Best Beginner Programming Language?

ClarkeKent

I've been looking to have a go at learning programming for many a year. I have tinkered a bit in PHP, but I am looking to have a proper go at it - as I have a bit of spare time.

Lots of sites recommend Python as the first to learn.

Also C, C++ and C# get mentioned alot (not quite sure what the difference is between these?)

Thoughts on the best entry point and maybe the most useful language for the future?

skivenov

Pascal or c

Both easy to get your head around and a good basis for more mainstream languages.

Cornucopia

If you're starting from scratch, you are probably best looking for a language which ties-in with an area of interest and/or one for which you can obtain a development environment cheaply or for free. For the future? Do you mean work-wise?

If you have an interest in Web design & development, then the obvious choice is the Web "stack" - HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL. The first three run in any browser, so no cost involved in using them. To explore PHP & MySQL properly, you'll probably need web hosting, but that is available free these days, too.

Alternatively, you can get a free evaluation copy of MS Visual Studio, which allows you to design & develop Windows applications. This is quite nicely structured to enable you to get started relatively easily.

Geodark

Cornucopia wrote: »

If you're starting from scratch, you are probably best looking for a language which ties-in with an area of interest and/or one for which you can obtain a development environment cheaply or for free. For the future? Do you mean work-wise?

If you have an interest in Web design & development, then the obvious choice is the Web "stack" - HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL. The first three run in any browser, so no cost involved in using them. To explore PHP & MySQL properly, you'll probably need web hosting, but that is available free these days, too.

Alternatively, you can get a free evaluation copy of MS Visual Studio, which allows you to design & develop Windows applications. This is quite nicely structured to enable you to get started relatively easily.

No need any more - 2013 community version is free to individuals, students and small teams.

DigForVictory

If you jump in with C, check the version - we had a freebie blend that combined K&R with ANSI C, which meant we had to have two textbooks.

Still, good clean fun - hope you enjoy it!

AndyPix

If you are completely new to programming then you want a higher level language than C ..

Ie one that looks "a bit more like English"
Get visual studio as mentioned above and have a mess around with visual basic.
You should be able to create a working windows app quite quickly and by doing this get your head used to thinking in the certain logical order that is required for programming.

Once you have progressed a little using that, then progress to learning C++ and all the object oriented goodness that comes with that (!)

Have fun
Andy

AndyPix

skivenov wrote: »

Pascal.

:eek:

Why oh why would anyone learn Pascal these days unless they wanted to maintain 30 year old banking code ??

Cornucopia

Back in 1989 I got my second job on the strength of being able to code in Pascal.... and never actually coded in Pascal once I had joined the company.

I assume it's still used in education (it being very clean and in non-threatening lowercase), but other than that, it's not particularly useful.

bod1467

ClarkeKent wrote: »

C#

This is essentially Microsoft's derivation of C++ for web environments, and is sometimes referred to as C.Net. (Like MS's web version of Visual Basic is known as VB.Net).

System

Hi

If you were starting from scratch try it

https://scratch.mit.edu/

it's what children start with, and it is about learning the structures and sequences.

You get a positive result very quickly.

Next, perhaps Python, and create / modify some scripts.

After that I think you need a direction or target to know what to choose, like for web pages or apps for mobile phones, tablets etc.

Search for app builder for android, iphone, mac, windows and dummies.

Geodark

bod1467 wrote: »

This is essentially Microsoft's derivation of C++ for web environments, and is sometimes referred to as C.Net. (Like MS's web version of Visual Basic is known as VB.Net).

You might want to check up on that...