Coding

[H4yd3n]

Okay, I really want to learn coding, I have been doing little bits of coding since I was 12 and that was novice stuff. So....any advice on what I should attempt to learn first. I'm just a newb so all I can really do now are make batch files that either help or eff up someone.

So, I guess what I'm asking is:
What should I learn first, assembly, java?

Any links?

Am I a total idiot for wanting to try and learn this stuff when I'm this young?

[MaxUSA]

Nope, you're never too young. Case in point: I learned HTML when I was 11, Python and some PHP when I was 12, started Visual Basic and built on PHP at 13, and started C++ at 14 (still working on that one... tough language!).

I'd do basic HTML first, if you don't know it already, and then move on to Visual BASIC and PHP. After that, go for Java or C, then C++. The principles you learn early on with easy languages are used in more advanced ones.

[Simon Moon]

Personally, I would say PHP but thats just me

Seriously, what is your goal? Just "become a coder" is not really a good start. You need some thing you want to accomplish first. Or as coders call it "an itch to scratch". Once you know your itch, you can find the ways to scratch it.

For web stuff PHP is a very good idea, since it is so wide spread, there is thousands of scripts you can look at to learn at and even more tutorials and forums for help. It is rather simple, but also has complex parts you can make with it. IMHO a good language to learn.

After that, coding is more a sort of "dialect" thing. When you understand coding in general and you want to use a language like C++ or Java, then all you need to do is learn it's particular ways of dealing with things. The core of it, functions, variables or higher stuff like classes and so on, always stay the same in principle.

If you got questions just ask me. Currently I mostly do stuff in PHP, together with some databases (which is it's own thing), but I have experience with a wide range of languages.

[Shibby]

Make me hacks.

[Kongkiwi]

*&(90011111110000010001000)+fhsla;;; ;'''=6711100001000<...aasdkwqoda88ioadhodosdjisdjo ia wppawp[aw901020838u-1-1]qa-dia]-wd-ia-]di-]aid-]ad-i] adi-]aida-ui-quj-huj-jfq-f-qfuj

so there

[Ewasx]

Like Simon said, what's your goal? Create web stuff, write your own programs, program something like a pic microcontroler for fun hobby projects (make your own clock, simple robot, etc), get a head start on a CS degree?

[H4yd3n]

Well, ever since I first saw a computer they've fascinated me. So, other than my love for computers, I hope to get a job with computers, and if I get a head start now, then when I go to college in two years it will be a lot easier to get a degree. I also like making programs, I'm not very good at it, but it's still fun.

So, here's why I want to learn to code:
-I love computers, always have, always will and want to know their language.
-I want a job someday coding.
-I want to be able to make programs.
-It's fun
-I do work for my church, and they already have me doing stuff with Photoshop CS2, Vue 6, Poser, 3DS Max, and some other programs, but they also would like me to help with the website, so I need to learn coding for the website.
-And, it could always come in handy at any time.


So what do you all recommend that I attempt first?

[Fingulfin]

HTML first, hands down. Its not a programming language (its a markup language; ie it only controls how things display). However learning HTML will teach you some of the basics and get you into Notepad (lol).

Then move on to Javascript. JS, while still not a programming language, is pretty close to one. By learning JS you will learn the basic basics (if() else() etc).

After JS, PHP. PHP should be a BREEZE after Javascript (it was for me), they are very similar in basic operation. PHP is more strict, but meh. You should also learn MySQL along with PHP, just so you can learn operate with databases.

After PHP, the sky is the limit. If you want to do game programming, learn C++. None of the C languages are easy, and there is always more to be learned... But they are all very powerful.

A couple of hints: NOTES! Make notes! Not only will it help people looking at your code understand whats going on (which is good for when you have to ask for help), it helps you remember why you did what you did and overall helps with organization.
Organization is another HUGE thing to remember. If you can't keep your stuff organized, it will all asplode sooner or later (or your brain will asplode because you can't find what you are looking for...)

I would recommend you start here: W3Schools Online Web Tutorials
Also, download a better Notepad program than the one your computer comes with. I use Notepad++, which you can download here. It features tabbed editing (like firefox, you can switch between tabs), so when you have 3 different documents open at the same time you can get through them much easier than windowed browsing. The Search and replace buttons also work on all tabs, so when you want to universally replace a line of code you can just do it once instead of having to do it on every... single... file...

[Simon Moon]

I agree with Fingulfin, go for HTML first then. Do it by hand though, don't use something like dreamweaver. Using that will teach you semantics and the frustrating bits when something doesn't work because you didn't write something EXACTLY like the browsers want to. While you are at it, look at CSS. The best resource for that would be CSSZenGarden.com which features ONE html page (the html is identical for EVERY design) and only the CSS changes per page. And they got something like 200 designs on there by now. Learn by copying and messing around with it, best thing you can do there.

You could then easy slip into PHP from there, as you can use PHP and HTML in unison inside the same file. That alone will make it fast and easy to learn. I would not go for Javascript though. It is handy to know if you do webpages, but if you want to create programs that run on their own, Visual Basic, Java or C++ are better solutions for that, so you should rather go for them later.

[KnifeHeavy]

notepad owns btw

[H4yd3n]

Originally Posted by KnifeHeavy

notepad owns btw

Hehe yeah, I love notepad. Thanks to Fin, now I have notepad ++.

Okay, I'll start learning next week probably. I have to write a 6 page paper and it's due Friday night.

[Ewasx]

First, let me preface this by saying "don't listen to me".

I'd say learn C first, nab a K&R ansi C book, vi, gcc and go to town. Even though it isn't taught in CS101 classes any more, I still think starting with C gives you a good foundation, doesn't protect you as much as C++/java/C# so you get a chance to royally F things up if you aren't careful, and you also don't pull your hair out trying to debug assembly.

That's just me, though I was a crotchety old unix admin in a different life (well, 12 years ago)

What everyone else is suggesting is fine too, you'll even be able to make something useful in a short amount of time.

One thing that's universal: Comment your code and keep a uniform style. It takes time and dedication, but you'll be able to debug things faster and you won't be asking yourself "WTF does this do" six months down the road.

[PsylentStorm]

^^ amen. seeing unorganized code is very hard to step through, esp. if it isnt your own. and, comments are a life saver. ive seen old code and forgot what the algorithm does, much less how the hell i came up with it.

also: descriptive variable names. ive stepped through someone else's code where it was so difficult to determine what variable x does and function y() does.

[Fingulfin]

Originally Posted by Simon Moon

You could then easy slip into PHP from there, as you can use PHP and HTML in unison inside the same file. That alone will make it fast and easy to learn. I would not go for Javascript though. It is handy to know if you do webpages, but if you want to create programs that run on their own, Visual Basic, Java or C++ are better solutions for that, so you should rather go for them later.

The reason I recommended Javascript is because its like "Dummed Down PHP" in structure... Also, webpages are a good thing to know how to make well regardless of your future career (heck, even if your career isn't going to be in computers you should still know how to make a web page).

While I don't think that you should spend a ton of time on Javascript, you should at least learn the basics... Especially if you learn PHP first. Javascript should only take a day or two to get the hang of if you know PHP... I learned Javascript in one week (granted I wasn't doing anything else... That Kazakhstan trip last year is when I really jumped into web design), its really not a hard "language" (if you can call it that).

But yeah, in the long run C++, Java or Visual Basic are more helpful from a programmer standpoint.

EDIT: Another thing... If you want to be programming games, don't do Java first... You can if you REALLY want to, but C++ is the best equipped to handle gaming (IMHO)

[Krewsader]

Originally Posted by H4yd3n

...then when I go to college in two years...

Arn't you 14?