How to learn to programm

[strudl]

I'm very new to programming. I know some rough basics of html and i want to learn to write android applications. I already have eclipse (android developers edition). I want to learn the basics in java. If anyone has knowledge about writing andoid apps or some good tutorials to learn the basics and later some more advanced programming? I really appreciate your help.

Thank you, Strudl

[MikeD]

With android I always recommend this: https://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp/index.html

It will tell you everything you need to know to get started in android. It starts by giving you some code to watch things happen but then goes on to explain how to do things (like app lifecycle management).

If you want to get acquainted with java before beginning android, I would suggest http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/getStarted/index.html

The reason I am sending you to the tutorials provided by the developers of the Java language and Android platform is that they can give you insights into the technology that, despite seemingly uninteresting, will help you understand what is happening underneath.

When you start making your own apps and you want to know if some feature is available, Google is your friend and the Java api documentation and Android reference will tell you what objects are for and what methods they specify.

Hope this helps!

[strudl]

Thank you very much. Thats all point to me, that i understand how it works and what is happening underneath. Thank you

[Jonny]

Also remember to make a virtual phone or tablet in the SDK :D helps out alot.

[SbroCali]

I took basic, visual basic, and c++ in community college, but that was quite a while ago and I haven't really touched it since. I keep wanting to get back into programming, but every time I start a tutorial online or a series of tutorials on youtube, I get partially into it and the person says "Oh, and if you don't know what this is, you should learn this other programming language first and get familiar with it." It's a little dis-heartening because it seems like a infinite loop of where the heck do you start... I even thought about taking out my old programming books for c++, c++ intermediate, basic, and vb and starting there, but there are updated versions of those now and I don't want to waste my time re-learning the old outdated stuff! I follow "the New Boston" on youtube, and a couple others, but when he gets into working with multiple parts of the project it's like "hold on dude, you're not explaining why that's necessary. I don't know why you need this or that, or what it does/is for." Or they say "I'll tell you why that's important later" and they never do or it's just like he automatically knew some of this stuff like what you have to include at the beginning of the file like the old vb or c++ had #include header file for doing input/output to screen and printer. Every single time it ends up with me questioning where the heck to start! What Language?!

Even though it was pretty simple beginning stuff, I always felt like programming showed me I could do just about anything I put my mind on(do a degree). It was pretty empowering to do well in a programming course. Kind of like you can do stuff that not everybody can do. Kinda makes you feel like you're smarter than some people give you credit for.

[colonel_mortis]

I took basic, visual basic, and c++ in community college, but that was quite a while ago and I haven't really touched it since. I keep wanting to get back into programming, but every time I start a tutorial online or a series of tutorials on youtube, I get partially into it and the person says "Oh, and if you don't know what this is, you should learn this other programming language first and get familiar with it." It's a little dis-heartening because it seems like a infinite loop of where the heck do you start... I even thought about taking out my old programming books for c++, c++ intermediate, basic, and vb and starting there, but there are updated versions of those now and I don't want to waste my time re-learning the old outdated stuff! I follow "the New Boston" on youtube, and a couple others, but when he gets into working with multiple parts of the project it's like "hold on dude, you're not explaining why that's necessary. I don't know why you need this or that, or what it does/is for." Or they say "I'll tell you why that's important later" and they never do or it's just like he automatically knew some of this stuff like what you have to include at the beginning of the file like the old vb or c++ had #include header file for doing input/output to screen and printer. Every single time it ends up with me questioning where the heck to start! What Language?!

Even though it was pretty simple beginning stuff, I always felt like programming showed me I could do just about anything I put my mind on(do a degree). It was pretty empowering to do well in a programming course. Kind of like you can do stuff that not everybody can do. Kinda makes you feel like you're smarter than some people give you credit for.

If you want to learn the basics of C++, follow the tutorial on http://www.cplusplus.com/ for a good starting point. If you look around on the internet, there are lots of other good tutorials if you want to follow it up with Win32 programming.

