Where do I start?

[CronoTriggerfan]

Well, this whole "beginner's" (if you can call it that) programming camp has turned out to be $512 bucks flushed down the toilet. They basically threw code at me, and of course I could make little of it, seeing as I don't know a LICK of Java syntax (or any other syntax for that matter). So I've decided that if I really wanna start getting serious about programming, (and trust me, I do, at any cost ) I gotta take matters into my own hands. However, I don't know what language I should start with! There's so many, and almost all of them are presented as "Beginner friendly" and "No previous experience required" which I know is mostly bull. So here's what I'd like to do:

I need to learn a computer programming language that's easy/ier to pick up and understand. Not saying less work involved, just something that with time, your average Joe (such as myself) could grasp.

I need something that has some good resources for it, online or otherwise, for COMPLETE beginners. A book/website recommendation would be nice!

It's gotta be able to program games. By no means am I saying that I'll start doing this anytime soon, just saying that this is what I someday want to work up to, and I need a sort of "gateway" language.

I'll probably be needing your guys's help on this, so you knowing the language you are recommending would be a cool plus. Also, seeing as I'll probably be asking more programming-related questions, where exactly should they go? Here, or Tech Q&A?

Any other good points (power, speed, reliability) can be thrown into the mix as well as you wish it. It's more of an afterthought to me, but can any of you super-buff programmers tell me why it shouldn't be?

And as a side note, I REALLY don't want this to be a flame war, because I see how *some* people (not mentioning any names ) could make it one; that doesn't mean I don't want a variety of opinions, just no arguments, maky ?

That said, any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
CTFan

[Kurt_]

Take programming class in school.

I think a LOT of languages are rather easy to learn. However, if you want to program GAMES, I have the perfect thing for you:

Actionscript. It's the language Flash uses. I also have a 700 page book that I got about halfway through before I stopped. It's ENTIRELY on actionscript, and comes with a CD that has the files to program a bunch of little doohickeys as well as the complete one. I got it for $70, i'll give it to you for less, if you're interested. PM me.

Another one that I CAN'T help you with is Visual Basic. It's more forgiving than Actionscript or Javacript in that if you type something wrong it'll tell you right away. But not as good for games until you get into the more advanced stuff.

Example:(Be kind I forgot most of this stuff)

In Actionscript...

Code: Select all

OnClipEvent(Load)

is NOT the same as

Code: Select all

Onclipevent(Load)

and the code won't work. (and it won't tell you it doesn't work until you either check syntax or run the program. Mind you it isn't that bad once you get it. The book helps tons.)

In VB6...

Code: Select all

Print "Hello World."

is the same as

Code: Select all

pRiNt "Hello World."

and if you type something that doesn't work, it'll tell you right away. For example....

Code: Select all

Pirnt

**Popup Window** "Blah blah fancy wording undefined term." and it'll turn the bad code red until you fix it.
Pirnt

[MESAJARJARBINKS]

i second the class idea

[bicostp]

You could grab a copy of QuickBasic 7.1 or 4.5, it's not too hard to pick up, but BASIC is somewhat limited and definitely outdated.

I'm trying to figure out PHP, which isn't entirely pointless (like my outdated knowledge of TI BASIC). It's simple to put together a test environment for it, just get a web server that has PHP installed and ready for you to use (I don't think those noob hosts like Myspace, Geocities or Tripod let free users have php but I'm not entierly sure.) I recommend 100webspace, or mooch some space off someone (not me). Alternately you could get an old junker PC and install a LAMP linux server distro on it. (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

Good luck!

[xelion]

C++. It's somewhat hard for absolute beginners, but I find it easy enough. It's supposedly the second most popular language(Second to Java which is gay I think) so you know there is going to be a lot of sources, and many games are produced in C++(Also in C, but C is getting more and more outdated)

If you want something easy, anything *BASIC is childs play... Visual Basic if you want to put out programs easier, but be careful if you do start with VB that you don't get sloppy on code, also anything in BASIC that you know is really pointless once you get into programming as a profession.

You could start with Java, every beginning programming class that I've seen starts with Java, and sometimes moves onto other languages like C++ (or C# that is basically C++ updated to be more like Java)

As for speed of the code, I think C is probably the fastest mainstream language used today, C++ is next, Java, and then VB IIRC.

uhh yeah, I'm toasted, peace out.

