First programming language to learn?

Question

I am a very keen learner and want to learn a language. Could you please give me a answer as DETAILED as you can about what programming language I should learn first, Why I should learn this, What I can do with this language etc. and please compare programming languages? And if you could provide in links on tutorials on learning the programming language etc.

Answer 1

If you are quick to learn new things then you could probably learn a language that is used in industry rather than BASIC. The previous answer was right when it said that C based languages (C, C++, C#, Java) are harder than BASIC, but they are not impossible to pick up as a first language. If you want to move into research then maybe you should follow the advice of the other answer and learn Python and Unix, but most programming in industry uses Java or .NET. If you want to move into industry then these are the best languages to learn.



Before you decide to learn about programming you should spend a few minutes thinking about whether it will suit you. Here's a few questions to ask yourself:



Do you like creating new things? Do you like solving logical problems? If so, programming is probably for you.

Are you creative and artistic? Do you have an eye for aesthetic detail? If so, graphic design, animation or website design might be for you.

Do you like gadgets and hardware? Do you like taking computers apart and repairing them? If so, IT maintenance might be for you.



If you still want to program then probably the most used language in education at the moment is Java. This is an example of an object-oriented language. The language is widely used in industry and the object-oriented skills that it will teach you will help you pick up other similar languages in the future C++, C#, VB .NET. You can also set yourself up with the necessary programming tools quite easily and cheaply. You can use it to develop Windows applications and it can also be used in advanced web development. You could alternatively get hold of a student version of .NET and learn C#, which can be used in the same sort of areas.



If you only want to develop websites, then you could learn HTML. This is not a programming language, but it is the building blocks of all websites. If you are more artistically motivated then you could leave the HTML to later and start by buying one of the many applications that allow you to design web pages. For some more advanced websites you'll still need to learn some programming skills. PHP, Ruby on Rails, ASP.NET, Java all allow you to create server side applications: applications that reside on a server and generate the necessary HTML to serve up dynamic websites.



The best way to learn about IT maintenance is to buy second hand or broken PCs and start to fix them by swapping out cards, power supplies etc. You could also try setting up a network or a server.



A knowledge of database design often complements programming and advance website development. A good place to start here is to learn MySQL.



Finally, if you find electronics interesting as well, you could consider teaching yourself micro-controller programming. You could buy a PIC controller or similar. This involves low level programming, typically smaller amounts of code, but you will learn a lot about the hardware.



One last question that you need to ask is how much money do you want to earn from any future career? Basic website design doesn't typically pay too much. IT maintenance is a little better. If you want to earn the bigger wages and don't mind working long hours then you could plan to work on financial systems. A knowledge of database systems will help here. Learning management skills as well as technical skills can often lead to a more prosperous career as well, but management doesn't suit everyone.

Answer 2

That really depends on what kind of programming you want to do.



It is said that "a carpenter is only as good as the tools he carries with him, and if all he has is a hammer, then every problem starts looking like nails."



Of course the FIRST thing I would recommend, before you bother learning ANY language, is to learn the LOGIC of programming.



For instance, you may learn how to loop through a sequence of instructions, but there are several different types of loops. You have to be able to analyze which kind of loop would be best for any particular situation.



Furthermore, you may know how to loop through a list of names (for instance), but that doesn't tell you how to sort those names, or how to efficiently search for any one name.



I have suggested that a person describe his morning activities, and without reviewing or correcting the list of activities, go back and see how well you do.



Can you imagine "Get up, get dressed, oh yeah, take a shower (etc)" ?



Would you get up, then get dressed, and THEN take your shower? This is the kind of logical thinking that a programmer needs to be able to do.



Instead, it is "get up, take your shower, get dressed." and add what ever details you need to complete each task.



Again, the tools you have determine how good you will be. Each tool, to a programmer, is like a different tool to a carpenter.



I cannot recommend what to learn first, because I don't know where you're heading with this, and I don't how well versed you are in what you already DO know.



BASIC is a good place to start, in order to learn good programming techniques, but it certainly isn't the end. (BASIC is an acronym for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code).



Don't try to learn a complex language like C (or any of the languages in the C-family) while trying to learn programming skills. You have your hands full already. Once you have some basic programming skills (as I described earlier), THEN focus on many different languages.



Good luck, and "happy programming" :-)

Answer 3

The different languages exist to meet different needs.

I think the beginner needs clarity and humane semantics without sacrificing power. That's why I recommend Python.



MIT Open Courseware has TONS of good material and the course at Google Code will have you coding from the very start. Trust me, these three sites are literally all you need:

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-00-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-fall-2008/video-lectures/lecture-1/

http://code.google.com/edu/languages/google-python-class/

http://showmedo.com/videotutorials/series?name=AzsZ2afN2



Low-grade universities teach Java and Microsoft stuff. They are bogus. Beware of people that promote these two.



Once you are proficient in Python basics, learn PostgreSQL and Unix administration. These three interconnect and branch out into all areas. I have already said too much.

Good luck!