What computer programming language should I teach myself first?

Question

What computer programming language should I teach myself first?

Answer 1

If you know any programs which have macro languages -- whether a game or excel -- and you can use the language at all you already know a little about programming because you are already doing some. There are two types of languages: interpreted and compiled. Interpreted languages are evaluated at run time. Often the interpreters will execute commands typed in line by line, which is a great way to learn them. Old Basic interpreters, like Microsoft's GWBasic, python and perl and those macro languages are examples. A command shell -- like Window's CMD.EXE or Unix/Linux/Mac OS X's bash shell, is an interpreter. Bat files and shell scripts are programs and can have conditional execution, loops and variables, just like programs written for any other interpreters. Compiled programs are usually evaluated and translated into machine code once, then linked with any supporting libraries and form the basis of executable files. Ecxamples of languages which are compiled are C++, modern Visual Basic (not as good as the older GWBasic for learning programming but a decent language nevertheless) Java and Pascal/Delphi/Modula-2. The most common compiler in the world today is GCC which handles C, C++, Fortran, Java, Ada, Pascal and Apple's Objective C. The reason it is the most common is that most computers are not desktops. It was created on minicomputers in the eighties for the purpose of running on UNIX machines which could then be mainframes or minicomputers. UNIX in one form or anoter (and including both Mac OS X and for this discussion Linux, SOME of whose distributions have been certified as UNIX). It started as able to handle different chip architectures. Since UNIX is a modular OS it was and is very scalable, as is Linux. As a result routers, Tivos and smartphone are among the devices which run code compiled with GCC. You may not think of them as computers but hey, the first personal computers back in the seventies ran on chips intended to run traffic lights. So I won't recommend you use this or thant compiler or language. All I will say is try out what looks good to your and if you are comfortable stick with it. I could say more but I'm not sure you need it.

Answer 2

C++

Answer 3

You should consider beginning with Web Design, and then move into App Design. Since Apps must work with the Sites, you should know how the Site functions to make the App work at its best. Also beginning with Web Design helps you understand how the different browsers work and how to work around their limitations, something that might make you App more versatile.

Answer 4

Many people start with C++.

Answer 5

You would want to teach yourself HTML, it is a very easy language to learn and is used to make websites. HTTP, like the other guy pointed out, is also used, though not necessary.



An example of html would be

Hello I am a Paragraph

Next you want to learn Java, do not get this confused with javascript, java and javascript are two completely different things. Java is used for game making whereas javascript is used for web design. Though if you want javascript is a powerful tool to help you with making your website come to life.



You can learn HTML and javascript for free at: http://www.w3schools.com



Absolutely love the site and is easy to follow.

Answer 6

Well for what your wanting to do i suggest learning HTTP its not the easiest language but it's how you make websites, now for ipod apps on the other hand there is a new Program coming out in the next 2 weeks that makes it easy its called IStencyl and you can make anything and everything and put it on apple store free.



Oh Istencyl will cost a little money but supposedly wont break the bank:]

Answer 7

I recommend starting with Java:

http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/

Answer 8

Start writing in DOS, its very basic.

Answer 9

C++ is what you want to start off first.

Answer 10

I would start with Java or Python. I personally like Python better, but that's irrelevant. Since you like making websites and such, HTML is a good hobby language (though not considered programming...it's a markup language) You will have a huge benefit starting with HTML5. I started back pre HTML4 and HTML now is dreamy. You can also learn some JavaScript/PHP. They aren't too difficult





If you really want to get intense about your codes, you will probably need to make the move to C/C++/objective-C depending on your design aspects. If you do this, you should really get into python. Python has several libraries that allow you to incorporate other languages such as C (Cython) or Java (Jython). Remember that Google is your friend (most of the time). Often times, you will need to accomplish a task and there might already be a library that contains that task you need to complete. I don't do design work that often since I became more into technical computing lately, but I feel comfortable in the following languages:



Markup:

HTML

XML



Interpreted:

Python

JavaScript

PHP

Perl (if I'm desperate)



Compiled:

C/C++

Fortran (Numerical Models Only!!! - very fast number crunching with vectorized operations)