Question:
As a 14-year-old looking to get into programming, where can I start?
Matthew
2015-06-02 00:53:48 UTC
Hello. I'm a fourteen-year-old looking to get into computer programming. I already have decent knowledge of HTML and CSS, so what's a good step-up from that? I would prefer something non-Apple based because I don't have many Apple devices, only Windows and Android. I'd like something that's flexible but still quite easy. What can you guys recommend?
Sixteen answers:
Chris
2015-06-02 03:50:00 UTC
Python is a good general purpose language, and very suitable for beginners, but after HTML and CSS the next step is usually JavaScript.

It depends on what you want to create.



Interactive websites: JavaScript http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/javascript

Android Apps: Java http://javaranch.com/

Programs or Games for computers: Python http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python
Moondoggy
2015-06-03 20:07:51 UTC
The First Timelord has the best advice here. You can download the MS Visual Studio for free, it offers multiple languages (with complete integration) applicable to multiple platforms (including mobile apps for iPhone and Android), and any Barnes and Noble will have comprehensive guides to whichever language you want to learn. Many of those guides are actually used as textbooks in college programming classes. Most of those guides are step-by-step and assume no prior programming experience.



And like the Timelord said, C# is an excellent first language, for many reasons that won't make much sense at this point.
?
2015-06-02 18:55:07 UTC
As others have said, start with JavaScript or Python. They're not terribly complex but you'll start to understand the basic constructs of how programming languages operate and how things are done.



Granted that won't completely hold for a language such as Prolog or perhaps Forth but you'll get a good handle on how loops, conditionals and other programming constructs which apply to a good portion of languages.
Newms34
2015-06-02 10:21:40 UTC
Gonna agree with Graeme and Chris here. Since you already know CSS and HTML, the next logical step from there is to learn JavaScript, and a really good resource for this is Codeacademy.com. Learning any of the 'C' family, while inevitably useful, is not A) Easy, or B) a logical next step from learning web-focused languages.

In addition, JavaScript is a relatively human-readable language, so you won't struggle as much to learn it as a beginner. It also has a LOT of 'add-ons' that are easy to use and free.
2015-06-03 13:18:39 UTC
You can start getting into Javascript and PHP if you want to focus on website programming.

You can start learning Python, if you want to get into general programming, but, i would recommend you do LOGO(the turtle one) first, and then a little bit of basic(using Q-Basic program), as these will help you climb the first ladders of the logical thinking required to do programming.
Luke
2015-06-03 04:18:49 UTC
I'de recommend Java, it's a bit harder than Python but in my opinion the best programming language when it comes to software making. Take for example, Minecraft(Bring on the hate) is made entirely from Java. If you do decide to learn Java, maybe check out Minecraft Forge? It's essentially an API for making mods for minecraft, allowing you to add new things to the game. It's where I started with Java and I found it to be really fun.

Hope this helps!
chethan
2015-06-11 11:24:11 UTC
i am now learning c++ from a site called learncpp . i use the free available visual studio 2013 , its pretty much simple and quite easy to start up with . there are other IDE's but i think this is the best of all . you need an integrated development environment (IDE) to compile , run and debug ur code . so its very important to choose a good IDE in the first place

good luck ;)
Q The First Timelord
2015-06-03 12:55:24 UTC
Someone said Python and Javascript.



These aren't programming languages. they're unstructured scripting languages which will wind up making you a completely incapable programmer who can't work in other languages.



My advice is to pick up a structured language, something that reinforces types, something class oriented, and something that extends across platforms through native compilations without using interpreters.



Too complex? let me explain:



When you were taught English formally for the first time, you probably knew enough about it to know how to get a few words out, but only the words that were spoken to you by the people around you, right?



But when you go to school, you get educated not just in syntax, but in structure, in word choices, and most importantly - resources.



Learning a language like Python or javascript as a first language is just like learning English without ever going to school for it. Chances are you're going to sound like a neanderthal - and you yourself are going to be convinced you know all there is to know because those other words 'that more educated people learn dont add much more flavor', do they?



