Help with making a program

[dark_xzyph3r]

Hey guys I am new to Programming and my Studio has a Item Checkout System on paper and this lets engineers borrow items from the Studio and it is working good but I would like something to be on the computer like a program to check out the items..

 

Basically what I want is a program that will let me enter Serial Numbers and Item Names and let people check the items out but have it E-Mail me when an item has been checked out and also show it is checked out.. Kinda like what a Library has.. Thanks

[Neil]

Are you familiar with any programming yet, or are you looking for someone to do this for you?

[dark_xzyph3r]

Are you familiar with any programming yet, or are you looking for someone to do this for you?

 

I am just looking for somebody to help me with this. I have never done any programming before..

[Neil]

Well do you have a language you think you'd like to learn? This can be accomplished in almost any language.

 

Personally, I'm a big fan of Python, which is pretty easy for beginners.

[Guest]

There's software out there that will do this already. Writing your own, espeically if you have no skills, is silly.

[Neil]

There's software out there that will do this already. Writing your own, espeically if you have no skills, is silly.

 

Not silly. He wants to learn. There's no problem with learning.

[Guest]

Not silly. He wants to learn. There's no problem with learning.

 

That's cute, but "learning" with an application that will be used in a production environment spells trouble; wasted time, money, and tears.

 

If he wants to learn how to program he can work through Python the hard way or something in his spare time.

[dark_xzyph3r]

That's cute, but "learning" with an application that will be used in a production environment spells trouble; wasted time, money, and tears.

 

If he wants to learn how to program he can work through Python the hard way or something in his spare time.

 

Well the Program will not be used in a production environment until all bugs get worked out. 

[Neil]

That's cute, but "learning" with an application that will be used in a production environment spells trouble; wasted time, money, and tears.

 

If he wants to learn how to program he can work through Python the hard way or something in his spare time.

 

It's as if you're discouraging learning--which is sad. Your mindset is very naive.

 

 

Well the Program will not be used in a production environment until all bugs get worked out. 

 

 

Well that's good to hear. But you would be best to try to learn the basics before jumping into working on your project.

 

I highly recommend Learn Python The Hard Way (http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/preface.html) for the basics.

 

It has some great projects. Also take a look at https://automatetheboringstuff.com/-- it's a great book--also all available online!

 

Let me know if you have any questions or want me to look over your code.

 

You can also check out /r/learnprogramming on reddit if you get stuck. They're a great community, and very helpful.

[Guest]

It's as if you're discouraging learning--which is sad. Your mindset is very naive.

 

That's how you're interpreting my "mindset". So sure, I can't really argue with someone who puts words in my mouth.

[Stuff_]

Do you want there to be a terminal to check out with, instead of pen and paper?

 

You could code this in a few languages. 

Python could work well, even a java application would be fine. 

 

You would probably just need to build a database of some sort that includes all the info (S/N, item desc, whatever) and then have them fill out some sort of form. That form could submit a log email to you when the item is checked out.

[dark_xzyph3r]

Do you want there to be a terminal to check out with, instead of pen and paper?

 

You could code this in a few languages. 

Python could work well, even a java application would be fine. 

 

You would probably just need to build a database of some sort that includes all the info (S/N, item desc, whatever) and then have them fill out some sort of form. That form could submit a log email to you when the item is checked out.

 

Thats what I want But instead of submitting a form just have it be like you can click on the item and hit checkout and it ask for your information (IE: Name, Email, ETC...) 

[Stuff_]

Well there's not much I, or anyone, can do here except kind of guide you towards what could help you (unless I was being paid, in all honesty).

[Neil]

Well there's not much I, or anyone, can do here except kind of guide you towards what could help you (unless I was being paid, in all honesty).

 

Unfortunately yes. I'm okay with being used as a resource and helping out for free.. but doing the work is a bit too much.

[dark_xzyph3r]

Yeah I just need guidance And a step in the right direction.. I also need OS X Support in it will Python give me that?

