Programming n00b...

[Wrincle]

I'd really like to start programming sometime soon. I figured that it'd be a good, productive way to spend my spare time.

Problem is, I don't know how to start. I'd like to either do Python or Perl. Can someone lead me in the right direction?

[Tekk]

Well it ultimately depends on how you learn best. In a school environment...through a book...or just plain old teach yourself. There are TONS of sites that will have information on how to start programming in Perl/Python. Tutorials galore too. Go to a local library if youre more into the books for references.

If all else fails find a local community college that has a class and take it. They are generally pretty cheap and they can teach you the basics pretty quickly.

[crouse]

http://usalug.org/phpBB2/index.php?c=3

There are examples there for python ...... and c and c ++ ..... they are linux based, but if you have windows installed, you could still download knoppix and run knoppix and program. All the compilers you need etc/ are there and free. A cheap way to learn

[vass0922]

Originally Posted by Wrincle

I'd really like to start programming sometime soon. I figured that it'd be a good, productive way to spend my spare time.

Problem is, I don't know how to start. I'd like to either do Python or Perl. Can someone lead me in the right direction?

Ruby is a good language as well, if you want to learn between those two.
www.ruby-lang.org completely free of course, comes with compiler etc.

Not quite the amount of documentation perl/python have but a very cool language, its 100% OOP (You'll learn as you go)

[hokie64]

I feel that the best way to get started is to take a class. Whether its a semester long or a day long, its hard to really get the basics by yourself. Once given that, you can expand your horizons on your own.

Thats just me though.

(fwiw, i learned through trial by fire. THAT is probably the best way, but its also definitely the most stressful. I'm an engineer but i work at a software company as an intern. Didn't know anything about oracle or vb, but now i work on it all day. Its not that hard once you get the basics )

[Creosote]

Learn Java

[Wrincle]

I have Knoppix already HD installed on a dual boot, so yay.

I have some questions:

1. What's a syntax?
2. By saying "object-oriented language", what is an object?
3. What's a hash?
4. What's an array?

[micfau1091]

Visual Basic is a great way to get a noob on its way...even though you want to go in to perl or python. Helped me out and got me into other languages.

[stratocaster27]

learn html 1st