Java as beginning language?

[DotoreN]

Soon i'm beginning my study as software developer. I want to have a little head-start and some basic knowledge about programming before I start with it. I've got a book called "Java with blueJ", but for some reason I feel blueJ isn't that great and I honestly want to start out with eclipse or something that's actually being used to develop something, so I don't know whether I should learn out of this book or not, maybe someone has experience with blueJ and can tell me whether I should avoid it or if it's good to learn Java/OOP.

 

Also, since I have basically no programming experience, with what language should I start off with and how?

 

I have the money to get a subscription for any tutorials/books so suggest freely.

 

My future study will use Java as programming language and php/mysql for web-dev, so I guess starting off with java or php/mysql gives me the best head-start.

 

Any advice on which tutorials/books to buy/look at?

 

Thanks

[PineappleHolidays]

Depends what you want ;

I learned java to start , was not a good idea .

 

http://i.imgur.com/d9cU904.png

 

Moved on to taking C++ , a bit hard and takes a long time to get stuff done though 

[blu4]

The best coding language to begin with is VisualBasic and C#. Both are very intuitive languages to learn and have a low learning curve. IF you learn them well, other languages will be absorbed easier.

[ImBleu]

I started with HTML, CSS, PHP & Javascript to begin with. I feel the knowledge of how code works and the logic involved sorta helped me begin Java.

[minibois]

-snip-

I would not really recommend Java to begin with, it is a bit more difficult if you don't know the basics.

Something like C# inside of an engine/program (like Unity3D or Visual Studio) might suit you better.

Another good starting language is Javascript, inside of html. You learn quite a few stuff about conditionals, variables and more.

 

If you need some good places to learn Javascript: W3Schools has a ton of documentation on it. Unity3D has a lot of documentation too.

In my signature you will see a link for 'programming resources' I would recommend taking a look there for some good places for resources

 

I hope I helped you out a bit and be sure to ask me if you have questions

[Casperian]

If you are doing a course that uses Java and it starts soon, learn Java.

I have a pet hate for the language however and I would rather write assembly...

 

Basically, I'd stand by what I've said to many others, learn python. I still use python for stuff here are there, it's a very good language.

 

And whatever you do, unless you are 100% set on it, don't learn C++ first, it doesn't do much for you and you will find it hard without a basic knowledge of the inner workings of lower level system architecture.

 

I'll also say that C# might be a good thing to learn, it's used in Uni courses so, it's the not the worst idea and it isn't too hard.

 

EDIT: After reading the two posts above this, if you don't know much about conditions and variables,etc. I'd really recommend Python.

[RedSphyxis]

I started with C++ took me about a year to be quite knowledgeable. Java on the other hand was easier but java can't solve everything easily sometimes you'd need crazy workarounds. Which can make me go mad and go on a break for a day or two from coding.

 

for starting off I would suggest something easy yet still challenging like Java, JS or c#(but Java should be the choice as it's more thorough than the other two and has more flexibility IMO) then move on to c++

[DotoreN]

Depends what you want ;

I learned java to start , was not a good idea .

 

http://i.imgur.com/d9cU904.png

 

Moved on to taking C++ , a bit hard and takes a long time to get stuff done though 

 

Why was it not a good idea, and what do you recommend then?

[MrKickkiller]

I started with Java, and moved on to various scripting languages (Bash, Python, JavaScript etc).

 

I find that python is one of the most simple languages to pick up at the beginning. It is basically formal english.

Eg: (For each loop)

    For variablename in collection:

          Do something with variablename

 

 

As for tutorials: TheNewBoston on youtube. Great content and great explanation.

 

ProTip: Get rid of BlueJ asap.

It is annoying to work with and doesn't really provide a proper picture of object interaction.

 

Eg: 

In BlueJ you can create an object by simply rightclicking. This is not realistic at all. In normal Java programming you'll need a specific method: "public static void main (String[] args){ Create your objects here and make them call methods}".

