How do I teach myself how to Program?
There aren’t any opportunities for me to get taught how to program, but I’ve wanted to learn for over 10 years. I’m tired of waiting for someone to teach me, so I want to teach myself. I have decent HTML experience and want to step it up to Programming applications. I’ve tried books, programs, CDs, the works; none worked for me. Every book/tutorial exercise would hand me a sheet of code, tell me to copy it, and not explained what any of it friggin’ meant or why it works. I need to learn how to read and understand code and learn to manipulate it explained in easy-to-understand, plain English. Any FREE online sources, e-books, websites, documents, tutorials, faqs, instructional programs, etc. that could be linked, I’d REALLY appreciate it.
I have Microsoft Visual Studio.net Version 2003 (Academic Version). The program’s tutorials are the same way as any other.
If you are starting out and you want to learn a useful language, may I strongly suggest Python. It is free, very powerful, very easy to learn, and has a growing and dedicated user base. It is also cross platform, so code written for Windows will usually run with no issues on Unix and Mac.
C and C++ would be good languages to learn next. They are more difficult, but you will learn more about the machine level goings-on in your programs. Python will give you a pretty good background to help you get started. If you program on Unix or Linux, you will find that Python and C/C++ have very similar libraries and some system calls are even identical.
For python, you will need a good text editor. Notepad just doesn’t cut it. I personally use Emacs and I love it, but you should experiment. Get a text editor for programmers. Word, WordPad, etc. are not suitable.
You do not need to go out and buy an expensive IDE (integrated development environment), especially if you are starting out. Python comes with an interactive shell (either Eric and/or Idle) and they can act a little like an IDE.
I personally find that your best bet is to use a text editor and a DOS prompt.
Python has a pretty good tutorial to help get you started. Ask on python programmer forums or newsgroups for advice for good books for learners and to help answer questions. Python will help you learn the basics of programming and give you a pretty good understanding about how to program and why programs are structured the way that they are.
Here are some links to get you started. To post on the newsgroups, you either need to have a newsreader account through your isp, or you can get a gmail account. If you have a question and want to ask it on a forum or newsgroup, be sure to do some research and search the archives for your question first.
Good luck!
Michael English – Finally Free
|
|
Peace of Mind: Easy to use Method for Anxiety Treatment . Learn How to Free Yourself from Worry. $15.69 Learn how gain PEACE OF MIND with focused attention for 8-minutes-a-day–then stop. Continue for about 3-weeks. You alternate between two 8-minute lessons. One lesson is for your intellectual mind and the other lesson is for your emotional mind. Research has proven this type of learning, known as spaced learning, is superior to traditional massed learning. (WISDOM SCIENTIFIC programs use our own v… |
|
|
**2-PACK: Yo-Yo Man – The Smothers Brothers Instructional Video – Kodak Video Programs **PLUS FREE SOUND EFFECTS FOR YOUR YO-YO TRICKS: Brand New, Factory-Sealed 61 Sound Effects CD by Personal Growth Technologies *SHIPS SAME DAY WITH FREE TRACKING* **A NEW CRAZE SWEEPING THE NATION! Emerging From His All-Knowing State Of Yo, Tommy Smothers Of TV And Stage Fame, Is The ‘Yo-Yo Man’ And Dick Smothers Is The Voice Of Yo. He Can Now Come Into Your Home With This Brand New Video For Your Entire Family To Enjoy. Learn Tricks To Show Your Friends! Own This Collectible Video Your Family Will Enjoy For Years To Come! Condition: VHS Plays Like New: Cle… |
|
|
Moving Free Longevity Solution Cardio Dance Level 1 Easy Aerobics DVD for Beginners, Boomers and Seniors Exercise by Mirabai Holland $13.74 Dance Yourself Fit Cardio Dance Level 1 Easy Aerobics DVD for Beginners, Boomers and Seniors Here s the second in Mirabai Holland s Moving Free Longevity SolutionTM series of Easy Exercise DVDs specially designed for Beginners, 50 plus Boomers, and Seniors. Whether you re an active Beginner of any age, a Baby Boomer keeping it together, or an active Senior, this easy Aerobic exercise DVD is a m… |
|
|
Freestyle: Made Easy $22.62 Studio: Bayview/widowmaker Release Date: 08/07/2007 Run time: 42 minutes… |
|
|
Loving Sex – Modern Tantra Workshop DVD & CD $5.98 Modern Tantra is a spiritual and sexual pathway for 21st Century lovers. Learn the essential elements for expressing divine energy in and between lovers. Explore this journey as sacred lovers. Come unlock your mind, your emotions, and the seven energy centers of the body. Let yourself be guided to explore full-body/mind/spirit connection with your sexual partner, from the very basics to attaining … |
|
|
Oregon Scientific PR18-06 Smart Globe $92.99 Oregon Scientific PR18-06WA SmartGlobe has everything, including a pullout map of the United States. It gives you history, locations, capitals, and everything you would want to know about any place in the world. If you are planning to purchase a high tech globe, this is definitely the one to get. The SmartGlobe is the only learning globe on the market that can be updated using a USB cable from the… |
|
|
The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game: Two-Player Trading Card Game: Includes Free QuickStart CD-ROM Game Tutorial [With Multilingual Learn How to $19.99 This complete two player trading card game includes a free quick-start CD-ROM tutorial with Multilingual options. Soon anyone simply walk in to Mordor.... |
|
|
Kensington AssistOne Hands-Free Car Device with Voice for iPhone and iPhone 4 $99.99 AssistOne Handsfree Car Device with Voice Activation... |
|
|
Zumba Fitness Rush $41.99 Four million players and counting have already discovered the exhilarating Zumba Fitness interactive video game work out. Following the worldwide best-selling original Zumba Fitness Rush builds on that phenomenal success while elevating the exer-game category to a new level of fun effective fitness. This cutting-edge experience layers in a wealth of exclusive content only available on Kinect plus ... |
