Which Language Should I Start At?

[Camcognito]

I want to start programming, but I do not know which language to use and where to start. I want to use a language that is very simple. (so I can actually do it) Basiclly I just want to make computer games. So are there any really easy langaugues? Maybe even aimed at children? Thanks !

[Tea1337]

If you want to start easy, go to Visual Basic, if you want more of game oriented look at C# and maybe Java

[Camcognito]

If you want to start easy, go to Visual Basic, if you want more of game oriented look at C# and maybe Java

What about Small Basic? Is that good? It is a simplified version of visual basic aimed towards kids it seems like. I just found it here. http://smallbasic.com/

[madknight3]

What about Small Basic? Is that good? It is a simplified version of visual basic aimed towards kids it seems like. I just found it here. http://smallbasic.com/

 

I'm not familiar with Small Basic so I couldn't say.

 

Python is a good choice for learning the basics of programming. I'm not sure how easy it is for game programming, but it can at least get you used to programming so you can switch to something else later.

[ForsakenLive]

C, C++, Java

[Camcognito]

I'm not familiar with Small Basic so I couldn't say.

 

Python is a good choice for learning the basics of programming. I'm not sure how easy it is for game programming, but it can at least get you used to programming so you can switch to something else later.

Ok thanks.

[ObilvionNizer]

I want to start programming, but I do not know which language to use and where to start. I want to use a language that is very simple. (so I can actually do it) Basiclly I just want to make computer games. So are there any really easy langaugues? Maybe even aimed at children? Thanks !

I currently do programming and i would advise that you start with C# on visual studio. You can create numerous applications with it and it is easier to learn than java. It is the easiest language that i have learnt.

[lememeinator]

Python is always quite fun

[Camcognito]

Python is always quite fun

I might try Python. A lot of people recommend it.

[Ashley]

Java and C++ are good starters imo.

[BrightCandle]

I genuinely doubt it matters what you start with really. You will be able to do pretty much anything in any of the languages. Choosing something free obviously has benefits and something popular so there are tutorials and books but beyond that I don't think the first experience of programming should be in any particular language.

[LazzerCurry]

I personally started with Pascal but that's cause its a language based programming language with alot less notatins. Easy starter language then a year later I was making doom nockoffs in visual basic! Lol

[BrightCandle]

I started originally in Basic, then I went to assembler and ended up doing C for quite a while. All of them helped learn. I first fell in love with a language properly when I started using Java, but then I fell even more for Erlang and then again for Scala. I just don't think the first language matters much, you learn a lot of concepts in it regardless that will transfer across and once you outgrow it it doesn't matter you just move on.

[Zeruel]

First off I recommend learning "how to program". The mechanics of it, how things work, how to develop algorithms. Do not make the make the mistake of making a game a "short-term goal".

 

I recommend C++/C or Java first, then after that, any language is some what easier to learn then the last.  

[LifesCompanion]

Java is fairly easy to pick up, C (and it's extensions) are all easy to pick up as well - I started with Java. 

 

I used a piece of software called "Processing" to learn; it's free, has error detection and has a nice little cheat sheet built in. 

[ollpu]

I started with Visual Basic when I was 9 years old, and still use it to make Windows software. it is simple, yet powerful. Small Basic is an option too, it provides a good start for moving on to other languages.

[Dredgy]

Visual Basic is alright to start with - it's what I did. But won't get you a feel for game development. Both VB and C# would be good to start with building applications, and the support and documentation is great. ActionScript in Flash is another option - not so easy to jump right into as you have to learn your way around Flash's interface as well. That is the easiest way to get into animation and games though.

But I'd actually recommend a copy of Microworlds and start in LOGO. It's really easy, taught in schools and gets the foundations down pat and you can step up from there to a more complex language.

[Camcognito]

First off I recommend learning "how to program". The mechanics of it, how things work, how to develop algorithms. Do not make the make the mistake of making a game a "short-term goal".

