What should I do next....(general programming)

[InfiniteSpawn]

I've been studying Visual Basic for a while and now have a good understanding of how it works. After I finish with Visual Basic, what should I try to learn next? I was thinking of learning programming in this order:

1.Visual Basic
2.Ruby
3.Pearl
4.Python
5.C/C#
6.C++

When I first started trying to learn programming, I tried Python, but gave up pretty quick. But now that I'm starting to understand programming much better than before, I want to learn as many as I can. Is this the order I should learn them in? I'm trying to learn the different programming languages from easiest to hardest.

And could anyone recommend any good books/websites/other for learning this stuff. I have over 50 resources for VB so I don't need that, but anything else would really help!

*EDIT*
More questions ^_^

If I learn Ruby, this means I can easily make scripts in RPG Maker right (since it's in Ruby)?

VB.net is only for website related programming right?

Is it easiler to learn General Programming (VB, C++, etc) or Web-based programming (HTML (I know this already), PHP, CSS, etc)?

[Xav]

Phew, InfiniteSpawn, you've sure got a busy collection of languages there! Python isn't a mainstream language, so it isn't the most useful to learn (but a great language nevertheless). Although you can try Ruby or Pearl, I'd recommend C# next. This language is an ideal balance of complexity and power. Give it a go!

[Xav]

Oh, and by the way, C# is similar in concept to VB, to make it slightly easier. I would recommend Sams' Teach Yourself C# 2005 in 24 Hours, by James Foxall. It takes you through C#.

You have misunderstood the .NET business. Basically, a short while ago Microsoft developed a system known as the .NET Framework. This is a complete system for writing programs, both General and Web Programming. When you write a .NET program, you can use any language, such as VB.NET, C#.NET and C++.NET. Your code relies on this framework for being run.

This makes it easy to distribute applications. As long as user has the .NET Framework installed on their computer, your software can be run. This is known as "managed code". The book mentioned above uses this .NET Framework, which allows you to create complete applications, with full-blown user interfaces with text boxes and buttons and whatnot. It's the closest you'll get to writing commercial programs.

[Xav]

It may be easier to learn Web or General programming, depending on your needs. Ideally, a bit of both is ideal.

In a website, you write the actual page in a web language such as HTML (unless you use something like Spartan Ajax, but that's another story). To make the code actually do something, you use scripting languages, such as JavaScript (similar to C#) and VBScript (very similar to Visual Basic). By integrating these two technologies together, you can create powerful dynamic websites.

Unless, of course, you want some sort of internet form, in which case you need to use ASP or PHP (both of which can be learnt from W3Schools Online Web Tutorials).

Have fun!

Xav

[InfiniteSpawn]

Wow. Thanks for the great replies. I'm looking into getting the book you recommended for C#. I guess after VB I'll try out C#. From there maybe Ruby. I want to try C++ eventually, but I heard it's a really hard language to learn (I was told by many people that C++ and JAVA were the hardest to learn).

[v0id]

@InfiniteSpawn:
If you still feel like you're not completely comfortable with programming, I will suggest you to learn Python. It's easy to use, has a great syntax, powerful, and it's interpreted, which can be a good thing for the learning process. If you do feel comfortable with programming, and need something more challenging than Visual Basic, I will suggest you to learn either C or C++. Those are probably the two most powerful languages around (this can be discussed in an eternity, but when it comes to performance, it IS better.) Yes, it's harder to learn than languages such as Python, or other languages alike, but honestly, it's not as hard as many people say it is. I think you should give it a try.
I would stay far away from the .NET-framework, so therefore I wouldn't suggest C# (or ASP.NET, or VB.NET, or any of the other .NET-languages), like Xav did. The reason: It's not cross-platform at all. It's possible to execute it on other platforms than Windows, like Linux with Mono, but it will never work well.

@Xav:
I disagree with you. I wouldn't say Python isn't mainstream. It may not be used as much as other languages, but it IS used a lot, has tons of libraries, resources and a huge user-database. Also, it's used by a long list of major companies, like Google, YouTube, NASA, and so on. I, personally, think it would be a great language to learn.

[2stamlers]

C++ and Java are object oriented languages, and that is why they are so difficult to learn. This is a different concept, and it requires a whole other concept of thinking.

Cheers.

[2stamlers]

C++ and Java are object oriented languages, and that is why they are so difficult to learn. This is a different concept, and it requires a whole other concept of thinking.

Cheers.

[Xav]

@InfiniteSpawn:
If you still feel like you're not completely comfortable with programming, I will suggest you to learn Python. It's easy to use, has a great syntax, powerful, and it's interpreted, which can be a good thing for the learning process. If you do feel comfortable with programming, and need something more challenging than Visual Basic, I will suggest you to learn either C or C++. Those are probably the two most powerful languages around (this can be discussed in an eternity, but when it comes to performance, it IS better.) Yes, it's harder to learn than languages such as Python, or other languages alike, but honestly, it's not as hard as many people say it is. I think you should give it a try.
I would stay far away from the .NET-framework, so therefore I wouldn't suggest C# (or ASP.NET, or VB.NET, or any of the other .NET-languages), like Xav did. The reason: It's not cross-platform at all. It's possible to execute it on other platforms than Windows, like Linux with Mono, but it will never work well.

@Xav:
I disagree with you. I wouldn't say Python isn't mainstream. It may not be used as much as other languages, but it IS used a lot, has tons of libraries, resources and a huge user-database. Also, it's used by a long list of major companies, like Google, YouTube, NASA, and so on. I, personally, think it would be a great language to learn.

According to Mike James, programmer for Computer Shopper, Python isn't a mainstream language. And I think the .NET Framework works cross-platform enough for me, as all the people I write programs for use Windows XP. Sorry if you don't agree with me.

[Xav]

C++ and Java are object oriented languages, and that is why they are so difficult to learn. This is a different concept, and it requires a whole other concept of thinking.

Cheers.

But so is C# and VB.NET, and I never had trouble learning them.