[gannon]

It really depends on what you want to program, and what for. I mostly program for the web and command line, so I use php/perl/javascript a lot.

[marshallh]

One important tip: When you start programming, the last thing you want to do is try to make a full-fledged game.

Give yourself a year (seriously) and then commence on a mid-sized game project. You probably won't finish because you won't know how to do something.

A few years later, you'll have programming understood, as a concept. Then, learning new languages is a snap. Most of the time (barring OOP) the only difference is syntax and I/O. A good place to start is Visual Basic.

It doesn't really matter WHERE you start, it's the cramming that matters. Read. Read. And, oh yes, read some more. Reading is good for you.

And the best: if you're completely new to a language/programming, start with some easy example program (known as a Hello World program) and study the source code. Change something in it. See what makes the program crash and don't do that again. Try adding on to it.

Experimentation is the key to self-taught programming.


Oh, and have fun

[blackbox_dev]

If you want something like BASIC... learn DarkBasic Pro. Very easy to use (because it's BASIC, duh) and there are commands to use the full power of DirectX 8.1! Here's three commands to load and texture a model.

Code: Select all

LOAD OBJECT "my_model.3ds", 1    `1 is the reference to the object
LOAD IMAGE "my_texture.bmp", 1   `same as above
TEXTURE OBJECT 1,1               `texture object 1 with image 1

I'm not going to go into it, just do a Google search. There is a 30-day trial, and the full version is $200 I think. But believe me, it's worth it! There is also a full book which teaches you everything (and starts so that somebody like you who has never programmed before can easily learn) for $30 I think. I believe it can also be *coughcoughdownloaded*, but I'm not going to go in to that either because it's piracy, which is looked down on on these forums.

[usbcd36]

If you can locate it (and a computer that will run it) Learn To Program BASIC (by Interplay) is a good place to start. To give you an idea of the simplicity, I learned BASIC in third grade from it. After you get good at BASIC, sign up for AP computer science A next year at your school (if they offer it). They'll teach you enough Java that you should be able to make a simple game.

Here's some things about languages:

BASIC

Pros: simple, easy to learn and remember, good starting point for learning simple programming logic and ideas

Cons: limited complexity of programs (standard BASIC won't get you very far into making a good game)

Java

Pros: powerful, few quirks (ie, it's like the Mac of programming), OOP language (allows for complex and expandable programs), similar to C++, platform-independant (will run on Macs or PCs identically due to the way it is run), environments to program in are mostly free (BlueJ is a good place to start)

Cons: harder to learn than BASIC, not widely supported beyond computers and the web (again, the Mac of programming), slower than C++

C++

Pros: widely supported (most electronic devices understand C++, like the PC of programming), OOP language

Cons: many more quirks in making programs work (again, like the PC of programming), more complex than Java for doing the same things

[SavageLych]

Blitz Basic. Its not as powerfull as others, but its very easy to pick up. www.codersworkshop.com is also a good place to start looking...

[blackbox_dev]

Btw, go to Qbasic Cafe (http://www.qbcafe.net), and grab yourself a copy of QB 4.5. Easy to learn, TONS of documentation. Can create some decent games for DOS if you want as well. I learned it when I was like, 5 or 6, so you should have no problems with it.

[Kurt_]

Flash (ACtionscript) also does php and a whole other bunch of stuff.

But definitely start with a BASIC, even if you jsut learn a little first, and then switch to something a bit harder.

[usbcd36]

The internet is also a good place to learn code. For example, if you learn a little about how Java works (basic knowledge, etc…), class documentation can take you a long way. If you have any questions, people on programming forums would be willing to help as well.

[teraflop122]

I'd start with any type of Basic. Basic just makes sense to me, because you don't need all the crazy ; : [ { and conjoined abreviations just to do simple things. Try to find the "Hello World" tutorial for C++ and Basic, and then compare the two.

However, I also agree that Basic is rather Basic. C++ is known to be the universal language of video game programmers, due to its power and expandability.

[Nicholai]

Uh I agree with Kurt, try Action Script, it's a rather easy form of programming.

woot 400th post.