Begining Programming

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Soldato
Joined
7 Jul 2009
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Newcastle/Aberdeen
Well i've got some time off, i'd like to dabble in a bit of programming. I've done a bit of HTML/CSS but not much beyond that. So i've set a few (flexible) goals:

  • Become fluent enough in Java/C to work through 'The Elements of Computing Systems'.
  • Be able to use C to properly utilize DWM.
  • Develop applications for Android (longer term).

I'm not using VB, partly because i don't see the point but mostly because i use Linux. So... what's the point in creating this thread? To be honest, i'm not at all sure where to start. I have access to a bookcase full of material, mostly Java based - any good titles i should be looking for? And what about online reference - anything like W3Schools for Java or C (although preferably more accurate ;) ). Thanks for any help pointing me in the right direction :)
 
agent_paul said:
I'd like to know if there is anything your looking to get out of learning a programming language. Are you learning it just for fun or are you looking to apply it somewhere? i.e. work etc

Seeing as you already have some skills in HTML & CSS, how about looking at webapp development as an extension to those skills. So learning Java (as the .Net route is a no go for linux) and then some JEE stuff might be a good idea.
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Well i'm not going to pursue a career in it (although using it to get a little extra income wouldn't be completely out of the question ;) )... so the other thing :D

Partly to help understand how things work, partly to learn a skill that will almost definitely come in useful at some point, and i could use it to help maintain certain open source apps.

Garee said:
I own 'The Elements of Computing Systems' and I don't think it required much high-level programming knowledge as it is mainly hardware and low level stuff you are dealing with.

The C Programming Language 2nd Edition is the book to buy for C.

If you want to learn the fundamentals then check out Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs although for your needs I believe this would be a bit OTT. I always recommend that book :D
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Not much, but i gather the basics wouldn't exactly go amiss.

I'll keep an eye out for that C book anyway, seems what's on the shelf is what was bought at the recommendation of a lecturer. Don't know what that means nowadays :p

Is the 'Sam's Teach Yourself' series worth a punt?

@above - i actually have Head First Java... i just can't seem to find it :mad:
 
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sldsmkd said:
I know you said C or Java, may I suggest Python as an alternative to learn with? I think C tends to give yourself a few too many ropes to hang yourself with as a starter language, and Java is frankly annoying to program. Especially if it's just for fun / personal edification Python is a nice language (and portable too).
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I might actually be interested in this - some knowledge with Python would lend itself well to working with Lua, which could mean i would be able to create my own Conky configs rather than copying and pasting. Kind of a small reason but... where to start? :D
 
d_brennen said:
Easy tiger! The Java section has been quite helpful to me, and the VB. I was awesome in VB ~10 years ago but must have bumped my head 'coz it was all gone a while ago when I had to debug code on some internal applets at work. Couple of hours with Bucky and it all came back, so go on ahead and do some tutorials
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It's easy cougar in the C tutorials ;)

Really though, that is brilliant. I mean, everything else i've tried i've got through the basic 'Hello World' then went on to the next chapter and run away screaming. This i understand perfectly, i even have a few ideas about how to apply it already. What's more he's got someone (good) working on 200 Android tutorials :D
 
Okay - first 'run to OcUK for help' post (and basically the first hurdle), but after watching Bucky's C tutorials and understand most of it i feel like giving C++ a go. Thing is he recommends Dev-C++ as a compiler/IDE. I hear that might not be a great choice since it doesn't seem to have been updated in five years and i can't find it in any repos (compiling from source sucks, unless it's from the AUR).

So, any recommendations? :)
 
I think GCC is a package that's installed by default on most distros. I was hoping to avoid Vim, good as it is it takes almost as much learning as what i'd want to do with it, but you know... nothing ventured and all :)
 
fLux_ said:
I'm looking to learn Java myself, specifically for Android development.

Subscribed :)
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The good news:


Over 200 Android tutorials up now on TheNewBoston (although not by Bucky the guy seems decent enough).

The bad news:

The tutorials assume Windows. I have no idea where to start. I couldn't choose between JDKs, so i went for the proprietary Sun one via Synaptic. Then i installed Eclipse via Synaptic which seemed to have a ton of dependencies. Then i tried to install ADT using this:

http://syedrakibalhasan.blogspot.com/2010/05/android-development-using-eclipse-on.html

Which just failed, got to the part where it says click next and "The operation could not be completed, see the details." Details:

Code: 
Cannot complete the install because one or more required items could not be found.
  Software being installed: Android Development Tools 12.0.0.v201106281929-138431 (com.android.ide.eclipse.adt.feature.group 12.0.0.v201106281929-138431)
  Missing requirement: Android Development Tools 12.0.0.v201106281929-138431 (com.android.ide.eclipse.adt.feature.group 12.0.0.v201106281929-138431) requires 'org.eclipse.gef 0.0.0' but it could not be found

/rant :mad:
 
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