 

I recommend C++/C or Java first, then after that, any language is some what easier to learn then the last.  

Well I am 11, so, no games any time soon I already know the basic stuff in Java 

[Camcognito]

I started with Visual Basic when I was 9 years old, and still use it to make Windows software. it is simple, yet powerful. Small Basic is an option too, it provides a good start for moving on to other languages.

I will check it out !

[ShadowCaptain]

my friend who has been programming for many years and knows many languages highly recommended python to me when I asked what language to start with

[TizzyT]

Hmm personally I started with html a kinda a bit of js. I guess if you want to do it how I did it, just look around and any language you can grasp at all pick that up and learn it, but make sure it does what you want to do. Although there are other ways to go about this. You can just jump right in and tackle the language you want to learn head on. Like say if you want to learn somethink like C/C++/Java/C# then just jump right into it. If you want to learn the most common language C/C++ but cant grasp it yet, I recommend JS as a starter. It will get you familiar with the syntax a bit and teach you simple basics. Then you can move onto one of 2 routes. First one would be performance then speed which is C/C++ or speed then performance which would be C#/Java then moving to C/C++. The second route is easier but you might find that Java and C# are so easy that you get lazy to learn C/C++ (I am lazy am stuck with VB with most of my apps). BTW I say speed as in developement time.

[gigabyte]

Python is the easiest to start with and when you know that it'll be easy to learn other languages.

[gigabyte]

Hmm personally I started with html a kinda a bit of js. I guess if you want to do it how I did it, just look around and any language you can grasp at all pick that up and learn it, but make sure it does what you want to do. Although there are other ways to go about this. You can just jump right in and tackle the language you want to learn head on. Like say if you want to learn somethink like C/C++/Java/C# then just jump right into it. If you want to learn the most common language C/C++ but cant grasp it yet, I recommend JS as a starter. It will get you familiar with the syntax a bit and teach you simple basics. Then you can move onto one of 2 routes. First one would be performance then speed which is C/C++ or speed then performance which would be C#/Java then moving to C/C++. The second route is easier but you might find that Java and C# are so easy that you get lazy to learn C/C++ (I am lazy am stuck with VB with most of my apps). BTW I say speed as in developement time.

HTML isn't a programming language and it barley helps you with anything with any language really.

[LePawel]

Deep end of the pool was fun for me, straight into C++ with StackOverflow and Cplusplus.com as common resources for help.

Give yourself few goals functionality-wise to develop in console like a tic tac toe game with replay functionality or hangman and use tutorials to build your program up.

Don't be afraid to start a dozen of smaller projects, breaking them completely and never finishing them; the more you mess up the more you learn.

Try reading a bit about common practices in programming.

Whatever you do, the key is to learn stuff one at a time, if you start mixing in too much new stuff, there's a chance you'll miss something crucial.

[Builder]

If you want to start easy, go to Visual Basic, if you want more of game oriented look at C# and maybe Java

Please god, no. Not VB!

 

I started with Visual Basic when I was 9 years old, and still use it to make Windows software. it is simple, yet powerful. Small Basic is an option too, it provides a good start for moving on to other languages.

AGH!

 

Visual Basic is alright to start with - it's what I did. But won't get you a feel for game development. Both VB and C# would be good to start with building applications, and the support and documentation is great. ActionScript in Flash is another option - not so easy to jump right into as you have to learn your way around Flash's interface as well. That is the easiest way to get into animation and games though.

But I'd actually recommend a copy of Microworlds and start in LOGO. It's really easy, taught in schools and gets the foundations down pat and you can step up from there to a more complex language.

Thank you! Visual Basic is a badly designed language that encourages poor habits that do not carry over into other languages. It is only useful on Microsoft Windows operating systems and as a result will have you shunned in virtually every open source community in existence. LOGO is really nice, LISP based and will get you familiar with the next frontier of programming, the functional paradigm.

 

I will check it out !

Please don't. Python or Ruby are far better than Visual Basic to start off with.