What language is best to start and how?

[Flying_Belgian]

Hello 

So i am a 14 year old boy that would like to get into programming myself.

In the past i have done some html and have dont things in "programming applications" like scratch and alice, but i would like to learn something else like java/python/C ++ etc. 

 

So my question now is what language would be best to start and how could i start?

Btw at home i have a raspberry pi and i am able to use os x (apple os) and windows. (maybe ubuntu too put then i would need to reinstall it.)

Thanks if u're answering 

[juretrn]

What would interest you the most?

Making webpages?

Windows/OSX/iOS/Android applications?

Microcontrollers? (Arduino and the like)

[Rashy]

codecademy.com is the place to start

I started with HTML, then to JavaScript, slowly climbing into C++

Just start writing something, the best place to start is to write something! A clock, a 2d platformer, a calculator, just write!

[Flying_Belgian]

What would interest you the most?

Making webpages?

Windows/OSX/iOS/Android applications?

Microcontrollers? (Arduino and the like)

Most interested in windows/os x apps and mobile apps

then microcrontrollers and the thing im least interested in is making webpages.

[evilarceus]

codecademy.com

 

Codecademy is where I learned most languages. You can learn Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Ruby. Sadly, they don't have C++.

[Assassin]

Start with Python. Then move into Java and then into C++

[Aytex]

 

if you wanna do the EASIEST of the EASIEST do lua theres a game callled roblox which has scripts in which you can edit and make your own games codeing in lua

[VioDuskar]

Start with Python. Then move into Java and then into C++

i'd say this is a good route.

 

python is a great starter language. my friend learned in just 6 months and could make small pixel graphic games.

i've taken a year of C++ and it's rough, but extremely controllable. you'll understand if you try it.

 

there are books too. Learn python the hard way is a good book for free. the author has other books for other languages too.

[AMICLG]

It depends on what you want to do, but in general Python is great starting language. It's fairly easy to learn, is very flexible on the platforms it can run on and things it can do. From building games to cloud services to embedded hardware like the RasPi.

[c0d0ps]

Hello 

So i am a 14 year old boy that would like to get into programming myself.

In the past i have done some html and have dont things in "programming applications" like scratch and alice, but i would like to learn something else like java/python/C ++ etc. 

 

So my question now is what language would be best to start and how could i start?

Btw at home i have a raspberry pi and i am able to use os x (apple os) and windows. (maybe ubuntu too put then i would need to reinstall it.)

Thanks if u're answering 

Like the others has said, it depends what you want to do.

But, in webdesign class my teacher showed us this site http://www.w3schools.com/

Over there you can learn lots of different things, including HTML, CSS, PHP, etc..

[Flying_Belgian]

Well thanks for all the responses I think i'll try python first and write some simple things like a calculator ......

[ctrlaltChris]

Alright, I'm going to give this kid some advice.

It doesn't matter. Any of it. The language doesn't matter. The understanding of concepts you get from a language matters.

I'm a back-end developer on servers and web applications and dabble in Android applications (Java, Android uses the JVM, Java Virtual Machine, to execute most apps, though Android does support C++ though it's not recommended by google.)

When you think programming, it's a big world. There's Haskell, Perl, Python, Java, C++ and C, Go, etc etc. But most of this doesn't matter because what you learn in Java or Python can be applied to something like C (Both of the languages have roots to C). What matters is the concepts of programming, syntax is what you have to learn afterwards. Along side with frameworks and libraries.

 

If you really need to choose, I would go with something that can be used in the frontend and backend world of programming like javascript. Node.js for backend and Angular.js for the frontend, which are both "frameworks". Learning javascript in general is a good idea as it's used everywhere, like every site you've been on has had js.

Now where to learn these you may ask? Don't do codecademy, for the love of god don't do it. It's just shoving syntax into your head and that's about as far as it goes for learning.

Books, books are usually the best. They may be boring for some people but they can really help explain the concepts needed to further yourself as a developer.

The biggest collection of books on different languages I know is right here: resrc.io/list/10/list-of-free-programming-books/

If you need me, get me on twitter @nimsub or PM me. You're young but you can do it. The best start young and then after high school (hopefully you graduate) you can focus on contributing to projects and build a portfolio. Even better, start now. Even if it isn't programming, ask around projects on github or other places to see if you can help. Best of luck to you!

 

(Also, Python has a calculator built into it, as most langauges do. Though harder equations may have to be further worked upon in code.)

[Counter-Strike Player]

Java is fairly powerful and gives you a wide range of toolbox classes to work with and you can be extremely clever with that language. Although, web applets need to seriously RIP.

[Flying_Belgian]

Alright, I'm going to give this kid some advice.

It doesn't matter. Any of it. The language doesn't matter. The understanding of concepts you get from a language matters.

I'm a back-end developer on servers and web applications and dabble in Android applications (Java, Android uses the JVM, Java Virtual Machine, to execute most apps, though Android does support C++ though it's not recommended by google.)

When you think programming, it's a big world. There's Haskell, Perl, Python, Java, C++ and C, Go, etc etc. But most of this doesn't matter because what you learn in Java or Python can be applied to something like C (Both of the languages have roots to C). What matters is the concepts of programming, syntax is what you have to learn afterwards. Along side with frameworks and libraries.

