NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been reading a lot lately, and I've realised that if I really want to progress in my search for more computer knowledge (a campaign I have led for many years), I'm going to need to start programming. I've messed with codes, I know HTML almost back to front, and I'm not bad with javascript but what I really want is a good scripting/programming language to learn and use.

Can anyone suggest a good language to start off with? I've had suggestions of C, Perl, JAVA, ASP and even the obscure Module-3, and I'm confused. Any good programmers out there willing to give me a couple of suggestions?

Ruby is a pretty decent language to get started with. Once you've got the basics of that, it's not hard to move on to C, Java, PERL etc.

You can locate the Refused Party Program in the languages of English and Swedish, here:

http://www.burningheart.com/refused/

Ruby is a pretty decent language to get started with. Once you've got the basics of that, it's not hard to move on to C, Java, PERL etc.

I hadn't actually heard of Ruby.

If you're looking for a useful one, I'd suggest C/C++ or Java personally.

For a fun one, I'd say Pascal or Cobol, but then again, I have a very odd idea of fun...
Pascal is my favorite language personally.

For a challenge, Assembly. Assembly is teh r0xx0rz.

I've heard good things about Pascal, although I'll go for something easier. C++ is quite a bloated language compared to C and JAVA - I may pick one of those.

What's Ruby like then?

If you're looking for a useful one, try C++ or Java.

If you're looking for a really simple one just to learn some basic programming ideas, try QBASIC :D

If you're looking for a useful one, try C++ or Java.

If you're looking for a really simple one just to learn some basic programming ideas, try QBASIC :D

Lol I hate QBASIC.

Lol I hate QBASIC.
heh heh...it was the first language I learned :)
sooooo easy.

JAVA melted my brain when I tried to learn it.
Yeah, C is a nice starting point.
What I like is that C++ is a superset of C, so you can just get a C++ compiler and use that. It's nice if you're planning to pay for a compiler.
Better yet, sponge a free compiler of some unsuspecting freeware-offering company. Who needs paying for things?

Yeah, although I think I may get a spare box and install linux, most Distros come with free compilers.

heh heh...it was the first language I learned :)
sooooo easy.

Hmm, lol. I may consider looking into it.

Hee.
I learned BASIC in 5th grade, on an ultra-slow pre-Pentium computer. Hooray for the good ol' days!
:D

I don't know if I ever did QBASIC, but I know it's not much different from BASIC.
Err...
I think.

We're now in the days of VBASIC!

I'm currenty learning Scheme (a version of LISP)

It's....different :)

Different but interesting

Yay Linux!
I believe the gnu compiler is stndard and required with Linux distros. It can do just about anything.

Cool :D

I'm currenty learning Scheme (a version of LISP)

It's....different :)

Different but interesting

I've heard it's hard.

Isn't LISP one of those awful logic languages?

I've heard it's hard.
Well it's a different way of thinking than any other language I've done. It uses recursion HEAVILY.
Isn't LISP one of those awful logic languages?
Yep...it is. lol

I think Lisp is logic.

http://www.w3schools.com/
This might be something for you.

http://www.w3schools.com/
This might be something for you.

Thanks!

I've been reading a lot lately, and I've realised that if I really want to progress in my search for more computer knowledge (a campaign I have led for many years), I'm going to need to start programming. I've messed with codes, I know HTML almost back to front, and I'm not bad with javascript but what I really want is a good scripting/programming language to learn and use.

Can anyone suggest a good language to start off with? I've had suggestions of C, Perl, JAVA, ASP and even the obscure Module-3, and I'm confused. Any good programmers out there willing to give me a couple of suggestions?

I suggest C. I started out progamming with it. It ain't TOO difficult.

Can anyone suggest a good language to start off with? I've had suggestions of C, Perl, JAVA, ASP and even the obscure Module-3, and I'm confused. Any good programmers out there willing to give me a couple of suggestions?

It all depends on what you want to learn. Here's a break down:

C - System code, how Linux/UNIX Operating Systems work. I wouldn't suggest starting with C though, it is really easy to shoot yourself in the foot (there'll be plenty of time for that later)/

Perl - reports, extracting information from various resources, and how to write an extremly complicated program in one line. This language is not for beginners.

ASP - Don't bother, it's a horrible mess.

PHP - make web applications with a minimum of effort. One of the best languages for making web applications.

Pascal - was written for learning.

Basic - a programming language with training wheels.

I'd suggest starting in a language like basic or pascal, and once you get familiar with it move on to PHP. Try your hand at shell scripting (ksh or sh) and maybe perl. If you feel adenturous after that, move on to C.


Another great way to learn about computers is play around with an operating systems like Linux. I suggest Debian.

It all depends on what you want to learn. Here's a break down:

C - System code, how Linux/UNIX Operating Systems work. I wouldn't suggest starting with C though, it is really easy to shoot yourself in the foot (there'll be plenty of time for that later)/

Perl - reports, extracting information from various resources, and how to write an extremly complicated program in one line. This language is not for beginners.