That's the problem with talking to neanderthals. They're convinced their language is best. When they know no other languages to contrast it by. And they'll thumbs me down (watch the thumbs down) because - hey 'that showing me who's right and who's wrong, he who gets the most thumbs down is wrong, right?"



Wrong.



My advice is to learn a a structured language - preferably an object oriented language - and preferably which natively compiles to binaries and doesn't need an interpreters.



I started by hacking when I was 11, leveraging disassembler and some c, then I moved from there to a very strtuctured GW Basic - from there to a Motorola 68000 Assembler and a cross compiling C, which had me writing flight code for rocket and guidance and navigation systems for a company by the name of Orbital in Chandler, Az. From there I moved to C++, and from there to more relaxed languages like Visual Basic 6.0.



Now, I prefer .NET - C# in particular.



Programming is - to me 'whats the best tool for the job'. Sometimes it's javascript, sometimes it's (ugh) a programming language called Foxpro, sometimes it's .net, and sometimes - nothing can beat a hex editor and understanding the op codes to do direct manipulation of the binaries themselves to place assembly level JSRs in to patch code that ain't working right.



There's plenty of them out there.



My advice is this:



Find a programmer or game company you admire. Learn what languages they work with.



And then - pick up a reference guidebook - have amazon suggest one to you - O'Reilly's books are GREAT for reference. And then program Away.



Or here's another option that's so old school it's ridiculous.



Pick up "Basic Computer Games" by David Ahl.

And then go to http://www.gw-basic.com/downloads.html and pull down GWBasic, and type those programs in, one by one like I did, and tweak the variables.



It's a real straightforward and easy way to get acquainted with structured programming.



And keep in mind. Bill Gates coded DOS using Basic and the underlying structure of Windows to build a billion dollar company. I have yet to meet anyone who coded up anything in python or javascript who's done remotely the same.



On that note. Tell David I sent you if you end up having to look him up.



He's a friend of mine.
2015-06-02 01:02:39 UTC
You have to start with C to get an understanding of structured programming languages. Then move on to C++ to gain knowledge about object oriented languages. Finally since you know html and css, you can get into web based programming languages like php and .net
amania_r
2015-06-02 02:09:59 UTC
Python is a good language to learn. Clean syntax yet powerful. As you know HTML and CSS, you could develop an active website using Python with Django. You'd need to learn a bit of Javascript too.

Alternatively, develop 2D or 3D games with Python and the pygame package.

All this is free including lots of free online learning resources.

good luck.
2015-06-02 14:12:13 UTC
HTML and CSS are noy programming languages, the are scripting languages. Nothing else is that simple. Proper programming is far more complex and requires a serious level of logic.
?
2015-06-02 06:56:44 UTC
First of all, your not getting your nose wet into programming. Frankly in my opinion, I think you won't be able to do much with a decent amount of knowledge of HTML, and CSS. If you learn more about HTML, and CSS, then you will have more doors open up, for you. One day you might struggle to understand an html, and css concept if you pass on the opportunity to continue learning about html, and css.



I understand you want programming to be easy, for you, but programming is not easy. Because programming gets harder, and harder the more you learn about it. If you don't like the idea of learning something that's difficult, then you can give up right now to learn about programming. A lot of people prefer to learn: Python, Java, C, C#, C++, and Objective C. Remember you said you wanted to learn programming right, so I mentioned some programming languages you can learn. If you prefer not to learn what I mentioned, then you could continue to learn about html, and css until you master it. After you learn html, and css, then you can learn: JavaScript, PHP, ASP, ASP.NET, SQL etc.



There is a lot more you can learn about: web design, web development, and programming.
curley3
2015-06-09 00:55:13 UTC
Can try Visual basic or Python. Lots of books at the library which sometimes has CDs and links to sites to help you
Graeme
2015-06-02 01:11:57 UTC
Have a look into Codecademy.
Amirhossein Rafie
2015-06-02 01:42:02 UTC
i am a programmer and i think you should start from perl 5 and then start delphi
?
2015-06-02 01:51:38 UTC
I don't know


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