[fredghostkyle]

Yeah I just need guidance And a step in the right direction.. I also need OS X Support in it will Python give me that?

Would something web based make more sense for you? 

 

If you want something web based you'll need HTML and CSS (very easy and no real "programing"). You'll probably end up doing the real programing & back end in PhP and use MySQL to store the data. If you try and use google a little bit you can find a lot of help for things like that. 

 

 

if you need some more, I'm better on email and Skype. PM me if you need more help. 

[Neil]

Python is cross-platform.

 

Just pick a language you think you want to use, and ask some questions.

[dark_xzyph3r]

I think I might do what FredGhostKyle said and do a web based application.. It will probably be the best because we have about 20 Computers in the main room (It is a school) and will be the least hassle..

[Neil]

Cool. You can do web in any number of languages--Python, Ruby, PHP, C#, etc. I think Python is a good place to start and learn good patterns for beginners. PHP is pretty much always a recipe for disaster.

[dark_xzyph3r]

Well I might do HTML since I am taking a class on Programming with HTML

[madknight3]

Well I might do HTML since I am taking a class on Programming with HTML

 

You'll need more than just HTML. You'll also need to learn CSS. You will likely need to learn Javascript. And to do what you want to do, you'll also need to learn a server side language which includes the languages Neil mentioned.

[Neil]

You'll need more than just HTML. You'll also need to learn CSS. You will likely need to learn Javascript. And to do what you want to do, you'll also need to learn a server side language which includes the languages Neil mentioned.

 

Could also look into Bootstrap or something like it which allows you to deploy stuff out really quickly with only a basic knowledge of CSS/LESS and HTML.

[vorticalbox]

so much python pushing on this topic

 

I would just go for good old php and mysql. php isn't hard to learn and it's gonna get the job done. you can look into JavaScript for form validation but if you know no one is gonna be messing with the form html 5 required tag is gonna sort empty fields.

 

No point making it more complicated than it needs to be.

[Neil]

so much python pushing on this topic

 

I would just go for good old php and mysql. php isn't hard to learn and it's gonna get the job done. you can look into JavaScript for form validation but if you know no one is gonna be messing with the form html 5 required tag is gonna sort empty fields.

 

No point making it more complicated than it needs to be.

 

PHP needs to go burn in hell. It (for the most part) has outlived its usefulness, and is not a good language for a beginner in full stack development to start with. PHP teaches bad practice in everything that it does.

 

I learned PHP first. I learned the worst possible practices, patterns, and habits. I had to completely re-teach myself how to do full-stack development because of PHP making my brain wired to write bad code.

 

PHP is okay if you know what you're doing--but if you don't, then you're just asking for trouble.

 

Ruby w/ Rails, Python with Flask or Django, even Node (though fuck node.js...) would be better for a beginner to learn than PHP. There are rarely any outdated tutorials online for these frameworks/languages, and you are forced to learn MVC by using them--and learn it well.

 

PHP (even with frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, etc) teaches bad habits and encourages shitty code.

[vorticalbox]

PHP needs to go burn in hell. It (for the most part) has outlived its usefulness, and is not a good language for a beginner in full stack development to start with. PHP teaches bad practice in everything that it does.

 

I learned PHP first. I learned the worst possible practices, patterns, and habits. I had to completely re-teach myself how to do full-stack development because of PHP making my brain wired to write bad code.

 

PHP is okay if you know what you're doing--but if you don't, then you're just asking for trouble.

 

Ruby w/ Rails, Python with Flask or Django, even Node (though fuck node.js...) would be better for a beginner to learn than PHP. There are rarely any outdated tutorials online for these frameworks/languages, and you are forced to learn MVC by using them--and learn it well.

 

PHP (even with frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, etc) teaches bad habits and encourages shitty code.

 

I've been coding in php for years and hasn't done me much harm then again i code in c# more (love c#), PHP and my sql would be pretty quick to build this as a web app.

 

I've actually been thinking about learning c# for making web apps. any language you would recommend  or good places to learn c# for web?