ASP - Don't bother, it's a horrible mess.

PHP - make web applications with a minimum of effort. One of the best languages for making web applications.

Pascal - was written for learning.

Basic - a programming language with training wheels.

I'd suggest starting in a language like basic or pascal, and once you get familiar with it move on to PHP. Try your hand at shell scripting (ksh or sh) and maybe perl. If you feel adenturous after that, move on to C.


Another great way to learn about computers is play around with an operating systems like Linux. I suggest Debian.

Thanks for the run-down. With any luck I'll be running Linux off a seperate box soon, probably Redhat or something.

Hee.
The classic Perl one-liners.
I love those!

This entire website is written in PERL ;)

Thanks for the run-down. With any luck I'll be running Linux off a seperate box soon, probably Redhat or something.

RedHat no longer has a free distribution - they are now mostly dealing with coorporations and universities. They do however support the Fedora project (http://fedora.redhat.com/), which is a linuxdistribution containing only free/open source software.

Other alternatives: If you want an easy to install and use distribution get mandrake (http://www.mandrakelinux.com) (preferably 10.2).
If you are willing to spend some time tweaking and reading manuals, get Debian (http://www.debian.org/)
If you are willing to spend A LOT of time tweaking, reading manuals, and waiting for code to compile - but in return obtain a system perfectly optimized for your exact pc.. consider gentoo (http://www.gentoo.org/).
If you wish to try out linux without installing it, get Knoppix. (http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html). This is a complete debian-based distribution that runs entirely of cd. Some other distro's offer a 'live' distribution too, but Knoppix stays my favourite.

I've been reading a lot lately, and I've realised that if I really want to progress in my search for more computer knowledge (a campaign I have led for many years), I'm going to need to start programming. I've messed with codes, I know HTML almost back to front, and I'm not bad with javascript but what I really want is a good scripting/programming language to learn and use.

Can anyone suggest a good language to start off with? I've had suggestions of C, Perl, JAVA, ASP and even the obscure Module-3, and I'm confused. Any good programmers out there willing to give me a couple of suggestions?

The closer you can get to a pure OO, the better the foundation you'll have.

Smalltalk or Eiffel are a good start. Java is OK, but it's really an abomination.

C++ is for people who don't really want to program in OO.

I've heard good things about Pascal, although I'll go for something easier. C++ is quite a bloated language compared to C and JAVA - I may pick one of those.
Pascal is more easy then C and Java (which is too bloated too). I suggest you to use FreePascal for learning purposes and later, learn an additional one.

Yeah go for Pascal first to learn the basics of programming, then switch to an OO langauge (C# or Java - I preffer Java myself).

Yeah go for Pascal first to learn the basics of programming, then switch to an OO langauge (C# or Java - I preffer Java myself).

or ObjectPascal (the language of FreePascal and Delphi)

The closer you can get to a pure OO, the better the foundation you'll have.

Smalltalk or Eiffel are a good start. Java is OK, but it's really an abomination.

C++ is for people who don't really want to program in OO.


I would suggest Smalltalk, also. It is really extremely easy to use, and quite powerfull. The only issue with it I have, is that I havent really found a good compiler environment for Win32 systems... I have only really used Siren and Squeak implementations though, and it was sorta unstable at times.... Anyone else know of a good smalltalk programming environment to try?

Visual basic 6 or .net are very simple powerful languages.

Yes they're not very elegant, and are the programmatic equivalent of using a sledgehammer to tap in a thumb tack, but they're excellent languages to start off with.

I wouldn't bother with C, its only really useful for linux system programming, C++ is good to learn basic programming concepts with, but can get a little tricky for more advanced programs.

I'm currently learning C# for use with ASP.net for my dissertation project, and is looking to be pretty cool so far.

There's always Java, its supposed to be a very elegant language, but I've never really liked it myself, not because there's anything wrong with it, I just prefer other languages :P

you've probably gone farther in programming than I have...

Wow, thanks for the great responses! Pascal sounds like a valid option, as does Java and perhaps C. I would appreciate any points to resources on Pascal so I could get a feel for it. Thanks to Alma for telling me the distros around now. If anyone wants to discuss further it will be appreciated.

Can you write and compile win32 compatible programs on win32 systems using Pascal? Sorry if it's a stupid question, but I'm new to programming.

Can you write and compile win32 compatible programs on win32 systems using Pascal? Sorry if it's a stupid question, but I'm new to programming.

You can. Delphi uses Pascal but also FreePascal can be used for Win32-Programming (yes, I love the 'write once, compile everywhere' approach of them).

http://www.freepascal.org/

You can. Delphi uses Pascal but also FreePascal can be used for Win32-Programming (yes, I love the 'write once, compile everywhere' approach of them).

http://www.freepascal.org/

Thank you!