[MikeD]

I took basic, visual basic, and c++ in community college, but that was quite a while ago and I haven't really touched it since. I keep wanting to get back into programming, but every time I start a tutorial online or a series of tutorials on youtube, I get partially into it and the person says "Oh, and if you don't know what this is, you should learn this other programming language first and get familiar with it." It's a little dis-heartening because it seems like a infinite loop of where the heck do you start... I even thought about taking out my old programming books for c++, c++ intermediate, basic, and vb and starting there, but there are updated versions of those now and I don't want to waste my time re-learning the old outdated stuff! I follow "the New Boston" on youtube, and a couple others, but when he gets into working with multiple parts of the project it's like "hold on dude, you're not explaining why that's necessary. I don't know why you need this or that, or what it does/is for." Or they say "I'll tell you why that's important later" and they never do or it's just like he automatically knew some of this stuff like what you have to include at the beginning of the file like the old vb or c++ had #include header file for doing input/output to screen and printer. Every single time it ends up with me questioning where the heck to start! What Language?!

Even though it was pretty simple beginning stuff, I always felt like programming showed me I could do just about anything I put my mind on(do a degree). It was pretty empowering to do well in a programming course. Kind of like you can do stuff that not everybody can do. Kinda makes you feel like you're smarter than some people give you credit for.

That is why I didn't like The New Boston from the (admittedly) few videos I've watched: there are a lot of omissions on how the stuff works and what its for.

You shouldn't wander off from language to language. It's very easy to wander off and try to learn something that seems better and has more features without fully understanding the concepts by beginning with a more simple language. The question really is what type of paradigm do you want to learn and what do you want to do; only after figuring that out can you look for the appropriate language. Then, every time you stumble upon something that isn't as clear, you can search for an explanation about it without having to go learn some other language first.

PS: I would leave your VB books where they are, resting peacefully on the shelf!!

[Crion]

I took basic, visual basic, and c++ in community college, but that was quite a while ago and I haven't really touched it since. I keep wanting to get back into programming, but every time I start a tutorial online or a series of tutorials on youtube, I get partially into it and the person says "Oh, and if you don't know what this is, you should learn this other programming language first and get familiar with it." It's a little dis-heartening because it seems like a infinite loop of where the heck do you start... I even thought about taking out my old programming books for c++, c++ intermediate, basic, and vb and starting there, but there are updated versions of those now and I don't want to waste my time re-learning the old outdated stuff! I follow "the New Boston" on youtube, and a couple others, but when he gets into working with multiple parts of the project it's like "hold on dude, you're not explaining why that's necessary. I don't know why you need this or that, or what it does/is for." Or they say "I'll tell you why that's important later" and they never do or it's just like he automatically knew some of this stuff like what you have to include at the beginning of the file like the old vb or c++ had #include header file for doing input/output to screen and printer. Every single time it ends up with me questioning where the heck to start! What Language?!

Even though it was pretty simple beginning stuff, I always felt like programming showed me I could do just about anything I put my mind on(do a degree). It was pretty empowering to do well in a programming course. Kind of like you can do stuff that not everybody can do. Kinda makes you feel like you're smarter than some people give you credit for.

Honestly, you're going to have to learn new stuff all the time when it comes to anything computer related as it's always being updated. If you want to get back into C++ and are having trouble, try C#. It's very similar to Java (Microsoft pretty much created C# because Sun wouldn't let them alter Java) and it also has similar name schemes for the concepts as C++. You'll still have to remember how to handle pointers and C strings and all the carry overs from C, but it'll at least help you get started.

[th.dubach]

http://www.youtube.com/course?list=EC2F07DBCDCC01493A

For Android I defiantly recommend this!

[SbroCali]

Thank you all for your great insight!

[SbroCali]

Sometimes I get on a kick to learn programming, other times I think I should learn more network administration, server administration, and IT based stuff, I'm still trying to learn some graphic art stuff, but it's hard to learn on your own with youtube & such. I never know what I want to do for sure. 

 

Yeah, I know getting on a kick to learn programming won't be enough. I would have to dedicate myself. I don't know, I want to know a bit of everything, lol!