Summer Holidays means CODING.

[spoons]

@sppons, oh, I also forgot to mention, even though it's much easier to make programs in languages such as python (seeing as (imo) python is effectively runnable pseudocode), python does have it's place. In places where speed isn't crucial (unless you're using python libraries made in C, those count as C, even though you're using a python interface. ), python is very good, especially in today's world where rapid development is very important.

Well I understand Blender uses Python for it's scripts and things, and 3D modelling is quite interesting.

I'd like to make a command line program that can compress files with zlib. but with an unpacker built in. But that's advanced for now - I need to learn my pointers and mallocs first!

[chessnerd]

I, too, am programming this summer (doing some right now). And I'm also trying to learn more languages.

I am also trying to make a game, however, I'm using Java to do it. I've studied Java for 2 years, and I know it pretty well. Plus, I like to code using Eclipse in Ubuntu, but I'll be giving the game to people who use Windows, so it should be cross-platform anyway.

I'm also trying to learn Python. I bought a book on Python at a discount book store that looks at example projects and breaks them down. I'm also using a website called CodingBat to practice the basics. So far, so good.

I agree with you about stricter languages. Java is quite strict and I prefer that to Python's "freeness". Heck, you don't even have to declare what type your variables are going to be. That's just messed up.

I want to learn C, but haven't found any good books for learning it. There are tons of C++ and C# books, but few on C. My cousin took a C class at college last year while I was taking my Java class. He's professed some interest in Java, so I'm hoping that he and I an get together and teach each other what we know.

By the end of college, I want to be fluent in Java, Python, and C and then I want to learn some Perl and Ruby. Not so crazy about Assembly, but if I really like C, I might try to learn some of that as well.

Basically: Coding is fun. End of story.

[spoons]

I, too, am programming this summer (doing some right now). And I'm also trying to learn more languages.

I am also trying to make a game, however, I'm using Java to do it. I've studied Java for 2 years, and I know it pretty well. Plus, I like to code using Eclipse in Ubuntu, but I'll be giving the game to people who use Windows, so it should be cross-platform anyway.

I'm also trying to learn Python. I bought a book on Python at a discount book store that looks at example projects and breaks them down. I'm also using a website called CodingBat to practice the basics. So far, so good.

I agree with you about stricter languages. Java is quite strict and I prefer that to Python's "freeness". Heck, you don't even have to declare what type your variables are going to be. That's just messed up.

I want to learn C, but haven't found any good books for learning it. There are tons of C++ and C# books, but few on C. My cousin took a C class at college last year while I was taking my Java class. He's professed some interest in Java, so I'm hoping that he and I an get together and teach each other what we know.

By the end of college, I want to be fluent in Java, Python, and C and then I want to learn some Perl and Ruby. Not so crazy about Assembly, but if I really like C, I might try to learn some of that as well.

Basically: Coding is fun. End of story.

If you want to learn C, there's this book called C For Dummies: All In One Desk Reference by Dan Gookin. I've got it and it's a great book. About 700 pages of lessons. It eases you in really well. Made slightly more to the American market than the British with pounds and feet (for some of the examples) so I guess it's right up your street! I've not got that far through it, but I'm enjoying it so far.

Who knows you guys, you might see contributions of mine in Ubuntu one day.

[chessnerd]

If you want to learn C, there's this book called C For Dummies: All In One Desk Reference by Dan Gookin. I've got it and it's a great book. About 700 pages of lessons. It eases you in really well. Made slightly more to the American market than the British with pounds and feet (for some of the examples) so I guess it's right up your street! I've not got that far through it, but I'm enjoying it so far.

The online reviews seem to agree with you. I've generally found the Dummies books to be useful, and if the book is good enough for you, it's good enough for me.

I had seen this book at Barnes and Noble a few times, but the $35 price tag deterred me. However, I was able to find it cheaper online. I'll probably order it.

Who knows you guys, you might see contributions of mine in Ubuntu one day.

Stick with it and I'm sure we will.

As a famous starship captain once said to a Mintakan who dreamed of her people becoming space-fairing:

Of that I have absolutely no doubt.

[LeifAndersen]

@chessnerd (love the nick by the way): If you want a book to learn C...you've got to get K&R (also called "The C Programming Language"), unless you're trying to build a C compiler, it's by far the best C book out there. (The only reason I didn't recomend it to spoons is because it's not meant as a first language book. It works as a second language book, even if it's a language in a completely different area, but it's a bit steep for your very first language. As for Java vs. python...there are advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of java's strict, strongly typed system is that it's secure (secure in the sense that you're much less likely to make a mistake), but on the other hand, pythons strong duck typed system is fast to make. Which suites me well for what I'm doing at the moment.

@spoons. Yup, blender's API is python, although 'most' of the API was written in C. (At least the 2.5x library is, I haven't delved much into the 2.4x library). I'm actually building regression tests for blender at the moment...

[theraje]

If you want a book to learn C...you've got to get K&R (also called "The C Programming Language")

Ah! I was trying to remember the name of that book... Mostly the K&R part... thanks, Leif!

[lisati]

I've been tinkering with a little bit of coding too, mainly PHP for my website, and discovered that PHP's strstr() function works a bit differently to what I was expecting.

Speaking of assembler, I'd suggest mastering the basics of a higher-level language first. And yes, I have seen a 32-bit version of MASM.

[phrostbyte]

Why only summer holidays? Living means coding.

What kind of game do you plan on making?

[JDShu]

Allegro is a nice library for writing games in C. Either that, or SDL.

Eventually you'll need to learn C anyway, so I think its a good choice. Plus, it will make you appreciate python and other higher level languages more in the future.

[Penguin Guy]

Heck, you don't even have to declare what type your variables are going to be. That's just messed up.

I can see a flame-war coming on.

Who knows you guys, you might see contributions of mine in Ubuntu one day.

I'd like to point out that, for most Ubuntu contributions, Python is recommended.