Where do I start?

psychotic_mechanic · Post by **psychotic_mechanic** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:40 pm

BASIC or Pascal or a good place to learn the basics (I never got beyond this)

XPCportables · Post by **XPCportables** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:08 pm

I have been programming in dark basic pro for a little while now, and it is really good. go with what Iam said, it is easy to grasp.

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:00 am

If you really are going to stick to this.

DO NOT LEARN BASIC.

It's a waist, except learning to use logic in applications etc. However the syntax is similiar to nothing other than 'Fenix' a programming language used just for games. As far as I know.

I would start with C to learn the basics of programming. Learn how to use things in programming etc. of course learn about Signed and Unsigned integers and stuff. Straight away.

There is a goodbook for C called 'The C Programming Language' and as far as I remember it's written by the two original creators of C.

Then you can learn C++ after, however people say this can be bad to do as you need to learn OOP but it will be a lot easier to learn once you have a grasp of programming.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:34 am

Kurt_ wrote:Take programming class in school.

I wish I could! They don't offer programming of any sort until you're in AT LEAST 10th grade in my school; every Freshman has to take comp first, even if you know everything in the class.

So anyways, I'm hearing a lot of Basic recommendations, so I think I'll start there. What one, though? I've heard a lot about VisualBASIC, and I know that there are some good resources on that as well. Then again, BlitzBASIC was mentioned, and I've also heard good things about that. Never really heard of QBasic, but I would give it a try if it's a good language to start with. I AM leaning towards VisualBASIC more right now, seeing as we also take that class in high school later on, so I may be able to test out of it.

Also, does anyone know a good beginner's book for Visual(or another if I decide otherwise)BASIC that could be bought at, say, Borders? And where do you buy VB itself? Would a CompUSA have it?

Thanks for all the help,
CTFan

Post by **marshallh** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:42 am

Visual Basic vs. C/C++

Visual Basic costs money to get legally. It's possible to get it illegally. I won't say any more. You'll want to get VB 6.0, Learning Edition. When I bought it, it was $100. Brick and mortar stores probably don't have it anymore. You can probably buy it online for cheap.

There are free C and C++ compilers on the net, although Microsoft Visual C++ is widely used (commercial though.)

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:49 am

Oh for gods sake. Don't learn basic. Compared to any other programming language its practicially useless and well out of date.

The C programming lanuguage by Kernie and Richie will teach you C right from the beginning.

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:36 am

Well then, if BASIC is so outdated, why don't you learn x86 Assembler instead?

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:48 am

because with the new 64bit architecture becoming highly popular and the fast that assembler is platform specific, then programs would not be very compatible at all

Yes, assembler is old, but in the end whatever language you learn is eventually going to end with it being run as assembler for the platform machine. Some are more lower level, like C, than basic. Most professional programmer laugh at and hate basic. It is so high level its just.....bleugh!

Post by **marshallh** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:02 am

BASIC is good because if you've never programmed before, it's the less intimidating and understandable option. Once you learn it, moving to C won't be hard.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:13 am

CronoTriggerfan wrote:
Kurt_ wrote:Take programming class in school.
I wish I could! They don't offer programming of any sort until you're in AT LEAST 10th grade in my school; every Freshman has to take comp first, even if you know everything in the class.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you, except I couldn't take comp tech in 9th (classes were full), so I'll have to wait til 11th grade to take programming.

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:18 am

But BASIC actually differs greatly from C. All it will teach you is the basics of how you program things. Like conditional statements, conditional processing etc.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:52 am

sam fisher wrote:But BASIC actually differs greatly from C. All it will teach you is the basics of how you program things. Like conditional statements, conditional processing etc.

Which is exactly what I need

! Anyways, I think I'll start of with VisualBASIC, is that a good choice? If so, are there any good VB books for beginners that I could pick up?

Thanks,
CTFan

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:53 am

I don't know

I only know about books on the C family of programming languages

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:55 am

CronoTriggerfan wrote:
sam fisher wrote:But BASIC actually differs greatly from C. All it will teach you is the basics of how you program things. Like conditional statements, conditional processing etc.
Which is exactly what I need ! Anyways, I think I'll start of with VisualBASIC, is that a good choice? If so, are there any good VB books for beginners that I could pick up?

Thanks,
CTFan

I'm sure i've seen a VB for dummies book somewhere. Can't go wrong with that!

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:19 am

Another thing; there's a ton of different VB software out there! All the #.0 stuff and different companies distributing them. What version of VB should I get? Link?

CTFan