I want to learn a programming language, but I need advice

[darael]

The last time I did any proper programming, was simple programs in BASIC.

I now want to learn a language, but I have struggled to grasp the GUI interface in Windows after coming from DOS. Plus the Visual Basic language seems much more stranger, lol!

What I really want to do is to be able to make basic programs, maybe a small database. But thinking about all this is making me go haha! :io

I admit I need my hand holding, mostly because I am scared of the unknown. So maybe a video-based learning strategy is best - perhaps accompanied with a book to with the videos.

I need your advice please! What is best to learn?

 

[d_brennen]

What ever you do join in here

forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18383545

Python is a great starter language by all accounts.

 

[Rich43]

I can teach on Skype which is much quicker than above thread (which is designed to be slow for people with very little time), click my trust and add me.
(Other forms of instant messaging are acceptable too!)

I come from a similar background to you, I used to have a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128K when I was a boy. I then switched to QBasic when I got my first PC.

 

[nex20]

Id recommend looking into Java or c# and make a small windows application or a java applet. If you want to go into web design side, have a look at downloading a WAMP stack and do some html/php and you get to play about in mysql too

Of course it's all personal preference what you want to start with, there is no right answer. Most skills from one language transfer over quite nicely. c# and java I believe are good starters because you need to understand objects.

 

[dowie]

probably do the above ^^^

then maybe take a look at a functional language... maybe F# if you use C# or Clojure if you use Java... or just have a look at all of them and more...