I'd go for C/C++, and then maybe Java after that. I think Python is hyped up a bit to be honest, I didn't really like it much.
bennybdbc
05-09-2009, 06:17 PM
If you are just interested in web programming, definetly PHP. If you are interested in software development, I'd go for C/C++, and then maybe Java after that. I think Python is hyped up a bit to be honest, I didn't really like it much.

Thanks. :)
I will probably learn either C or C++.
Are there any big differences?
Which would you recommend?
Jeff Mott
05-09-2009, 06:46 PM
It [PHP] is a very in-demand language

There may be some reasons for choosing PHP, but jobs isn't one of them.

I searched Career Builder for PHP and got 1,145 results, for Java, 4,206 results, and for .NET, 4,845. Monster gives similar results.

It's best to keep a realistic perspective about these things.

I will probably learn either C or C++.... Which would you recommend? First I think we need to clearly define what kind of job you want. It won't do any good to acquire skills that your preferred employer isn't looking for.

Web development is typically divided into two major categories: design and development. Design is graphic art, and development is coding. Development is divided into two sub categories: front-end and back-end. Front-end is HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and back-end is application and database programming. Back-end application programming can be done in any programming language, but the big three are .NET, Java and PHP. PHP is most often used by small businesses and freelancers, and .NET and Java are most often used by large corporations.

Obviously, there are a lot of choices. I think you need to figure out what kind of work you want to do, and what kind of environment you want to work in, before you decide which skills to pursue.
bennybdbc
05-09-2009, 07:08 PM
Obviously, there are a lot of choices. I think you need to figure out what kind of work you want to do, and what kind of environment you want to work in, before you decide which skills to pursue.

Well I am more interested in software development.
I am a teenager, so I'm not really looking for a job in IT at the moment.
I just thought learning a programming language would be a good skill to have.
NogDog
05-11-2009, 01:17 PM
Try not to get too language-specific, but rather concentrate as much as possible on programming concepts and theories. If you understand those, learning any specific language becomes a matter of spending a little time learning its specific syntax and standard libraries. Of course, any practical learning is going to include actually writing code, so you might as well pick up some Java or C++/C# instruction. I suggest those two as being both in-demand at the present as well as the fact that they should encourage you to learn object-oriented programming/design.
TecBrat
05-11-2009, 01:26 PM
the C languages are often used as a base for other languages, thus it makes that much more sense to study C.

I haven't used .net, so can't compare/contrast, but I like PHP. It's fairly easy to learn and use and there is a great online community to help when you get stuck on something.

If your school offers Computer Science, learn whatever language they teach it in. Like was mentioned earlier in this thread, concentrate on learning concepts because syntax can be re-learned for every language you need to use. (For example, I leaned BASIC and QBASIC when I was young. I began teaching myself PHP and had a project that used PERL. I didn't really know PERL, but I was able to figure it out. (Same thing goes for JS)
Shorts
05-13-2009, 11:47 AM
As NogDog said, don't be too concerned with the language itself. Learn the ideas behind programming.

In particular, learn logic\algorithms\operators. Having said that, PHP is easy to pick up and it'll help you learn if\else, objects, classes, functions etc and there are a lot of ready examples\resources to play around with online.

C++ is also good, C is well good but pretty ugly of a language (in my opinion). Personally started with perl, around 8th grade from using examples\resources online. Anyway you go, just remember, it's all in the algorithm.
Joseph Witchard
05-14-2009, 10:33 PM
Try not to get too language-specific, but rather concentrate as much as possible on programming concepts and theories. If you understand those, learning any specific language becomes a matter of spending a little time learning its specific syntax and standard libraries. Of course, any practical learning is going to include actually writing code, so you might as well pick up some Java or C++/C# instruction. I suggest those two as being both in-demand at the present as well as the fact that they should encourage you to learn object-oriented programming/design.

Isn't C# exclusive to Visual Studio, though?

Microsoft Visual Studio is expensive, so if you don't want to buy any software for learning how to program, it's probably not for you at this point. However, I think NetBeans (which is free) has more tools than just its Java IDE. Might want to google NetBeans.
mldarshana
05-15-2009, 12:23 AM
According to my experience .... "If you learn the core concepts of Java, you can easily pickup any other programming" ... because Java has over 16 years background.
Quidam
05-15-2009, 05:13 PM
According to my experience .... "If you learn the core concepts of Java, you can easily pickup any other programming" ... because Java has over 16 years background.

