beginning coder

[geovoltoss]

Hello everyone, I am wanting to learn to code. I am on linux mandriva 2007 free edition, I am going to be using python and kdevelop apps that came with it. I have been reading docs and tutorials, anyone with any tips and tricks please let me know. Thanks ahead of time.

[likwid]

IMO, you should study program structure in C, then learn python.

[geovoltoss]

thanks for starting point

[danbuter]

On the other hand, I HIGHLY recommend learning Python first. I suggest the book "Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science" by John Zelle. His website gives some good info.

Teaching with Python

[geovoltoss]

can I get this book at boarders or order it online somewhere? An thanks btw

[paradox6996]

C (not c++) and Java would be best to start out with. I would recommend "Intro to Java", and "Problem Solving with C". If thats to complicated for you, then the easiest code I know is vb.net, you can get "Microsoft Visual Basic Reloaded: 2005". When I first started coding I did Java, vb.net then C; If I could do it a second time I would do vb.net, Java, C. Good Luck!

[daark.child]

I started programming with Python and I found it to be a really good starting point. One thing I would urge you to do, is join the Python Tutor mailing list. I find it to be a very valuable resource.

[danbuter]

can I get this book at boarders or order it online somewhere? An thanks btw

Amazon.com: Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science: Books: John M. Zelle

[likwid]

If you plan to do anything professional or serious hobby work, learning Python before C is a pretty bad idea. You skip over so many *key* concepts in programming because Python does everything for you. Sure, Python is a great glue language... it has its places.

I discussed this last night with a good friend of mine who develops libraries for testing (QA) software for a large company. He then writes python scripts to utilize the C libraries for testing all of their stuff. This is what python does best. Gluing things together. A kid who learns programming by Python is in for a rude awakening when he gets to his Data Structures course.

[Cabhan]

I don't necessarily agree, likwid. My progression of main languages was Java -> Perl -> C, and I didn't have any extra trouble learning C: in fact, it helped explain things I didn't fully grasp in the other languages.

In my mind, by starting with a language like Python, you are able to learn the basics of structure, flow control, boolean logic, and the basics of general coding. Once you have these ideas, picking up the core concepts in other languages is much easier, I find. It's the very reason that Lisp is so popular as an academic language (though MIT is actually switching to Python currently).

I'm not proposing that you _only_ learn Python, just as I wouldn't propose that you _only_ learn C. But as a starting point, I think it would be a fine language.