 

+ BlueJ opens a windows for every .java file you edit. Believe me: 30 mins of coding and you'll have 20 windows of blueJ open.

[Casperian]

I started with C++ took me about a year to be quite knowledgeable. Java on the other hand was easier but java can't solve everything easily sometimes you'd need crazy workarounds. Which can make me go mad and go on a break for a day or two from coding.

 

for starting off I would suggest something easy yet still challenging like Java, JS or c#(but Java should be the choice as it's more thorough than the other two and has more flexibility IMO) then move on to c++

TBH, I've seen people decide Java was too complex and drop out. But yeah C++ takes a while to get good at, it's my go to language for anything other than a few exceptions (I use C for Embedded or Kernel modules etc).

 

I found java to be a language were I had very little control. While it's arguably not a bad thing, I hate it with a passion.  

 

Like everything it is a trade off. In C or C++, I have a ton more control over what happens and the overhead is far lower but I have to be more careful about memory. In Java, I can just not care about memory, just let JVM handle everything, but Java is so slow it isn't even funny.

 

 

Depends what you want ;

I learned java to start , was not a good idea .

 

http://i.imgur.com/d9cU904.png

 

Moved on to taking C++ , a bit hard and takes a long time to get stuff done though 

It doesn't that that long to get stuff done in C++, I wrote my own version of P95 yesterday with thermal detection on the cores to check if they are overheating and prevent damage.(That still has a lot of work to go on it, and it really isn't pressing)  

[DotoreN]

Also what is your guys opinion on Ruby or php/mysql?

 

And maybe this is a little offtopic, but since i'm starting the software dev. study soon i'll also need a laptop, is 13inch fine to work on or is it not enough screen real estate... i'm really 50/50 on this as I'll have to work on it for atleast 4years.

 

I mean if you need multiple windows, I bet 13 inch kinda sucks and is hard to read?

[RedSphyxis]

TBH, I've seen people decide Java was too complex and drop out. But yeah C++ takes a while to get good at, it's my go to language for anything other than a few exceptions (I use C for Embedded or Kernel modules etc).

 

snip

Well tbh last time I used java I was still 16 :3 I've mainly been using C#, JS and some python here and there.

 

Maybe this is a little offtopic, but since i'm starting the software dev. study soon i'll also need a laptop, is 13inch fine to work on or is it not enough screen real estate... i'm really 50/50 on this as I'll have to work on it for atleast 4years.

 

I mean if you need multiple windows, I bet 13 inch kinda sucks and is hard to read?

 

Also what is your guys opinion on Ruby or php/mysql?

Just buy a Good monitor with the connectors you need.

 

Ruby is a very in-demand language nowadays. php not so much(compared to a few years back) but it's still pretty flexible and useful even if it's old.

[vorticalbox]

I started with visual basic then moved over to c#, great way to start as VB is very "wordy" as a language.

[tangra]

Java is a good language to learn Object Oriented programming.

 

However, I would not ask what language do you want to learn. Ask the question: TO WHAT END? What do you want to do?

 

There is not such thing as holly grail language or solution.

 

What ever you choice, make sure you understand Patterns and Software Architecture. (once you know the basics... variables, looping, classes and so on).

 

As for PHP... man. How can I put this nicely ... if you go PHP make sure you pick up an environment. Don't go naked, please. CAKE PHP, ZEND framework and others are something that you should look at. Those frameworks will enforce some good behavior which BELIEVE me, will make your life MUCH MUCH easier. I used to work on PHP and these days I am more on the ROBY/Rails train which I prefer at this stage.

[EpicAdom]

snip

I second Python.

[Nineshadow]

Java is good to get the basics of Object Oriented languages easily.

It's also very easy to make  more complicated apps than , let's say, in C++.

 

Start a little in Java. Get the basics. Understand how it works.

Then move on to C++.

 

When you master it, you should go after C# (which is kinda easier than c++).

[DotoreN]

Is lynda a good website to learn java on?