Easy programming language - best for IRC bots?

[netstrider]

Hey, I have no programming experiences and my long-term goal (for now) is to create a basic IRC bot. I've heard of Python, Perl and TCL and some people have done this in PHP. Which would be the best and easiest? Also, are there other languages that I might look into and which language will be a good language to use for several purposes?

Help is appreciated, thanks

[flann]

I've never worked with python so I don't know how that would stack up. I've worked with perl a little and have found it a little more difficult to use as an all round language. I work with PHP everyday and when it comes to getting things done with PHP, I think it can do just about anything. Its easy to learn, and you can use perl style regex. I'm sure you'll be able to create you bot fairly easily with it and possibly get hooked on PHP programming in the process.

[netstrider]

Thanks for the advice!

Anyone else?

[Javasnob]

I don't use PHP very often. It's not because I don't like it; rather, I don't get a chance. I use a lot of Perl in my daily system administration, and I've dabbled in Python and Ruby. Perl definitely has the modules at CPAN going for it, but I find it to have a steeper learning curve than Python or Ruby. In the end, it's really personal preference, and if you're going to continue programming, I say you try all three to see which suits you best.

[netstrider]

Problem I found with Ruby is the lack of documentation. An experienced programmer might not find that a problem but for someone who's starting and looking for tutorials etc...It's not been so easy for me.

[tech_man]

With the "no programming experiences", does that mean that you know how to program, but have no experience? Or does that mean that you have no idea how to program in general?

[Juan Pablo]

I find this one very good for new users with Ruby

http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/

[netstrider]

With the "no programming experiences", does that mean that you know how to program, but have no experience? Or does that mean that you have no idea how to program in general?

It means that I have never tried to program.

[Javasnob]

This is the book I read:

http://www.rubycentral.com/book/

I can't really say how it is for new programmers, seeing as Ruby wasn't my first language, but it seemed to be pretty accommodating.

[netstrider]

Thanks guys, I have read up some ruby stuff and have managed to create some basic stuff and I created a basic webserver from it localhost on port 7125 Thanks for all the replies and efforts. What I'm doing is I'm doing a bit of Ruby and PHP each day...so learning them together.