C is 37 years old...

My personal recommendation would be C++. It is a very "wide" language that allows you to do pretty much anything. It is also very easy to go from C++ to some other language.
One thing to consider though, is that C++ can be considered to be harder than other language. It is very raw, giving both positive and negative sides. Positive being that it has more possibilities and that it's easier to program for small devices with a little C-compiler. Negative being, as stated earlier, it could be harder to learn.
NogDog
05-16-2009, 01:53 PM
Isn't C# exclusive to Visual Studio, though?

Microsoft Visual Studio is expensive, so if you don't want to buy any software for learning how to program, it's probably not for you at this point. However, I think NetBeans (which is free) has more tools than just its Java IDE. Might want to google NetBeans.

I don't know how "exclusive" it is, but it's in high demand. It is more or less built upon C++ and perhaps some Java, so learning either of those will get you a big step up for learning C# should the occasion arise.
SamsoniteMilan
05-17-2009, 05:26 AM
An interesting thing is that I learned Java, PHP and other non-Microsoft languages at university, but nearly all my employment has been in MS languages!

The point about that which has been made to some extent is that learning Java enabled me to easily write in C#.NET and I learned VB at school ages 16-18 (A-level) so could also do ASP, VBA & VB.NET.

I would say to the OP, that C# would probably suit you best. You will easily be able to switch to Java or C, but there is also a huge demand for C#.NET developers, so job prospects are good. Only as long as you want to write Windows applications though!

Next up would be Java will allow you to build apps on most operating systems, but if you are going the Windows route, you will find this harder than .NET.

I have never got on that well with Java development environments and I've tried them all, but they always seem more clunky than Visual Studio .NET. I always end up using a fancy text editor for Java.

You can now get the latest C# Visual Studio sofware free of charge and it is easily the best development environment I have used! I know load of people will now disagree with this but I am not an MS fan-boy, I develop in about 5 different languages and in my spare time I never use MS stuff, but with the benefit of experience, it's hard to beat VS for writing apps.
Joseph Witchard
05-21-2009, 08:09 PM
I don't know how "exclusive" it is, but it's in high demand. It is more or less built upon C++ and perhaps some Java, so learning either of those will get you a big step up for learning C# should the occasion arise.

I just asked because he said that he didn't want to have to spend much money in learning. I've wanted Visual Studio ever since I left school, but its expense has kept me from purchasing it to this day.
SamsoniteMilan
05-22-2009, 03:10 AM
I just asked because he said that he didn't want to have to spend much money in learning. I've wanted Visual Studio ever since I left school, but its expense has kept me from purchasing it to this day.

Have you not downloaded the free editions of Visual Studio and SQL Server? They are more than enough to write .NET applications/websites on your development PC.

No excuse!

http://www.microsoft.com/express/vwd/
Joseph Witchard
05-24-2009, 04:39 PM
I'm afraid I didn't know there were free editions:o
chazzy
05-31-2009, 09:17 AM
Isn't C# exclusive to Visual Studio, though?

Microsoft Visual Studio is expensive, so if you don't want to buy any software for learning how to program, it's probably not for you at this point. However, I think NetBeans (which is free) has more tools than just its Java IDE. Might want to google NetBeans.

Still not a big fan of netbeans, prefer eclipse.

Also, C# isn't exclusive to visual studio. It's a fully specificied ISO Language (http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=36768) that just so happens to only have a few implementations.

You have the SDK that comes w/ .NET and includes a C# compiler, as well as the one that comes w/ Mono.
andr105
06-01-2009, 11:01 AM
Try learn PHP and CSS.
Ronnie268
06-07-2009, 02:24 PM
C++/C are less useful on the web. I would definitely recommend PHP/MySQL. Then with JS you can do almost anything on the web (then's the time to learn Ajax!)

Ronnie268
raggi5
06-08-2009, 01:27 PM
well C++ is a very demanding language that may require pre-knowledge of algebra and other possibly complicated equations for some. if you go along the lines of it, you can make high quality programs, but it takes time. I would know, I'm about 50% complete with the basics of this marvelous language. It is a good language to know and it relatively easy to find tutorials on. :) if you need help, just pm me :)