 

If you really need to choose, I would go with something that can be used in the frontend and backend world of programming like javascript. Node.js for backend and Angular.js for the frontend, which are both "frameworks". Learning javascript in general is a good idea as it's used everywhere, like every site you've been on has had js.

Now where to learn these you may ask? Don't do codecademy, for the love of god don't do it. It's just shoving syntax into your head and that's about as far as it goes for learning.

Books, books are usually the best. They may be boring for some people but they can really help explain the concepts needed to further yourself as a developer.

The biggest collection of books on different languages I know is right here: resrc.io/list/10/list-of-free-programming-books/

If you need me, get me on twitter @nimsub or PM me. You're young but you can do it. The best start young and then after high school (hopefully you graduate) you can focus on contributing to projects and build a portfolio. Even better, start now. Even if it isn't programming, ask around projects on github or other places to see if you can help. Best of luck to you!

 

(Also, Python has a calculator built into it, as most langauges do. Though harder equations may have to be further worked upon in code.)

thanks fpr the advice i'll try reading a book about python then ... and later on i think i'll try java and maybe somewhere in the futurec or c++.

But thnx anyway!

[linuxfan66]

thanks fpr the advice i'll try reading a book about python then ... and later on i think i'll try java and maybe somewhere in the futurec or c++.

But thnx anyway!

Check the schools out humble bundle...

[Jynx]

Granted this may change since your young but the best thing to do is to just take a look on a couple of career sites and start looking at the programming positions.  You'll get a good idea of what's in demand.  I'm a c# .net dev (sitting at work now).  But I started with vb.  I did get a degree in development but I didn't go till much later in life after having already been programming on my own for sometime, just wanted that paper to make me more appealing to employers.  If I had it to do all over again I would have gotten into c# sooner and have dedicated more time to mobile application development.  As a native desktop dev sometimes I feel like a dying breed anymore, luckily most companies still need desktop dev's for all of there internal software creations.

[Flying_Belgian]

Granted this may change since your young but the best thing to do is to just take a look on a couple of career sites and start looking at the programming positions.  You'll get a good idea of what's in demand.  I'm a c# .net dev (sitting at work now).  But I started with vb.  I did get a degree in development but I didn't go till much later in life after having already been programming on my own for sometime, just wanted that paper to make me more appealing to employers.  If I had it to do all over again I would have gotten into c# sooner and have dedicated more time to mobile application development.  As a native desktop dev sometimes I feel like a dying breed anymore, luckily most companies still need desktop dev's for all of there internal software creations.

I get what you are saying but wouldn't it be easier to start of with some easier languages as python/arduino/java and afterwards go for more "needed" languages that companies would require?

[Jynx]

I get what you are saying but wouldn't it be easier to start of with some easier languages as python/arduino/java and afterwards go for more "needed" languages that companies would require?

 

I wouldn't think like that no.  If I wanted to be a basketball player I wouldn't go learn golf first because there both sports just to start all over with something new.  IDE's are different, syntax's are different.  .NET is different from other foundations.  Just learning python or java doesn't mean you'll be good at anything else.  Just means you'll be good at python or java and hopefully have a good foundation and understanding of how things work.  Start with what you "WANT" to program in.  Or if this is all motivated by a future career then start with what was in demand before and is still highly in demand today.  That's not saying that employer's aren't looking for python or java dev's, they are.  I'm just saying don't do one because you think it will make it different for you in order to do one that you really want later.

[Tuero]

@ctrlaltChris thanks for that book dump, there are some gems in there!

[Knaj]

Definitely use codecademy.com

 

Its how I know my javascript that I know today. But if you want to be very basic or are like me and want to see it in action, you can mess around with coding in the browser itself, thats how I taught myself HTML

 

But for starters, I would say learn some basic HTML just to see how it all works, and then move into Java

 

(I also taught myself HTML whenever I was bored in science class, but as far as the teacher knows I was doing my work)

[alicskysareblue]

I would start with python Html is not actually a coding language, and is way too easy ( it is too forgiving) it is  still great to learn but Python will give you a better crash course in variable and syntexs then html.

 

javascript is also good to learn as well.

 

I would wait to learn C or C++ those are harder languages 

[SSL]

Definitely use codecademy.com

 

Code Academy is a bad joke. The only reason it's so popular is because it's used by empowered amateurs who don't know any better.

[alicskysareblue]

Code Academy is a bad joke. The only reason it's so popular is because it's used by empowered amateurs who don't know any better.

could you specitfy why it is ? instead of just being rather insulting ?, I personally find it useful and I am an Network administrator student

[Flying_Belgian]

Code Academy is a bad joke. The only reason it's so popular is because it's used by empowered amateurs who don't know any better.

right now i am doing a mix. I am using code academy but also reading books .

[Flying_Belgian]

I would start with python Html is not actually a coding language, and is way too easy ( it is too forgiving) it is  still great to learn but Python will give you a better crash course in variable and syntexs then html.

 

javascript is also good to learn as well.

 

I would wait to learn C or C++ those are harder languages 

Starting off with python and I really like it.... right now I have done some basic things like creating variabels and printing out things and commenting and i've also been able to make a little story where you fill in the blanks using raw_input. 

I really enjoy learning Python right now and i'm learning it with the help of an ebook because I don't really like codacademy.