What is best way to learn to programme?

wolfman

I was originally a Java developer but over the last year or so have switched across to the .Net platform.

It's certainly very much in demand, and provides a good platform to develop all kinds of applications (web apps, web services, windows forms etc...) and using a number of languages (C#, VB.Net, C++ etc...).

Microsoft have done a good job with packaging it, making it very easy to pickup, and there are plenty of online video walkthroughs, code example etc...

Have a look at https://www.asp.net. Plenty of resources there.

[Deleted User]

Python is supposed to be a good 'starter language', it can be used for web stuff and windows stuff

studentphil

Python and Delphi are all my uni would teach non- Computing students for some reason??!!??

moneyuser

studentphil wrote:

There are so many langs. it is hard to know which to go for.

Choices are VB, Java, C# or C++, I'm discounting web oriented languages since you haven't mentioned that. VB is probably the easiest to learn and you can develop apps really quickly with little work. C++ is probably the closest language to Delphi. C# and Java are probably in the middle.

If you want to base your decision on what's in demand then check the top 10 IT skills on the Salary Services Website

studentphil wrote:

What is the best way to get learning them if I can ever pick one? Is it better to self teach or to look for a course in it?

The best way is to start with online tutorials, then get a book and then go on a course for more advanced stuff. A lot of the beginner courses in colleges/uni will work from a book anyway.

studentphil

moneyuser wrote:

Choices are VB, Java, C# or C++, I'm discounting web oriented languages since you haven't mentioned that. VB is probably the easiest to learn and you can develop apps really quickly with little work. C++ is probably the closest language to Delphi. C# and Java are probably in the middle.

If you want to base your decision on what's in demand then check the top 10 IT skills on the Salary Services Website


The best way is to start with online tutorials, then get a book and then go on a course for more advanced stuff. A lot of the beginner courses in colleges/uni will work from a book anyway.

I am not really looking at it career wise as there are tons of people far better at computing than me. I am only a Philosophy student so I am like 5 million miles behind someone who has done a computing degree.

amcluesent

Ruby and the Ruby on Rails framework
F# (no, I don't know what happened to D# and E#!)
Groovy

I wouldn't plan on making a career in programming with these languages, but the are some of the most interesting languages.

feelinggood_2

studentphil wrote:

I am not really looking at it career wise as there are tons of people far better at computing than me. I am only a Philosophy student so I am like 5 million miles behind someone who has done a computing degree.

You don't need a computing degree to be a good programmer.
My OH is a top notch programmer - completely self taught. He has never had a problem getting a job. In fact, most programmers I know don't actually have degrees - most are self taught.
I can recommend a few good books on C# if you are interested Phil.

tobyosbourn

Java for a good starter language

Then Perl, because perl owns.

amcluesent

>You don't need a computing degree to be a good programmer.<

True enough, one of the best guys on my team has a degree in archaeology and a surprising number of the top-tier system designers/architects read philosophy.