To Begin With - C#?

bigbadish · 28 Sep 2009 at 10:49

Hi guys,

I'd like to start learning to programme, and would like some advise on where best to start. I've used the links within the sticky on these forums and started reading, but would like to pick up a good book (with your recommendations) to help me get going.

I've been looking at "Sams Teach Yourself Visual C# 2005 In 24 Hours, Complete Starter Kit" and was wondering if 1) Anyone has used it and can recommend it, and 2) would this be a good starting point for a complete novice.

I've done a little reading and the consensus seems to point me at learning C# instead of C++ / C but please let me know if it would help to go for something different to begin with.

I have Visual Studio so I'm ready to go I think, I just need something to get me started and provide me with some direction.

Thanks

jrwagh333 · 28 Sep 2009 at 11:07

Im also just starting programming in the world of C#. Complete novice like yourself. I am currently reading (and loving i must say)
"Head First C# by Andrew Stellman & Jennifer Greene"

I really must recommend you pick this up. Things are laid out great so it doesn't crowd your brain. Filled with helpfully bullet points and exercises to do.

Hutch · 28 Sep 2009 at 11:10

I havent read those books but I can really recommend the 'Head first' series, really written with the beginner in mind and explains things in a way that I at least find very easy to read and follow..

This would be the one

edit: In work so took a while to post and jrwagh333 beat me to it

bigbadish · 28 Sep 2009 at 11:48

I'll definitely look at that book, thanks.

Did you guys start with no prior experience then?

jrwagh333 · 28 Sep 2009 at 12:13

I started with no experience. And have only began to learn programming in the last couple of weeks. I have started off with the Heads First book and must say, everything is explained to me crystal clear.

It isn't as scary as I thought it would be. Like Hutch says, it really does have the beginner in mind.

bigbadish · 28 Sep 2009 at 12:43

Well the write up on that book looks excellent and I must admit I can't wait to start writing Space Invader Game"

I'll report back on how I find it, post ordering tonight.

Thanks for the help.

Hutch · 28 Sep 2009 at 12:46

I actually have a degree in programming but I wanted a refresher on java and a friend had that book so i borrowed it. So while i was reading from a different perspective to you I could tell from the book how easy it would be to read with no prior knowledge

djkav · 28 Sep 2009 at 21:01

I have 15 years software engineering experience. I started coding at school in computer club in the 1980s. I then just clicked with it. Since then I seemed to follow its progression. Once you understand the concepts of OO (object orientated) and procedural programming and logic. You can pretty much use most languages with little time. It took me 2 weeks to move from Visual Basic 6 to C# in .Net v1.0 in early 2000s.

Current language is c#

But have used;

Basic:
Visual Basic, STOS, AMOS, Blitz Basic, BBC, Spectrum, C64.

Assembler:
Z80 (Spectrum), 68000 (Amiga & ST)

C:
C++, C#

Others:
Cobol, dBase. Foxpro, Javascript

dangerstat · 28 Sep 2009 at 22:20

I really don't like people learning to program from these "teach yourself" style books. There's a real lack of good quality books introducing people to programming, the best free one I can think of (which is good for a chapter or two but then incomplete) is "programming from the ground up" might be worth checking out. Other than that I'd advise picking up the classic that is K&R C