What's the best place to "start out" with computers?

[S3loth]

I'm not totally computer illiterate. I know how to do somethings with computers. The most I can do with them is some HTML. I was wondering how you guys got so good, like with programing and stuff like that. I haven't switched to Ubuntu yet, but I'm planing to. Before I do though, I wanted to understand computers better. Any suggestions where to start?

[ryno519]

I started playing around with Visual Basic 6 when I was 13 or so. That got me interested in programming. I moved onto PHP next and then I started coding in C++ and went to college as a Computer Programmer Analyst.

So I'd say just start learning to program in a higher level language that's pretty easy to pick up. If you want something to subsidise your html knowledge, I would suggest PHP5. You could learn to make dynamic web pages with content loaded from a database. You could do all sorts of fun stuff with it.

Oh, and read up on parallel programming to guarantee gainful employment over the next few decades.

[DeadSuperHero]

Google.
Oh, you mean development?
Python's a great one to start with, though Java's pretty good, too.

[LKRaider]

I would recommed Python aswell. It is a very high level language, which is good for playing and learning with, specially about programming logic.

[Fbot1]

I disagree with the other people. I think you should learn some math and assembly first. If you start out with a high level languages it may turn into a serious crutch. If you start with assembly then high level languages will just be practical laziness. Besides Python and Java are crap languages.

[Epilonsama]

I disagree with the other people. I think you should learn some math and assembly first. If you start out with a high level languages it may turn into a serious crutch. If you start with assembly will just be practical laziness. Besides Python and Java are crap languages.

lol, I'm in the path all of this (Im studying Computer Engineering) but first I have to study Precalculus though Calculus but is always good to learn the basics and later on move on to more advance language, unless you do this as a hobby not as a job. At least thats what I say to myself :(

[DreadPirateRoby]

If you want to know more about linux before giving it a shot, I highly recomend the linux reality podcast (http://www.linuxreality.com/). Start with the oldest episodes first.

If you're interested in learning more about how various things work don't be afraid to read. Solving your problems through google as opposed to asking for a quick fix on a forum can lead you to some pretty educational stuff.

It would also be a good idea to make a point of learning the shell and work your way into bash scripting. Linux Command (http://www.linuxcommand.org/) is a good place to get started.

Here are some more places of interest.

How Stuff Works (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/)
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)
Google Guide (http://www.googleguide.com/using_advanced_operators.html)
die.net (http://linux.die.net/)
The Linux Documentation Project (http://tldp.org/)
Whatis.com (http://whatis.techtarget.com/)
SS64.com (http://whatis.techtarget.com/)
Python411 (http://http://www.awaretek.com/python/)

[ryno519]

I disagree with the other people. I think you should learn some math and assembly first. If you start out with a high level languages it may turn into a serious crutch. If you start with assembly then high level languages will just be practical laziness. Besides Python and Java are crap languages.

Or he could learn to code in, you know... something he'll actually use someday. ;)

[Sayers]

Python and Java are good languages. Start with python it teaches you good code technique but still easy to learn.

[Fbot1]

Or he could learn to code in, you know... something he'll actually use someday. ;)

What do mean? Assembly is still used today and even if it wasn't it would still be very good practice.

[cmat]

What do mean? Assembly is still used today and even if it wasn't it would still be very good practice.

Out of all the schools and people I've met, none of them use assembly for any programming.

Also VB really messed me up when it comes to programming. I took up python and C++ was just as easy to learn afterwards. But I still use python because it's more productive.

[eph1973]

If you are completely computer illiterate, it may be worth your time to check out the Cygwin project before coming over to a Linux distribution (I assume that since you are messaging the forums, you are running Windows on your own PC). You can use it as a virtual Linux server to get used to the command prompt, the different commands and so forth, before you end up jumping full into a Linux distribution. Because of the way it works, it is not truly Linux, it just fakes it on you machine, so there are several things that you can do on true Linux distro that you won't be able to do on that, but it will give you a slight taste. If I were you, I would make sure you get the hang of getting around and administering on your new OS (since it is different from Windows) before you got into a programming language. I expect I will get the virtual rotten tomato thrown at me for recommending Cygwin, but I used it before going to Fedora Core 4 a few years ago, and I feel it helped me "get around" as it were. Just my opinion.
You can find cygwin here: http://www.cygwin.com/
Good luck!

