whats the best programming

[callis]

whats the best programming language to start with, i want to learn to program but i am not too sure which langauage to start with.

[Jordan]

What type of programming are you wanting to do? Do you want to do windows applications, console, web?

For Windows I would recommend learning C# as it is a fairly new and very popular language. For Linux/Mac - C++.

Web - PHP and Java or AJAX

[WingedPanther]

Java, C, and C++ all have free IDE's and are still used.
Of those, I would pick C++ if you want to dig into a powerful and flexible language. Java is nice if you want to be able to have graphics as part of the language. Having learned C++ first, Java's syntax annoys me, but that's a personal nit-pick.

PHP and Perl are excellent scripting languages, and are very useful for making light programs that facilitate work on networks (web pages in PHP being one example).

Beyond that, it doesn't make a lot of difference. I've said for a while that there are two skills involved in programming: knowing how to program, and knowing a language to program in. Different languages give you different ways to program, but most of them will allow you to accomplish the same things in the end.

[callis]

i would love to do something web based jordon, and winged panther you said there are two skills involved in programming: knowing how to program, and knowing a language to program in. how to start off knowing how to program?

[WingedPanther]

These are the two books I know of:
Problem Solving and Programming Concepts by Maureen Sprankle
Programming Logic and Design, Comprehensive, Fourth Edition (Paperback) by Joyce Farrell

I like the first better, but that's a matter of taste. Also, when you pick up any book on programming in a language, it will usually guide you through how to do the problem solving and break the ideas down.

[Lop]

Originally Posted by WingedPanther

Beyond that, it doesn't make a lot of difference. I've said for a while that there are two skills involved in programming: knowing how to program, and knowing a language to program in. Different languages give you different ways to program, but most of them will allow you to accomplish the same things in the end.

I've never heard it put that way but I agree. Once you learn one language you know them all basically. You just need to change the syntax and know what functions do what.

[callis]

thanks for all the tips, i think i will start off with php as it is one of the most widly used programming language on the web.

[smith]

PHP is a good language to start out with.

[Crane]

Originally Posted by WingedPanther

Java, C, and C++ all have free IDE's and are still used.
Of those, I would pick C++ if you want to dig into a powerful and flexible language. Java is nice if you want to be able to have graphics as part of the language. Having learned C++ first, Java's syntax annoys me, but that's a personal nit-pick.

PHP and Perl are excellent scripting languages, and are very useful for making light programs that facilitate work on networks (web pages in PHP being one example).

Beyond that, it doesn't make a lot of difference. I've said for a while that there are two skills involved in programming: knowing how to program, and knowing a language to program in. Different languages give you different ways to program, but most of them will allow you to accomplish the same things in the end.

Perfectly put! I'd take his advice.

[brackett]

All of the .NET languages also have free IDE's now in the Visual Studio Express products....