[Fbot1]

Out of all the schools and people I've met, none of them use assembly for any programming.

Also VB really messed me up when it comes to programming. I took up python and C++ was just as easy to learn afterwards. But I still use python because it's more productive.

Well whether you've meet someone who uses it or not, it's still used. You maybe just fine doing that (or you may not...) but it can really screw people over. My point is: any monkey can crap out code but not every monkey can make good code (this is based on what one of my teachers would say) and you may get that ability if you start high.

[jinx099]

If you are completely computer illiterate, it may be worth your time to check out the Cygwin project before coming over to a Linux distribution (I assume that since you are messaging the forums, you are running Windows on your own PC). You can use it as a virtual Linux server to get used to the command prompt, the different commands and so forth, before you end up jumping full into a Linux distribution. Because of the way it works, it is not truly Linux, it just fakes it on you machine, so there are several things that you can do on true Linux distro that you won't be able to do on that, but it will give you a slight taste. If I were you, I would make sure you get the hang of getting around and administering on your new OS (since it is different from Windows) before you got into a programming language. I expect I will get the virtual rotten tomato thrown at me for recommending Cygwin, but I used it before going to Fedora Core 4 a few years ago, and I feel it helped me "get around" as it were. Just my opinion.
You can find cygwin here: http://www.cygwin.com/
Good luck!
I dont agree.

I think a much better way to try out linux would be to run a real distro in VMWare (http://www.vmware.com).

VMWare Player and Server are free.

[userundefine]

If you want to know more about linux before giving it a shot, I highly recomend the linux reality podcast (http://www.linuxreality.com/). Start with the oldest episodes first.
This is pretty good advice. I've been using Linux for 2 1/2 years and I think LR podcast is quite down to earth and I've learned several things from them myself.

[LKRaider]

Listening to Linux podcasts is a really good idea. Give that a try.

Also, don't go the calculus + assembly path unless you plan on getting really frustrated. Its much more fun starting with a high level language and do real usable stuff from the start than keeping with abstract example codes and math at first, unless you're really interested in those areas. Remember, if you are not having fun doing it, think twice if it is actually worth of your time.

Take a look at a few examples at ShowMeDo, they have screencasts on programming with several languages and also on Linux:
http://showmedo.com/videos/Linux
http://showmedo.com/videos/python

[ryno519]

Well whether you've meet someone who uses it or not, it's still used. You maybe just fine doing that (or you may not...) but it can really screw people over. My point is: any monkey can crap out code but not every monkey can make good code (this is based on what one of my teachers would say) and you may get that ability if you start high.

The point is if he learns a higher level language instead of assembly for his very first language he won't, for one, hang himself with his shoelaces. My second point is that very few jobs seem to list knowledge of assembly as essential, whereas you will find them requesting the applicant be proficient in C++, Java, C#, VB, C, etc.

My third point is that a lot of people went through a lot of trouble to make sure assembly isn't the first language we programmers would have to learn. God bless those glorious bastards. ;)

PS: Your teacher sounds like an *******.

[hessiess]

i started with python(witch im not that good at), now im trying to learn c++(witch im even worse at :( )

[Fbot1]

Assembly isn't even hard to learn. It takes sometime to make things but, it's not hard.

[nonewmsgs]

assembly is still used today. real men use ASM for all their virus making needs. sure now macros are the most effective at the moment, but that's only because microsoft makes that vulnurability part too easy.

40h!!!

[Fbot1]

What?

[notwen]

Learn all about bash, make some bash scripts and if you desire at this point, move onward to python. =]

[M$LOL]

Don't start with a HLL like Python. Start with C++, but don't use a Microsoft tool for it. Use a command-line compiler like GCC, that way you'll learn a bit about actual programming and the way the compiler does stuff, as opposed to using Visual Basic to change the colour of a button without any clue as to what is really going on.

I'd also stay away from Assembly until you have a decent grasp of C++, it can be pretty difficult and you don't want to be put off too early.